ExtremeCloud IQ vs Sophos Network Access Control comparison

Extreme Networks and Sophos are both solutions in the Network Access Control (NAC) category. Extreme Networks is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.5, while Sophos is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.2. Extreme Networks holds a 0.9% mindshare in NAC, compared to Sophos’s 1.8% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Extreme Networks users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of Sophos users who would recommend it.

ExtremeCloud IQ

Read 76 ExtremeCloud IQ reviews

2,493 Views
224 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Sophos Network Access Control

Read 23 Sophos Network Access Control reviews

1,001 Views
971 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

ExtremeCloud IQ

Sophos Network Access Control

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 5, 2024

Sophos Network Access Control and ExtremeCloud IQ are network management and security solutions. Sophos offers robust security features, while ExtremeCloud IQ excels in cloud capabilities, making it more suitable for cloud-centric environments.

Features: Sophos Network Access Control provides excellent device authentication, threat response, and compliance management, ensuring a secure network. ExtremeCloud IQ offers advanced cloud management, AI-driven insights, and exceptional scalability, catering to complex cloud environments.

Room for Improvement: Sophos could enhance cloud integration, simplify its deployment process, and improve scalability for larger networks. ExtremeCloud IQ may benefit from more comprehensive on-premise support, improved user interface customization, and expanded reporting capabilities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Sophos Network Access Control offers complex on-premise deployment, but benefits from comprehensive support. ExtremeCloud IQ's cloud-based model ensures easier deployment with ongoing support options, providing more flexibility in customer service.

Pricing and ROI: Sophos Network Access Control has higher initial setup costs but delivers strong ROI for security-focused enterprises. ExtremeCloud IQ offers competitive pricing and higher ROI in cloud environments, due to its scalability and advanced features, resulting in better long-term value for cloud integration.

To learn more, read our detailed ExtremeCloud IQ vs. Sophos Network Access Control Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

ExtremeCloud IQ vs. Sophos Network Access Control

September 2025

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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

ExtremeCloud IQ

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

11th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Management Applications (13th), Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) (21st)

Sophos Network Access Control

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

8th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Network Access Control (NAC) category, the mindshare of ExtremeCloud IQ is 0.9%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos Network Access Control is 1.8%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Access Control (NAC) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Sophos Network Access Control	1.8%
ExtremeCloud IQ	0.9%
Other	97.3%

Network Access Control (NAC)

Featured Reviews

KristianLarsen

Senior Consultant at Mikla IT

Helps resolve network-related issues quickly and is reasonably priced

The tool has both advantages and weaknesses because it has several pieces of software on which it has been working because of buyouts. The tool has several branches of software versions, and you can consolidate it into ExtremeCloud, but it also has the disadvantage that sometimes people can get issues because the software on the hardware is different than they expected, especially if it is not converted to the tool used. The tool has simplified things, but it also adds a complexity that sometimes stumps some users. In the future, I think the tool’s onboarding setup of a new tenant could be smoother or faster. I also think that they could provide a simpler setup for first-level support so that it can be easier for them to have a support dashboard that would help them. I am talking about customer support organizations, so you usually have a high turnaround, but you need to have something that is easier to use and where you don't need so much training.

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HirenPatel2

Manager at rspl

Have faced delays in support despite strong multi-layer policy configuration

I have observed some disadvantages as we have experienced one particular problem. We were facing an issue of synchronization of the endpoint with our firewall with help on a cloud for heartbeat syncing. However, it was not syncing as per our requirement. The user has to connect our firewall with the help of VPN. We were supposed to assume a solution on a cloud, which has good synchronization on a cloud with Sophos Central. It will sync with our firewall as well with the help of Sophos Central. Endpoint and firewall synchronization is not as smooth as we are expecting from Sophos Network Access Control. We have to connect with VPN. We are expecting that if we have already installed an endpoint on our system and it is connected to the internet, then it must be synchronized on a cloud with Sophos Central. Through Sophos Central, it must connect with our firewall. If the endpoint is configured on Sophos Central and the firewall is also configured in Sophos Central, then there should be no need to connect to VPN.

