Portnox vs Sophos Network Access Control comparison

Portnox Security and Sophos are both solutions in the Network Access Control (NAC) category. Portnox Security is ranked #6 with an average rating of 7.8, while Sophos is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.2. Portnox Security holds a 4.6% mindshare in NAC, compared to Sophos’s 1.8% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of Portnox Security users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of Sophos users who would recommend it.

Portnox

Read 22 Portnox reviews

1,862 Views
1,620 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Sophos Network Access Control

Read 22 Sophos Network Access Control reviews

1,053 Views
1,021 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Portnox

Sophos Network Access Control

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 15, 2025

Portnox and Sophos Network Access Control are both prominent solutions in the Network Access Control space. Portnox has an edge in pricing and customer support, while Sophos is preferred for its comprehensive security features.

Features: Portnox offers a straightforward cloud-based deployment with robust profiling, strong risk management, and easy integration with various vendor equipment. Sophos provides advanced threat detection, endpoint management, and comprehensive network security integration capabilities.

Room for Improvement: Portnox could improve its integration capabilities with certain security applications, offer more detailed analytics, and expand its agentless deployment options. Sophos may benefit from simplifying its complex initial setup, extending customization options for specific security policies, and refining its user interface for better accessibility.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Portnox's cloud-based deployment ensures ease of use, supported by responsive customer service. Sophos provides both on-premises and cloud solutions, typically requiring a more complex setup, but it offers extensive customer support for a seamless experience.

Pricing and ROI: Portnox is competitively priced with flexible plans that can improve ROI due to lower initial costs. In contrast, Sophos may demand a higher upfront investment but suggests increased value for organizations needing a comprehensive security solution.

To learn more, read our detailed Portnox vs. Sophos Network Access Control Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Portnox vs. Sophos Network Access Control

July 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

Portnox

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

6th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

ZTNA (12th), Passwordless Authentication (1st)

Sophos Network Access Control

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

8th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Network Access Control (NAC) category, the mindshare of Portnox is 4.6%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos Network Access Control is 1.8%, up from 1.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Access Control (NAC) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Portnox	4.6%
Sophos Network Access Control	1.8%
Other	93.6%

Network Access Control (NAC)

Featured Reviews

Scott Kerr

President at TrackerSoft

It is seamless and integrates well with our Azure setup

We use devices like PLCs and controllers, and when we receive a request to allow one on the network, we bypass typical authentication, associate it with a group account, and push it to a firewalled VLAN. However, problems arise when the same MAC address is requested for a different project. Our current system only finds authenticated MAC addresses, making it difficult to troubleshoot when the same device is used for multiple purposes. 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.

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Vishal Deshwal

technical associate at seamlessinfotech.com

Technical support excels but hardware enhancements are needed for faster processing

The best features in Sophos Network Access Control are fewer than FortiNAC and Cisco ISE, but when discussing budget and customer support, different vendors have different perspectives. Cisco is better in support, FortiNAC is better in security, and different vendors maintain different perspectives. I utilized the device quarantine feature around eight months ago. It is specifically for when any malicious or harmful file comes to the system. Through NAC, we can put it in quarantine, and if anything comes or goes from this system, it will be monitored continuously. We can define these parameters as needed. The role-based access controls feature of Sophos Network Access Control allows persons at different positions in an organization to have different types of roles. We can give them full access as an administrator, provide some network access, or give users only read-only access. This depends on the user's requirements and the position they hold within the organization, allowing us to grant roles according to their post. The integration capabilities of Sophos Network Access Control are good, as it can easily integrate with other solutions and vendors.

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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

"For the information security team, the security level was improved because it helped to manage and prevent rogue devices from connecting to the corporate network. The reporting was granular, and reports we scheduled for delivery on Portnox were useful during investigations and audits, especially in cases where the IP address changed."

"The product is a valuable solution within zero-trust architecture, enhancing network security and visibility."

"The solution has a valuable reporting feature."

"The minute people have issues on their network, we can see what is happening right away."

"The simplicity of the product is commendable."

"Technical support was very helpful when we needed them."

"The Portnox dashboard is very easy to use, and the UI is simple."

"The cloud-based feature of Portnox is excellent."

More Portnox pros

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

"The solution offers very good visibility."

"There is really good visibility for the appliance."

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

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

"The installation is very straightforward."

"We have had interactions with the technical support team through the Xnet platform. It's good."

"Web protection, URL filtering, and application filtering are the most valuable features of Sophos Network Access Control."

More Sophos Network Access Control pros

Cons

"The price could be better."

"Their filtering system tends to lag quite a bit, so when I'm doing filtering at times, it doesn't filter the items properly."

"Allowing for a search of MAC addresses in the interface, whether they are authenticated on the network or not, would be beneficial. Currently, it only finds authenticated MAC addresses, which complicates troubleshooting when the same MAC address is used for different requests."

"Now, the way security is viewed, maybe including something like AI, to automate some of the things that are required to be done would be great."

