Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security comparison

The compared Cisco and Microsoft solutions aren't in the same category. Cisco is ranked #2 in NAC , with an average rating of 7.9, and holds a 21.7% mindshare in the category. Microsoft is ranked #15 in EMM , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Cisco Identity Services Eng...

Read 145 Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) reviews

15,137 Views
9,839 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

Microsoft Enterprise Mobili...

Read 13 Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security reviews

1,134 Views
567 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cisco Identity Services Eng...

Microsoft Enterprise Mobili...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco, Fortinet and others in Network Access Control (NAC).

To learn more, read our detailed Network Access Control (NAC) Report (Updated: January 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Network Access Control (NAC)

January 2026

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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...

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

145

Ranking in other categories

Network Access Control (NAC) (2nd), Cisco Security Portfolio (4th)

Microsoft Enterprise Mobili...

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) (15th)

Mindshare comparison

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security aren’t in the same category and serve different purposes. Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is designed for Network Access Control (NAC) and holds a mindshare of 21.7%, down 27.9% compared to last year.
Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security, on the other hand, focuses on Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM), holds 1.3% mindshare, up 0.8% since last year.

Network Access Control (NAC) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)	21.7%
Aruba ClearPass	21.2%
Fortinet FortiNAC	15.5%
Other	41.6%

Network Access Control (NAC)

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security	1.3%
Microsoft Intune	28.3%
Workspace ONE UEM	11.3%
Other	59.099999999999994%

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM)

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

Abhijit-Deshpande

Manager IT at Konverge.AI

User experience improves efficiency while awaiting improved application performance

The solution is meeting my requirements. I don't have any direct inputs here, except that stability of the application can be improved. Sometimes it gets hung or restarts multiple times in the background, which consumes battery life. If stability can be improved, it will generally help everyone. These solutions are usually a little expensive. If costs can come down, that will generally help the masses. A reduction of around 30-35% would make it more prompting for people to take that extra jump. Due to budget constraints, I have seen people not going for Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security because even if the commercials get discounted for the first year, subsequent years see significant price increases.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Among the most valuable features is TACACS."

"Cisco offers automation, visibility, and control as well as third party integration capabilities."

"Cisco ISE integrates with everything else."

"The policy sets give us more granular groups for end-user access."

"The policies allow us to enforce certain rules on the network to be able to screen our users more effectively."

"For us and our clients, the most valuable features of Identity Services Engine are really around the rich contact sharing that ISE gives you."

"The most valuable feature is 801.1x and another very good feature is the TACACS."

"Cisco ISE's profiling and posturing features ensure that all devices are compliant with regulatory authorities."

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) pros

"The solution is scalable."

"The product is a unified solution and you don't require to purchase tools from different vendors. The system analyzes behavior and activity and takes steps for protection."

"The product is centralized and we can use it for security purposes."

"I am very happy with it currently."

"You can scale the solution up or down by department."

"The best advantage of the product is that it provides an all-in-one solution."

"A good feature that is present is MAM or Mobile Application Management. We can deploy this feature on the device, which is not managed by the organization. If I apply some security configuration on a personal device, the user would be really disappointed. What we do instead is that we give all access to the applications related to corporate and ask the users to use the application. We secure the application by putting the security features on the applications and not on the users' devices. This way, the users are happy, and we also meet our company's compliance standards. Then, everyone is happy."

"The solution is very good at securing files. For example, if I forward a secure document, it's blocked from others, as I can send it with restrictions in relation to who can open it."

More Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security pros

Cons

"Cisco ISE can become quite complex, especially with policy sets, the entire authentication process, and everything involved."

"I don't see as many customers as I should adopting the onboarding feature. I think Cisco should make that process a lot easier and less intrusive on the end users' devices."

"I'm working from China currently and the only real issue is that, within the country, there's some concern around Cisco and its ability to offer the solution for the long term. As the United States has banned the Huawei version in their country, we feel there may be retaliation in ours and Cisco will get banned as a countermeasure from the government. The future of Cisco in China is in question. Our local partners are worried about the situation."

"There are still some bugs in ISE that need to be worked out."

"The UI is not as intuitive as some other products, even products inside of Cisco's wheelhouse."

"The user interface could be more user-friendly."

"I would rate this solution a 7.5 out of ten. To make it a ten they should have more people on tech support. They need to invest more in the product. It's a good product. They should just work on tech support. More support for the customer. It's not that easy to get somebody to understand this product. I have had some issues with tech before for the solution. One of them brought the solution down due to some of his activity. They need to hugely invest in their tech support."

"We face many bugs."

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) cons

"Technical support could be improved. Sometimes they use a third party that's not so knowledgeable in the product and that can slow down things a bit."

"Microsoft's feature management is based on licenses. Microsoft follows ethical licensing and hence do not restrict the use of it."

"The technical support from Microsoft could be better."

"The licensing can be messy at times."

"Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security is expensive."

"The licensing is quite expensive."

"The auditing and reporting could be updated and upgraded. I would like to see light applications because they consume a lot of the device's memory at present."

"The MDM part of the engine could be better."

More Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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 Essentials licensing is reasonable, but I would like the Premier version to be perpetual instead of a subscription."

"Standard licensing gives backup access and very few features, and then there's VM licensing - each VM we use needs to be licensed."

"According to my sales and account team, the prices we're getting are pretty good."

"The price can be lower, especially for subscriptions. It should be a lot cheaper to have a wide range of customers. The price should be comparable to competitive products like Forescout or Fortinet FortiNAC. Forescout is cheaper for customers looking for a cloud solution."

"If you're not going through an agreement, it's very expensive."

"If you consider money only, Cisco ISE is not a cheap solution."

"I have complaints. I don't enjoy the licensing model. Once we moved from 2.7 to 3.1, switching from Base, Plus, and Apex to Essential and Advantage in Premier, we went from a perpetual, with our base licenses, to now a subscription-base. So, we will have to renew those licenses every year, and I'm not a fan of that for our base licenses. Apex/Premier, we already expected, which is fine, but for basic connectivity, I am not a fan of that."

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

"We have to pay 10 dollars per user. I would rate the tool's pricing a six out of ten."

"I would rate pricing at eight out of ten. It is a bit higher because of the security features that Microsoft provides."

"The solution is cost-effective."

"The increase in the prices of the product might not be the actual problem, but things become complex with some new plans that were introduced by Microsoft recently."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Pharma/Biotech Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Computer Software Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

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	6
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	5

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 ...

See all answers

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, ...

See all answers

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...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security?

The technical support from Microsoft could be better. Because there are many changes in Microsoft, and most support centers or representatives moved to India, I can share that my experience with su...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security?

I have been selling Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security for more than 10 years.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security?

Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security is a basic part of all of our projects because it's a very important basis for any customer wanting to set up Microsoft technology, as they need to manage a...

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba ClearPass vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 26% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 18% of the time

Forescout Platform vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 7% of the time

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

Compared 3% of the time

Cisco Duo vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 2% of the time

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) Competitors

Microsoft Intune vs Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security

Compared 20% of the time

Jamf Pro vs Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security

Compared 16% of the time

CyberArk Privileged Access Manager vs Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security

Compared 11% of the time

Workspace ONE UEM vs Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security

Compared 9% of the time

ManageEngine Endpoint Central vs Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security

Compared 6% of the time

More Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

February 2026

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) report

Download Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security

January 2026

Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security report

Download Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security product report

Also Known As

Cisco ISE

Enterprise Mobility + Security E3, Enterprise Mobility + Security E5, MS Enterprise Mobility + Security

Overview

Cisco Identity Services Engine offers robust authentication, posture profiling, guest and secure access, and dynamic policy management. Known for its seamless integration with Cisco tools and network access control features, it ensures secure device and user authentication across networks.

Cisco Identity Services Engine is renowned for its capabilities in managing authentication, guest access, and policy management through segmentation. Its TrustSec functionality, alongside RADIUS and TACACS+ support, provides enhanced security, further augmented by its ability to operate in diverse environments. Its scalability and integration with Cisco solutions aid in maintaining network visibility and access control. Challenges include the complexity of initial deployments, somewhat cumbersome documentation, and limited integration in multi-vendor environments. While encountering issues in stability and updates, the demand for better analytics and straightforward troubleshooting alongside cost-effective licensing is notable.

What are the key features of Cisco Identity Services Engine?

Authentication: Secures user and device access to networks using robust authentication protocols.
Posture Profiling: Provides in-depth analysis of device compliance with security policies.
Guest Access Management: Allows controlled network access for guest users through streamlined processes.
Dynamic Policy Management: Enables automatic adjustment of security policies based on real-time data.
Segmentation via TrustSec: Enhances security levels by segmenting network traffic based on identity.

What benefits or ROI should users expect from Cisco Identity Services Engine?

Comprehensive Security: Ensures enforceable security policies across network access points.
Enhanced Integration: Facilitates seamless collaboration with existing Cisco infrastructures.
Improved Compliance: Helps meet industry security standards for network access and user rights.
Increased Visibility: Provides detailed insights into network traffic and user activities.
Device Management Efficiency: Streamlines the process of managing diverse devices within a single framework.

Industries implement Cisco Identity Services Engine primarily for network access control, ensuring secure authentication and segmentation in both wired and wireless environments. Supporting policies like bring-your-own-device and compliance standards, ISE manages identity-based access control, especially beneficial for entities that require detailed user rights management and integration within enterprise networks.

Cisco

Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) is the only comprehensive solution designed to help manage and protect users, devices, apps, and data in a mobile-first, cloud-first world.

Microsoft

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

Mars, Whole Foods, Land O'Lakes, Dow

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January 2026

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