Forescout Platform and Cisco ISE compete in network access control and security management. Cisco ISE appears to have an edge in integration within its ecosystem and guest management, providing a seamless experience with other Cisco products.
Features: Forescout Platform offers comprehensive endpoint visibility and asset intelligence without 802.1x, allowing integration with various vendors, flexibility in deployment and integration, and robust network access control and threat protection. Cisco ISE focuses on integration within Cisco's ecosystem, centralized access control, comprehensive guest management, and strong RADIUS features.
Room for Improvement: Forescout could improve reporting, reduce licensing costs, and enhance integration with non-Cisco products. It also needs better support, documentation, and user management capabilities. Cisco ISE would benefit from simplified deployment, an improved user interface, more intuitive licensing, and enhanced third-party integration.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Forescout Flex licensing is agile and deployable across environments, though technical support is mixed. Cisco ISE deployment is complex, requiring expert setup, but has comprehensive support within the Cisco ecosystem. Both primarily deploy on-premises, yet need better customer service to match their technological capabilities.
Pricing and ROI: Forescout's flex licensing provides cost-effective deployment, but integration options are expensive. Cisco ISE's high pricing, particularly for smaller organizations, and complex licensing raise concerns. Both platforms claim ROI through improved network security and efficiency, with Forescout showing a notable cost disparity in equipment needs.
Direct comparisons with Forescout reveal up to 30% to 40% difference in cost savings.
I rate the technical support as one out of ten.
Sometimes it's challenging to identify which support team is responsible for certain issues, which is a significant concern.
Factors like architecture, business nature, and legal limitations such as GDPR affect it.
Scalability can be costly since a physical box needs to be installed for every site.
The stability of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is poor for certain use cases, like authentication.
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is considered very reliable and stable.
I would rate its stability as 9.5 out of ten.
The whole setup works well with Cisco access points and Cisco switches, but when you have multiple vendors in the environment, such as HP switches or access points like Aruba, you'll find they will not work well with Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE).
They are very poor in asset classification and should focus on improving the preauthentication profiling, especially for NAC use cases.
Pricing can be more expensive compared to other vendors, and there is a significant price gap observed, which doesn't seem justified by some specific features.
The console is a fat client, and a web interface would be preferable.
The license costs can range between $50,000 to $100,000 per year for enterprises.
Compared to other solutions like HPE ClearPass, Cisco is more costly, and the conversation suggests a possible forty percent price gap compared to competitors.
Making large organizational costs significant.
Installing a physical box on each site can be expensive.
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) offers authentication using RADIUS, enhancing network security by separating and segregating networks.
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is very good at device administration.
The solution is integrated with other Cisco devices and can offer automation for an organization, making deployments more dynamic and providing real-time visibility.
The platform enables automated policy enforcement, allowing us to simulate and test policies before enforcement, streamlining our security operations.
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) offers comprehensive network access control and visibility, supporting features like 802.1X authentication, profiling, and posturing. It integrates with Microsoft and other Cisco products, facilitating robust security policies across distributed networks.
Cisco Identity Services Engine is a key player in network access control, offering centralized management and a user-friendly interface. It supports zero trust principles and provides strong authentication for wired and wireless networks. ISE's capabilities include granular security policies, enhanced device posturing, and seamless integration, bolstering security infrastructure. Users benefit from its dual authentication through EAP, simplifying access management across networks.
What are the key features of Cisco ISE?In industries like finance, healthcare, and education, Cisco ISE is pivotal for securing wired and wireless networks, implementing BYOD policies, and managing user access. Organizations leverage ISE for effective authentication and authorization, while maintaining compliance with industry security standards.
Forescout Platform provides today’s busy enterprise organizations with policy and protocol management, workflow coordination, streamlining, and complete device and infrastructure visibility to improve overall network security. The solution also provides concise real-time intelligence of all devices and users on the network. Policy and protocols are delineated using gathered intelligence to facilitate the appropriate levels of remediation, compliance, network access, and all service operations. Forescout Platform is very flexible, integrates well with most of today’s leading network security products, and is a very cost-effective solution.
Forescout Platform Features
Real User Reviews
An important main feature of Forescout is the visibility the solution offers.
One reviewer who is a Consultant at a tech services company, says, "Within three or four days, you can have complete visibility of your infrastructure on the network. Compared to other solutions, the deployment of the solution is easier and we can close the project quickly."
Users also appreciate that the user interface is clear and easy to understand.
An Instructor at a tech services company, shares, "The most valuable feature of the Forescout Platform is the large capacity it can handle. Additionally, the interface of the platform is good."
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