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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

"It excels in Wi-Fi and switch management, as well as other internal management aspects, offering speed and efficiency that surpass what other competitors provide."

"ExtremeCloud IQ is an intuitive platform. The tool's ability to streamline network operations depends on the end customer. Sometimes it's quicker, and sometimes it takes much longer. It helps me to address network problems."

"ExtremeCloud IQ is a complete package with the pilot and the co-pilot feature that gives me full visibility of the network."

"It is more cost effective and gives more flexibility."

"Extreme is transitioning to 802.11ax facilities running the 2G and the 5G cloud, allowing for higher density in education use cases, and ExtremeCloud IQ provides you with novel ways to manage everything. In the old days, you used to have a controller on-site for your access points, but everything is easier now."

"Another valuable feature is the automation of Wi-Fi configurations, which allows the wireless network to auto-reconfigure in case of problems."

"Whenever I have a concern, question, or just need a refresher the helpful staff at AeroHive is there to help me. By far, the ]best relationship I have ever had with a vendor."

"When we deployed the new IP that is managed wirelessly in the cloud, it fixed the problems. Now, we don't have any more reports, and everything works fine."

More ExtremeCloud IQ pros

"The most valuable features of Sophos Network Access Control are the quick response times to threats and reliable security."

"Sophos' technical support is great, very fast and responsive, and they always know how to fix the problem."

"The solution offers very good visibility."

"There is really good visibility for the appliance."

"I found all Sophos Network Access Control features valuable, but IP blocking is the most useful."

"The installation is very straightforward."

"The biggest advantage of Sophos Network Access Control is that it is very synchronized with the security on both the endpoint and the firewall on a single platform, and it is easy to maintain."

"The platform's most valuable features include robust reporting and analytics capabilities, which provide deep insights into our sales performance and customer behavior."

More Sophos Network Access Control pros

Cons

"I would like to see a remote phone application for monitoring APs when on the road."

"Integrating the network access control solution can be complex, as it essentially combines two separate products."

"An area for improvement in ExtremeCloud IQ is its technical support. Support could be better, especially when you need help concerning ExtremeCloud IQ and WinG."

"Browser load time for the cloud is long and needs improvement."

"Having a wizard for customers who are just starting might be helpful."

"Pricing could be improved. It could be lower."

"I know a school district, a big school district of mine, ripped out Extreme due to inefficiencies. It was the guest network that can be a struggle. They tried to differentiate between their primary network, and then offer a secondary."

"ExtremeCloud should invest in an SD-WAN solution or integration with SD-WAN."

More ExtremeCloud IQ cons

"Sophos Network Access Control requires a lot of resources to work, which is an area for improvement. Pricing could also be improved because it's costly."

"I would like to be able to fully customize the reports."

"I would like more details on the incoming connection, like what is the download speed and how it fluctuates. If Sophos can give that information, it would be really good."

"Users are not controlled by role-based access; it's basically device-based control. The definition of role-based control is a little vague here because on the cloud level, it regulates access rather than tasks."

"The solution could increase the integration with other platforms or other systems. This would be very useful."

"In order to provide better management, it would be ideal with they offered better plugins for their firewall."

"It would be beneficial to consider some improvements regarding the dashboard."

"The difficult thing was finding the metrics."

More Sophos Network Access Control cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is costly as compared to Meraki, Aruba, Juniper, and Cisco. Cloud IQ is an enterprise solution, whereas Meraki is specifically a single solution."

"I did a multi-year license. It was a three-year license. It compares well with others in terms of the price. It is about a hundred dollars per year on a three-year scale."

"I would advise that you be sure to compare apples with apples. Many customers just look at the price per AP and licences, and compare that against other solutions. But, they do not look at the complete picture such as: TCO - how much the equipment will cost you over, say, seven years? Will the customer need to change complete infrastructure when they want to buy the newest hardware? Does support include a lifetime warranty and RMA?"

"Start small and grow big. You can choose the basic Aerohive Connect free subscription solution and, later, if needed (in terms of functionality) you can upgrade to Aerohive Select."

"ExtremeCloud IQ's pricing is high."

