What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for networking access. We need to connect, for example, every user in the building to the network. Generally, the users are not using more cables. They are just using Wi-Fi. We connect the users via Wi-Fi to the network of the company, and we also have this network access control which is one appliance that can verify the current situation of the endpoints. For example, if the device has the correct credentials to access the networking, if the device, for example, has the latest Windows updates, the latest antivirus updates, you can create your own routes to let the device in and access the network, or deny it, or put it in quarantine. You'll be able to access some remediation networks.
What is most valuable?
The network management solutions that they have is great. They use a multi-vendor approach. For example, you don't have to buy their equipment or their devices. You can buy from another vendor and then try to integrate with the network management system. The same is true for ClearPass. It's network access control. It's multi-vendor, and it's prepared to integrate with a lot of things. That this is the main advantage of the product.
In our organization, we might have up to 20,000 people who need to connect to the network and access Wi-Fi. And not just inside the buildings, as they have remote access points, for example, that we can put in a home to provide the same or almost the same access to the network that you can get when you are in the office.
The solution is scalable.
It is a stable product.
We've found the setup to be pretty straightforward.
The solution is very secure. This year, they may have only been one issue, whereas, for example, Cisco had maybe ten. It's very secure.
What needs improvement?
The interface we have could be better. For example, Cisco is always looking to use the latest features that we can have for our front end.
Some things we need to do manually. For example, we need to support an Excel file and do some filtering. In Cisco devices or in other brands, you have these filters inside the front end. We'd like them to generally improve the front end of the solution.
Sometimes, if you have legacy solutions, it doesn't integrate well with this product.
Sometimes people complain about a lack of features and will instead want to try Cisco or Huawei.
For how long have I used the solution?
I started using the solution in 2016 or 2017.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We always try to focus on stability. Sometimes the newer versions are difficult to control.
For network security, it is not so easy, however, for connectivity, it is easy.
We don't have anything to complain about in general with the stability. It's been good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable.
We have about 35,000 people using the solution.
How are customer service and support?
I've dealt with support. They've been helpful and responsive.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I'm also familiar with Cisco. Compared with other solutions in the market, this product is great. We use Juniper as well.
How was the initial setup?
I don't handle the initial setup. I participate in the decision. However, I'm not responsible for projects nowadays.
The initial setup depends on the solution. For networking, for example, connecting people is easy; however, to secure the connection is not easy in every solution. If you go to any vendor, you need to have a lot of plans.
Nowadays, the solution is easy to implement. I'd rate the solution four out of five in terms of ease of deployment.
We have a dedicated team for maintenance. Nowadays, everybody complains about security. Therefore we have a dedicated team to do the patching and stuff like that. We are using multi-vendor solutions to do patching. However, we need to patch everything almost every day.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Cisco is expensive. This solution costs less than that.
What other advice do I have?
The company I work for is a partner.
We are not using the latest version of the solution. Generally, in production, we don't use the latest version as sometimes the latest version has some effort.
At our organization, they are moving to the cloud towards network management solutions like Google Central, however, nowadays, they are using everything on-premise now.
If they are changing devices, I'd advise any user to map all the features they have in the environment. Sometimes when you migrate, for example, if you don't map the technology after the implementation, you say, "but this is not working." Maybe you forgot to configure something. Without mapping, it will be hard to pin down issues.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
