Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs RSA SecurID comparison

The compared Cisco and RSA solutions aren't in the same category. Cisco is ranked #1 in NAC , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 24.2% mindshare in the category. RSA is ranked #9 in AS , with an average rating of 7.0, and holds a 5.9% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of RSA users who would recommend it.

Cisco Identity Services Eng...

Read 144 Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) reviews

16,354 Views
10,630 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

RSA SecurID

Read 9 RSA SecurID reviews

2,977 Views
2,650 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cisco Identity Services Eng...

RSA SecurID

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and RSA SecurID based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

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

To learn more, read our detailed Network Access Control (NAC) Report (Updated: October 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Network Access Control (NAC)

October 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 871,469 peers since 2012

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

6.5

Number of Reviews

144

Ranking in other categories

Network Access Control (NAC) (1st), Cisco Security Portfolio (2nd)

RSA SecurID

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Authentication Systems (9th), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) (4th)

Mindshare comparison

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and RSA SecurID 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 24.2%, down 29.5% compared to last year.
RSA SecurID, on the other hand, focuses on Authentication Systems, holds 5.9% mindshare, down 7.4% since last year.

Network Access Control (NAC) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)	24.2%
Aruba ClearPass	23.6%
Fortinet FortiNAC	17.9%
Other	34.30000000000001%

Network Access Control (NAC)

Authentication Systems Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
RSA SecurID	5.9%
Microsoft Entra ID	12.9%
Cisco Duo	8.1%
Other	73.1%

Authentication Systems

Featured Reviews

SunilkumarNaganuri

Service Line Manager (Service Operations Expert) - Network Access Control at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees

Enhanced device administration hindered by complex deployment and security limitations

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) needs to improve the profiling preauthentication. They are very poor in asset classification and should focus on improving the preauthentication profiling, especially for NAC use cases. This will give them a roadmap for software-defined access (SDA) use cases and network segmentation. Threat detection capabilities are very weak. Additionally, the product is vulnerable and has many bugs.

Read full review

Santhosh Rajamanickam

Senior Consultant - Principal SOC Security at Royal Technology Solutions LLC

Enhanced security, reliable, helpful technical support, and easy to install

RSA SecurID Access is a scalable solution. I would rate the scalability of RSA SecurID Access a nine out of ten. Initially, our organization had around 250 users for whom we were aware of the usage of the solution. However, there were certain users for whom we were not notified due to the nature of their job, and hence we were not aware of their usage. Eventually, we decided to scale the solution for all our 4,000 users. Currently, we are using it for 250 users only. There is a high likelihood that we will expand our usage in the future.

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

"One of the advantages is that you can easily find rogue endpoints. For example, if you don't want to allow any endpoints where you don't know the people plugging into what kind of devices, ISE can give you a big, clear picture, e.g., what kind of endpoints are getting connected to your network. That is one of the advantages."

"Cisco ISE now competes with any other product in the space because of its centralized and unified highly secure access control with ISE."

"When you push out the policy, it is able to populate the entire network at one time."

"It offers automatic profiling of phones and computers, enabling administrators to identify and categorize devices seamlessly."

"It has all of the features available, in fact, more than what you need."

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

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

"It does a good job of establishing trust for each access request, no matter the source. It's also very effective at helping with the distributed network and at securing access."

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) pros

"I think it is really good when it comes to the hard token side of things."

"One of the most valuable feature is the ID soft token and hard token."

"I would say that the two-factor authentication and the ease of installation and configuration are the most valuable features of this solution."

"The most valuable features of RSA SecurID Access are push notifications, multifactor authentication, and ease of integration and deployment."

"It is a scalable solution."

Cons

"Migration could be better. Right now, we back up with the new version, and it requires a lot of licensing and other things. Whenever we choose a product, it's very difficult because we have to meet the requirements of each feature. There is no standard feature, so the best system that we bought may not fit the solution. We have to look at every feature that the customer uses. If you compare it with other products like Aruba, it's not the same. With Cisco, I have to read all about the features on this version and the licensing required for the product. In Aruba, that thing is covered when you get one license because it covers almost everything. It could also be more scalable."