"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."

"The support team is very limited. They don't have much support during Asia Pacific hours; the team sits in during the EMI and US hours."

"The Wi-Fi integration could be done better from their end. If there is an improvement, it should be around having more functions on the integration with the Wi-Fi controller I used, which was a UniFi controller, also on-prem."

"The licensing is based on a per-port price, even when you are not using all of the ports, and this is something that could be improved."

More Portnox cons

"Continuous development in specific areas might be required."

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

"The difficult thing was finding the metrics."

"The user interface, in terms of managing the product, could be better."

"I would like to see mobile administration capabilities in the next release so that we can administer the device from a mobile device."

"The solution could offer more useful documentation."

"The solution can improve the for applying policies. They can be complex depending don't the group they are applied to."

"One area in which the product could be improved is the user interface. While functional, it can be somewhat cluttered and unintuitive, especially for new users."

More Sophos Network Access Control cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is not bad. It is a bit on the high side, but considering the cloud features and how much it costs to run the instance in the cloud, it is not unreasonable. We do have RADIUS servers for the US, Asia, and Europe."

"It's not cheap. It's not expensive. It's in the middle."

"The vendor price is fair."

"The pricing is a bit high, possibly due to the cloud features and running instances across regions like the US, Asia, and Europe."

"Pricing is not cheap. It is based on licenses per port. After licensing is purchased, you only pay for support."

"Pricing is quite reasonable."

"The tool is more expensive than Fortinet."

"Portnox CORE's pricing is adequate and cheaper compared to other complex solutions. Its licensing costs are yearly and include support. Cost is calculated per device."

More Portnox pricing and cost advice

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

"Sophos Network Access Control is an expensive solution."

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

"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."

"It is quite expensive."

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

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Computer Software Company

10%

Healthcare Company

Computer Software Company

13%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	11
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	6

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	15
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	2

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Portnox CORE?

It's easy to manage and troubleshoot thanks to the lightweight components.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Portnox CORE?

It's not cheap. It's not expensive. It's in the middle, so I'll probably give it a seven out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Portnox CORE?

We have been having some issues with it. That's why we're considering migrating to Portnox Clear due to some limitations with CORE. At the end of the day, Portnox Clear's capabilities are much more...

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

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Portnox

Compared 26% of the time

Aruba ClearPass vs Portnox

Compared 23% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Portnox

Compared 15% of the time

Forescout Platform vs Portnox

Compared 15% of the time

Ruckus Cloudpath vs Portnox

Compared 2% of the time

More Portnox Competitors

Aruba ClearPass vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 35% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 23% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 12% of the time

Twingate vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 10% of the time

Forescout Platform vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 7% of the time

More Sophos Network Access Control Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Portnox

August 2025

Download Portnox product report

Buyer's Guide

Sophos Network Access Control

August 2025

Download Sophos Network Access Control product report

Also Known As

Access Layers Portnox, Portnox CLEAR

No data available

Interactive Demo

Portnox Security

Demo not available

Sophos

Overview

Portnox offers Network Access Control to manage user access based on policy, securing both wired and wireless networks while ensuring compliance. It supports endpoint security and prevents unauthorized access across industries such as banking, IT, and energy distribution.

Designed for both on-premises and cloud deployments through CORE and Clear versions, Portnox delivers a straightforward interface aiding in deployment. It integrates effectively with equipment from multiple vendors and security solutions, enhancing endpoint profiling and ensuring compliance. Portnox provides real-time alerts and network activity insights, bolstered by excellent technical support and scalability. It also automates monitoring, reducing the need for dedicated resources while offering a comprehensive view of network activities.

What are the essential features of Portnox?

Comprehensive Network Visibility: Delivers detailed insights into network activity.
Agentless Operation: Simplifies deployment without requiring additional software on endpoints.
Seamless Integration: Works well with diverse equipment and security systems.
Real-Time Alerts: Immediate notifications for unauthorized activities.
Scalability: Accommodates growing network needs without adding complexity.

What benefits should users focus on in Portnox reviews?

Ease of Deployment: Quick setup without complex processes.
Security Capabilities: Strong defense against unauthorized access and breaches.
Automatic Monitoring: Continuously observes network traffic, requiring fewer resources.
Intuitive Insights: Clear visualization of network operations aids decision-making.
Reliable Support: Access to helpful technical assistance when needed.

Across industries like banking and IT, organizations rely on Portnox for endpoint profiling and compliance, ensuring remote worker security. Electricity distributors leverage its robust features for managing secure network access. Improvements like better third-party integration, enhanced graphical interface, and expanded support are desired, along with licensing adjustment and expanded use of AI and behavioral analytics.

Portnox Security

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

Data Realty, Royal London, Wales Millennium Centre, McLaren Construction Group, EL AL Israeli Airlines,

Rushmoor Borough Council

Buyer's Guide

Portnox vs. Sophos Network Access Control

July 2025

Free Report: Portnox vs. Sophos Network Access Control

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