

Find out in this report how the two ZTNA solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
Now, with the SAML and Active Directory integration, the process is down to under two minutes, which frees up our senior staff to focus on critical infrastructure tasks instead of managing access tickets.
The platform automatically reads the user role and maps them to the correct network subnets instantly, saving us countless hours of administration overhead every month.
Financially, we observe that while costs were initially high, optimizing user connections has rendered better financial management in the long run, improving user access without extensive management needs.
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.
By automating the device containment and remediation processes, we save countless hours weekly.
I would definitely rate customer support 10 out of 10.
The ticketing system is responsive, and the technical team knows the product inside and out.
My advice is to map out your user access groups and routing subnets before configuring the server; this makes it easier to enforce least privilege.
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.
In terms of support, it is usually quite impressive. I usually get support in a matter of minutes or seconds, depending on the priority of the ticket.
When we deploy and install OpenVPN Access Server, the principle is to install and forget.
You can easily upgrade the underlying hardware resources or spin up additional nodes in a cluster configuration if you need to handle a massive surge in concurrent users.
It's not very easy to expand, and it would be beneficial if the process were simpler.
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.
Its infrastructure scales automatically in the background, eliminating concerns about capacity or backend upgrades.
It has a centralized cloud-based architecture, so we do not have to worry about other considerations such as local infrastructure or purchasing additional equipment.
OpenVPN Access Server is 100% stable in my experience.
Regarding stability, I have not had any crashes, performance issues, or stability issues with OpenVPN Access Server.
OpenVPN Access Server is very stable, and we have a hassle-free work experience using it.
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.
Lastly, it would be awesome to see native support for newer, lighter protocols through WireGuard built straight into the platform alongside standard OpenVPN for better performance efficiency.
Additionally, native support for newer, lighter protocols like WireGuard built straight into the platform alongside standard OpenVPN for better performance efficiency would be beneficial.
With WireGuard, which is locked down over UDP, it is harder for attackers to probe ports.
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.
I would definitely request a UI refresh that makes the dashboard more modern and surfaces critical logs so they are easier to access in a pinch.
The sticker price may look clear, but the real cost includes the time spent untangling subscription limitations, account conflicts, sales handoffs, and unclear guidance.
My experience with pricing is excellent as the pricing is free.
The experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for OpenVPN Access Server is really good, not that expensive.
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 most valuable features of OpenVPN are its ease of use, client familiarity, end-user familiarity, operating system integration, and price points.
The main benefits I have seen from using OpenVPN Access Server include secure access to private resources over the public internet.
OpenVPN Access Server has positively impacted my organization by allowing access to our private services, enhancing security, and enabling remote work from anywhere.
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 | 3.3% |
| OpenVPN Access Server | 3.5% |
| Other | 93.2% |

| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 44 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 14 |
| Large Enterprise | 25 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 19 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 9 |
| Large Enterprise | 15 |
OpenVPN Access Server Enterprise provides secure, scalable remote access with strong encryption and cross-platform compatibility, leveraging open-source flexibility for cost-effectiveness. It's ideal for connecting remote workers, maintaining privacy, and securing network communications.
OpenVPN Access Server Enterprise is renowned for its ease of setup and adaptability, supporting Linux and different operating systems, which ensures robust security and seamless integration across network scenarios. With features like two-factor authentication and customizable installers, it emphasizes privacy and remote connectivity. While it offers robust documentation and community support, there are challenges with user management due to the lack of a simple GUI. Users note stability issues under heavy traffic, and improvements in security features and configuration automation are desired. Despite these areas for enhancement, it remains a reliable choice for secure remote access.
What are the key features?
What benefits and ROI should users seek?
In industries such as finance and healthcare, OpenVPN Access Server Enterprise secures sensitive data while enabling remote access across LANs and VPCs. It's utilized for encrypted traffic protection, facilitating site-to-site VPNs, and connecting mobile workers securely, thus maintaining data integrity in interoffice communications and IoT platforms.
Portnox NAC is a cloud-native network access control solution built for today's hybrid, distributed enterprises. Get real-time visibility into every device on your network, enforce risk-based access policies automatically, and maintain continuous compliance — all without deploying a single on-premises appliance.
----------
About Portnox Security
Portnox is a cloud-native enterprise access control provider that helps organizations secure every identity - human and non-human - across networks, applications, and infrastructure. As identities, devices, and workloads multiply across modern environments, Portnox enables continuous access verification based on identity context, device posture, and risk signals. Its unified platform brings together passwordless authentication, access control, continuous policy enforcement, and automated response through a single policy engine.
Portnox gives security and IT teams real-time visibility into everything connecting and the ability to quickly restrict, quarantine, or revoke non-compliant access. Today, Portnox actively manages more than one million devices worldwide, secures 40 million authentication sessions, and blocks over one million unauthorized access attempts every day. Learn more at portnox.com.
CAPABILITIES:
• Discover and assess users, devices, and identities connecting to corporate resources
• Unify continuous zero trust access control on networks, applications, and infrastructure
• Enforce identity- and context-aware access policies
• Enable secure remote work without complexity
• Deliver passwordless authentication, device posture checks, and continuous access enforcement
• Control administrative access to routers, switches, firewalls, and other network devices
• Improve audit readiness with visibility, access logs, and policy-based compliance controls
BUILT FOR:
Portnox is designed for distributed organizations that need to manage access across employees, contractors, service accounts, managed devices, unmanaged devices, IoT, network infrastructure, SaaS applications, private applications, and AI agents. The platform helps reduce reliance on on-premises appliances, legacy VPNs, and fragmented access tools by centralizing access policy enforcement from a single cloud-native policy engine.
INTEGRATIONS:
Portnox integrates with the tools you already use (including Azure AD / Entra ID, Okta) and works with your existing network appliances, (such as Meraki, Fortinet, and more), and many other identity and network infrastructure tools.
We monitor all ZTNA 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.