Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Ruckus Cloudpath comparison

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs. Ruckus Cloudpath

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Identity Services Eng...

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

1st

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

145

Ranking in other categories

Cisco Security Portfolio (1st)

Ruckus Cloudpath

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

8th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2025, in the Network Access Control (NAC) category, the mindshare of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is 22.8%, down from 28.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ruckus Cloudpath is 2.1%, up from 1.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Access Control (NAC) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)	22.8%
Ruckus Cloudpath	2.1%
Other	75.1%

Network Access Control (NAC)

Featured Reviews

NicolasFigaro

Network and Technology Information Manager at Akkodis

Has improved authentication management and simplified visitor network access

The log capacity in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could be enhanced because today natively on the ISE can only have a look at the logs from the day before. You cannot search into the oldest logs; you have to use another tool for that. This can be blocking if you don't have any log consolidation solution. To do a search for an issue or something that happened two days ago, you cannot search directly in there. The capacity of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could be enhanced. Something between one week and one month for the log capacity would be nice.

Read full review

Gary Koh

Area Manager at Alpha Media Pte Ltd

Has improved network monitoring through intelligent features and simplified onboarding

I am using the certificate-based security feature in the product. The certificate-based security feature helps clients understand what Ruckus Cloudpath can do. Whether cloud or on-premises is used is defined by the clients. They are knowledgeable about the products, so minimal explanation is required. Policy management tools in Ruckus Cloudpath are performing adequately. The integration of Ruckus Cloudpath with our infrastructure is very user-friendly, as the software is becoming more intelligent. It is becoming more intelligent because it is easier to install and implement. Managing IoT devices within a network environment has improved compared to previous versions. The software is more intelligent now, with AI features integrated into their management system. The MMS portion is the best feature in Ruckus Cloudpath, as they can monitor the entire network intelligently with AI features that simplify the troubleshooting processes.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"My team has gained a lot from Cisco ISE as it does also provide automation, which is a big asset in the eighth hour. After setting it up, it took a lot of the weight off in many ways. We have a co-worker, who we call the ISE Master because he's in charge of the ISE configurations. He's able to save a lot of time by being able to monitor everything from there. So it did take off a lot of time that we would waste by going individually to that different device and trying to figure out what was wrong."

"It is stable and easy to use."

"ISE's most valuable feature is integration between IT and OTs."

"Authentication is the most valuable feature because it puts our company at another level of security."

"We were originally a Cisco shop and Cisco ISE integrated well with our other Cisco switches and networks."

"The most important feature for us is visibility in terms of user connections. It's the ability to see what devices are online for a particular user that helps a lot with our troubleshooting."

"The best features are the scalability and the license structure."

"The most valuable feature is the visibility element, the ability for customers to be able to see what devices are actually on their network. Without a solution like ISE, they would have no idea what devices are connected to their network. It offers them the ability to authenticate devices via mobile."

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) pros

"The ease of use is great, and the automation wizards can do a lot."

"Ruckus Cloudpath is effective for network security since it points out errors, especially when working with APIs."

"Ruckus Cloudpath is very stable."

"The tool's most valuable features include the phenomenal functionality of DPSK. The ease of use, particularly when it is correctly set up, is remarkably simple. Tracking users is straightforward and dynamic. This allows us to identify where a user might encounter issues within the process."

"I find the solution to be very rich in features."

"Ruckus technical support is very good and helpful whenever we need them."

"The best features of Ruckus Cloudpath include the deep integration with the education system, the Eduroam, and the ease of creating workflows to manage each authentication process separately, allowing me to create a separate workflow for employees, guests, and students while being flexible in adjusting the policy."

"The MMS portion is the best feature in Ruckus Cloudpath, as they can monitor the entire network intelligently with AI features that simplify the troubleshooting processes."

More Ruckus Cloudpath pros

Cons

"There should be more visibility into TrustSec policy actions. When TrustSec blocks something or makes any kind of changes to the network, we don't always see that. We have to log into the switch itself, or we have to get some type of Syslog parsing to do that."

"It would be nice if it could be configured easily by default."

"The knocks I have against the product are the number of bugs that we encounter, constantly, and the amount of upgrading that we have to do."

"The price could be better. I would like to see more integration with third-party solutions in the next release. This is because many of my clients don't have Cisco."

"The product is expensive. It would also be a good add-on to have some machine learning."

"The interface is a little bit complex."

"The admin interface is really slow. It's horrible."

"If I was going to improve anything, it would be the ease of migration. It's really difficult at the moment if you're looking to upgrade ISE 2.1 and you want to go to ISE 3.1 or 3.2, that whole upgrade path and, particularly, the licensing is quite a minefield to sort out."

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) cons

"There is room for improvement in deployment."

"There is room for improvement in deployment. I would like to see more effort put into troubleshooting."