"Buy near the end of Q4 in order to get a deal."

"Extreme is twice as cheap compared to Cisco due to the currency exchange. Normally, I think Cisco would be a little bit more expensive, but there wouldn't be that much of a difference."

"It is easy for customers to use this product because they are able to interchange the license depending on their usage rather than having to buy individual licenses for each asset."

More ExtremeCloud IQ pricing and cost advice

"Sophos Network Access Control is an expensive solution."

"Sophos Network Access Control is very cheap compared to other solutions like Cisco, Barracuda, and Palo Alto."

"It provides a moderate pricing option for all of its features and benefits."

"I rate the price of Sophos Network Access Control a five out of ten."

"It is quite expensive."

"Sophos Network Access Control is costly but has a similar price range as CrowdStrike and Check Point. The product can get more market share if Sophos can play around with Sophos Network Access Control pricing and improve it."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	45
Midsize Enterprise	13
Large Enterprise	24

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	15
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	3

Questions from the Community

What are pros and cons of Aruba 515 Series AP vs. Cisco Meraki or Extreme Networks?

Depends. I have personally used both Cisco and Aruba so I am familiar with them. Extreme I am not, so unless they have some feature that I need or want, I wouldn't consider them. Do you have expe...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ExtremeCloud IQ?

The licensing was a challenge due to budget constraints, and I used ExtremeCloud IQ without a license for a period. The documentation and training courses were also costly, impacting how easily I c...

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What advice do you have for others considering ExtremeCloud IQ?

I rate the overall solution nine out of ten only due to the poor documentation. Despite this, I was very happy with ExtremeCloud IQ as it greatly eased my workload, allowing me to manage the networ...

See all answers

What do you like most about Sophos Network Access Control?

Sophos Network Access Control has a useful interface, and I like its dashboard, which is very useful for us to check everything.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sophos Network Access Control?

I am not able to say much on the financial specifics as it pertains to the sales unit.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sophos Network Access Control?

A point for improvement for Sophos Network Access Control would be to implement a SIEM tool functionality. For example, CrowdStrike is direct competition to Sophos Network Access Control, not even ...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 8% of the time

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Compared 8% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs ExtremeCloud IQ

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Compared 34% of the time

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Compared 24% of the time

Portnox vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 12% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 11% of the time

Twingate vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 10% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

ExtremeCloud IQ

October 2025

Download ExtremeCloud IQ product report

Buyer's Guide

Sophos Network Access Control

September 2025

Download Sophos Network Access Control product report

Also Known As

Aerohive Networks, Aerohive HiveManager, HiveManager, ExtremeCloud , ExtremeSecurity

No data available

Overview

ExtremeCloud is a resilient and scalable cloud-based network management solution offered by Extreme Networks as a subscription service.

The network is your platform of engagement for clients and staff. We have designed ExtremeCloud to provide superior user experience by empowering you and the applications that drive your business. The combination of Extreme Networks’ smart wired and wireless edges and the elasticity, resilience and scalability provided via state-of-the-art datacenters distributed strategically for worldwide availability allows you to respond to the changing needs of your business, at the speed of cloud, through a simple, multi-site aware user interface.

Extreme Networks

Sophos NAC Provides comprehensive, easy-to-deploy network access control that protects enterprise networks from the threats posed by non-compliant, compromised, or misconfigured endpoint computers. The software solution is vendor-neutral and works with existing network infrastructure and security applications. Computers are permitted or denied access to the network, based on a centrally defined, policy-driven assessment - and isolated, quarantined for remediation, automatically remediated, or sent alerts. Administrators can define and manage policies uniquely for managed and guest computers, including checking their security status and ensuring that no unwanted applications are run.

Sophos

Sample Customers

Henry Ford Health System, Baltimore Ravens, Brandili, Federal University of Alagoas, CEDAE, Caxias do Sul, UNISC Concurrency, CenturyLink Field, Louisiana College, Cricket Tasmania Stadium, Moscow Internet Exchange

Rushmoor Borough Council

Buyer's Guide

ExtremeCloud IQ vs. Sophos Network Access Control

September 2025

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