"The templates could be better. When you have to do certs, especially with X.500 certs, it isn't very intuitive."

"In order to make it a ten, it should be more user-friendly. You need somebody who is knowledgeable about it to use it. It's not easy to use. We have to rely heavily on technical support."

"There is room for improvement in its ability to allow end users to self-enroll their devices. Instead, you should be able to assign that permission by AD group, which is currently not available."

"The pricing is fair."

"The primary issue is the slowness of the application and the web interface. We have multiple admin nodes and app nodes. So when I need to get some information about a particular user, the GUI would take ten to fifteen seconds in loading when we need to know right away."

"Third-party integration is important, as well as the continuous adaptation feature which is the AIOps. It would be helpful to include the AIOps."

"Cisco ISE could be simplified somewhat. I would also prefer certificate-based authentication over confirmation-based authentication for all the processes. It's possible for us to do a workaround, but the process needs to be simplified."

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) cons

"It doesn't offer an agent-based or reverse-proxy-based approach to integration, which could enhance its flexibility."

"The interface needs to improve a lot. It should be easier to manage and navigate."

"Sometimes, we encounter issues with other applications that are not compatible with RSA SecurID Access and require expert troubleshooting. At those times, we need additional support from an implementation perspective. This is an area where Oracle can improve as there is no substitute for reliable and efficient support."

"There are different compliances across the globe; RSA SecurID Access could be more complaint-based."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I am not aware of the current price for Cisco ISE, but considering it is a Cisco product, it is likely to be quite high."

"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."

"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."

"I believe I have paid around $1,000 in licensing fees. The license is annual."

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

"Cisco is expensive, but it's the cost for all the functions and value it brings. Functions like internet solutions, integrations, security, and many more features are important, but it's expensive for some clients."

"Cisco ISE is not inexpensive, but the solution is well-built and worth the expense."

"I would rate the pricing an eight out of ten, one being cheap and ten being expensive."

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

"RSA SecurID Access is expensive."

"I think the price of this solution is reasonable compared to YubiKey and Duo given that it offers the same similar features."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Access Control (NAC) solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

871,469 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Financial Services Firm

17%

Government

13%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	44
Midsize Enterprise	31
Large Enterprise	91

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Large Enterprise	4

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

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

Comparisons

Aruba ClearPass vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 22% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 21% of the time

Forescout Platform vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 9% of the time

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

Compared 5% of the time

Portnox vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 4% of the time

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) Competitors

Yubico YubiKey vs RSA SecurID

Compared 54% of the time

Microsoft Entra ID vs RSA SecurID

Compared 9% of the time

Cisco Duo vs RSA SecurID

Compared 8% of the time

Fortinet FortiAuthenticator vs RSA SecurID

Compared 4% of the time

Fortinet FortiToken vs RSA SecurID

Compared 3% of the time

More RSA SecurID Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

October 2025

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) report

Download Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) product report

Buyer's Guide

Authentication Systems

September 2025

Download RSA SecurID product report

Also Known As

Cisco ISE

RSA SecurID Access, RSA Access Manager

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

The RSA SecurID Suite combines the separate disciplines of access management and authentication with identity governance and user lifecycle management into one comprehensive suite. It goes way beyond the capabilities of traditional identity and access management systems by using risk analytics to provide identity and access assurance. This helps organizations solve two fundamental challenges:

Verifying that their users are who they say they are.
Providing their users with the right level of access.

RSA

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

Milliman, Geisinger Health System, Advanced Micro Devices

Buyer's Guide

Network Access Control (NAC)

October 2025

Download Free Report

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Fortinet and others in Network Access Control (NAC). Updated: October 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

871,469 professionals have used our research since 2012.

We monitor all Network Access Control (NAC) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.