"Ruckus Cloudpath needs more API features and enhanced automation capabilities."

"The hardest part we've had to deal with is trying to find some physical product recently as everything is going like hotcakes."

"The solution could improve by adding more detailed information that customers have available on the dashboards."

"The scalability could be better."

"The setup had a few initial small problems, however, everything was resolved and it is very good now."

"The tool needs to support multi-vendor environments. Currently, my experience with it has been primarily within Ruckus environments. However, I haven't explored it for multi-vendor scenarios. It would be great to see newer builds that are multi-vendor capable of full integration."

More Ruckus Cloudpath cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price is okay."

"The pricing is complicated."

"It's an expensive solution when compared to other vendors."

"Licensing has got much simpler since Cisco moved to the DNA model because we just have the three tiers, but it could always stand to be improved upon."

"The price for Cisco ISE is high."

"I think the price is okay."

"It is difficult to measure security breaches, but since we have not been attacked so far, it has paid for itself over the years."

"It has a fair price. It is better than it was before."

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) pricing and cost advice

"The licensing of the solution is user-based and the price is good."

"The cost was somewhere around $700 for the access points, however, there was a discount."

"I would rate the tool's pricing as a seven on a scale of one to ten. Compared to others, it's not overly expensive, but it does come with a cost. Since it's a licensed-based product, it can become expensive, especially if there is a need for additional licenses."

"The pricing is a little bit high."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Comms Service Provider

15%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	44
Midsize Enterprise	32
Large Enterprise	91

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	7
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	2

Questions from the Community

Which is better - Aruba Clearpass or Cisco ISE?

Aruba ClearPass is a Network Access Control tool that gives secure network access to multiple device types. You can adapt the policies to VPN access, wired, or wireless access. You can securely ...

What are the main differences between Cisco ISE and Forescout Platform?

OK, so Cisco ISE uses 802.1X to secure switchports against unauthorized access. The drawback of this is that ISE cannot secure the port if a device does not support 802.1x. Cameras, badge readers, ...

How does Cisco ISE compare with Fortinet FortiNAC?

Cisco ISE uses AI endpoint analytics to identify new devices based on their behavior. It will also notify you if someone plugs in with a device that is not allowed and will block it. The user exper...

What do you like most about Ruckus Cloudpath?

The tool's most valuable features include the phenomenal functionality of DPSK. The ease of use, particularly when it is correctly set up, is remarkably simple. Tracking users is straightforward an...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ruckus Cloudpath?

The pricing of Ruckus Cloudpath is on the expensive side. I would rate the pricing as an eight out of ten, with ten being very expensive.

What needs improvement with Ruckus Cloudpath?

The main disadvantage is the price, as it is primarily a cost issue. The new version coming out, R1, is yet to be seen, though currently, it is running very efficiently. The biggest challenges are ...

Aruba ClearPass vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

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Compared 20% of the time

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Compared 8% of the time

CyberArk Privileged Access Manager vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 4% of the time

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) Competitors

Aruba ClearPass vs Ruckus Cloudpath

Compared 48% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Ruckus Cloudpath

Compared 15% of the time

Portnox vs Ruckus Cloudpath

Compared 10% of the time

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Product Reports

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Download Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) product report

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) report

Ruckus Cloudpath

Download Ruckus Cloudpath product report

Also Known As

Cisco ISE

No data available

Overview

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?

802.1X Authentication: Supports network security for authorized device access.
Profiling: Identifies devices for accurate policy enforcement.
Posturing: Evaluates device compliance for access decisions.
TACACS: Streamlines network device authentication and authorization.
Guest Access: Provides secure access to visitors.
Microsoft Compatibility: Seamlessly integrates with Microsoft environments.

What benefits and ROI should be considered?

Security Enhancement: Offers strong network security policies.
Operational Efficiency: Centralized management improves operational aspects.
Improved Compliance: Ensures adherence to industry standards.
Scalability: Supports growing network demands effectively.

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.

Cisco

Cloudpath Enrollment System is a software/SaaS platform that delivers secure wired and wireless network access for BYOD, guest users and IT-owned devices. It streamlines getting devices on the network and secures every connection with powerful encryption. Cloudpath software gives you granular policy control over what network resources users can access. It lets you deliver a great end-user experience and virtually eliminates helpdesk tickets related to network access. Choose from cloud-based or virtualized on-premises deployment. Cloudpath software supports any user, any device, and any network infrastructure.

Ruckus

Sample Customers

Aegean Motorway, BC Hydro, Beachbody, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Cisco IT, Derby City Council, Global Banking Customer, Gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha, Houston Methodist, Linz AG, London Hydro, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Molina Healthcare, MST Systems, New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Reykjavik University, Wildau University

Information Not Available

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs. Ruckus Cloudpath