

Portnox and ExtremeControl are network access control solutions. Portnox seems to have the upper hand with its cloud-based scalability, appealing pricing, and lower maintenance costs.
Features: Portnox provides cloud-based scalability with agentless and agent-based options. It includes application control, policy-based compliance checks, and third-party integration with EDR and antivirus systems. ExtremeControl offers deep visibility into network applications, comprehensive device integration, and strong third-party support.
Room for Improvement: Portnox could improve in support staffing, firewall integration, and vendor integration. Licensing based on port usage rather than device use is also a concern. ExtremeControl users desire features like certificate management and better integration with baseline capabilities.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Portnox offers diverse deployment options, including cloud and hybrid models, with mixed reviews on customer service response speed. ExtremeControl has easy integration with existing systems and generally positive customer support feedback, although users desire faster responses.
Pricing and ROI: Portnox is viewed as affordable with significant ROI, reducing IT staff maintenance tasks. ExtremeControl is seen as more expensive, especially for small enterprises, but competes well with major players like Cisco ISE.
Having good connectivity through Wi-Fi is essential for the entire business.
If I compare this to an on-premises environment using Cisco ISE or Aruba ClearPass, it would require phenomenally large teams for infrastructure management.
If you were moving from a traditional on-premise NAC that was 100% managed by the IT department, there would be great savings in going to a cloud-based NAC with Portnox.
Most customers feel value immediately upon deployment.
If we are out of upgrades or there is a new upgrade, they sometimes require us to upgrade to provide support.
For technical support of ExtremeControl, I have no doubts that they cope with problems effectively.
The main area needing improvement is the technical knowledge of support staff.
For very high severity issues where the entire office is non-functional, response time is within 30 minutes.
They respond very immediately and provide detailed, amazing support.
For scalability in larger environments, it can be rated a maximum of 10.
We have never had any challenge based on a customer who has 1,000 devices versus a customer who has 30,000 devices; the feel is the same.
They ensure the backend can support it and do the provisioning while maintaining headroom and elasticity.
I rate scalability a ten; you simply pay and you get more.
The product itself is available and its uptime is 100%.
In the four years that I used Portnox, if it crashed or the server crashed, that would not have been more than once.
If there is a version one and another version, the communication between the organization using it and Portnox should be firm so they can coordinate effectively.
We rely more on the cloud for analytics rather than on-premise, and some customers prefer relying on an on-premise solution rather than a cloud solution.
For their wired network, especially with third-party switching, this is where most of the features are lost.
There is also another product called UZTNA, which is said to have NAC in this solution, but it is not as advanced as our regular ExtremeControl.
Ideally, we should be able to search for any MAC address in the database, regardless of its authentication status, to see all its associated groups and potential conflicts.
When I reach the technical support, they give solutions that do not help me much, so I try to search the internet for other users' experiences to find solutions.
When I'm doing filtering at times, it doesn't filter the items properly.
Compared to other competitors, they have the best pricing.
The pricing of ExtremeControl is considerable; I would rate it at eight or nine.
For smaller ones, they need to consider that the price for less than 1,000 users is important, as this is the minimum number of users required for a license.
If you compare Portnox with all other well-known standard products, it is the cheapest.
The pricing is a bit high, possibly due to the cloud features and running instances across regions like the US, Asia, and Europe.
You are charged according to the number of users.
The biggest benefits for my customers from ExtremeControl include the ability to integrate third-party devices, integration with user databases like Microsoft Active Directory or other directory software, and it is easy to maintain by customers.
Integrating ExtremeControl with ExtremeConnect provides an additional layer of security and control over what devices are onboarding to the network, granting full visibility.
The most effective feature of ExtremeControl is that whenever any user is connected through the network, I can really dig down and check exactly what applications they have been using.
It's notable how Portnox has improved operational efficiency.
It is a very robust application because three teams use that part: the network team, the security team, and the support people.
It is possible to find the MAC address in the switch, but in Portnox, it is very useful to see the status of those ports, and that increases our security.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Portnox | 5.8% |
| ExtremeControl | 2.2% |
| Other | 92.0% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 3 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 3 |
| Large Enterprise | 3 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 16 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 5 |
| Large Enterprise | 9 |
ExtremeControl delivers efficient end-user activity recognition and traffic monitoring, valued for its user-friendliness, flexibility, and strong third-party integration. It secures mobile environments reliably and consistently, aiding in detailed application monitoring and troubleshooting.
ExtremeControl provides seamless security integration, recognized for its capacity to seamlessly incorporate user databases and third-party devices, ensuring enhanced and reliable security. The comprehensive features, backed by straightforward documentation and implementation processes, support the detailed monitoring of application traffic, which assists in troubleshooting. It is not without areas for development, particularly in on-premises controllers that could benefit from more features and options. Additional control over network traffic and improved product integration, especially with certificate management and cloud analytics, are desirable enhancements.
What are the key features of ExtremeControl?ExtremeControl is commonly implemented in educational institutions and enterprises, managing user identities and network security, integrating Active Directory, and supporting BYOD policies. It enables custom device authentication, setting policies for internal network access and quarantining unauthorized devices. Organizations benefit from seamless third-party integration, supporting secure network environments.
Portnox provides advanced network visibility and proactive security without complexity, ensuring easy setup and scalability. Its agentless nature and intuitive design enable seamless device management and system integration, promoting efficient network operations and endpoint security.
Portnox is known for offering comprehensive network access control, providing firms with vital tools for managing authentication and securing endpoint devices. It's praised for ease of use in integrating with systems such as RADIUS servers and offering detailed analytical capabilities to ensure compliance and control unauthorized access. While users appreciate the intuitive interface and device management, improvements have been suggested in the areas of better GUI, integration with firewalls, and enhanced configuration methods. Portnox aids in handling dynamic VLAN assignments and securing access in both wired and wireless networks, proving particularly valuable for on-premises and remote environments.
What are the key features of Portnox?In industries where network security is paramount, such as finance and healthcare, Portnox is implemented to fortify access control and manage endpoint connections effectively. Its ability to secure both on-premises and remote environments makes it a versatile choice across sectors that require stringent access management, particularly where unauthorized device connections pose significant risks.
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