We performed a comparison between Aruba ClearPass and Cisco ISE (Identity Service Engine) based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.
Comparison Results: Although Cisco is a worldwide, well-known, trusted, and respected branded product, with many known complexities, Aruba ClearPass is flexible, versatile, and more user-friendly than Cisco. Aruba’s aggressive stance on keeping hackers out with strict authentication policies and its cost-effective business model and excellent technical service make it a NAC solution to consider seriously.
"Gives us network access control, visibility, scalability, security, and control in what is becoming an uncontrollable, inundated BYOD and IoT world."
"It makes it easy to require robust user authentication for both wired and wireless endpoints, including BYODs."
"The support is top notch, expert, and very friendly. "
"A mature and functional product."
"The most valuable feature is flexibility as it supports solutions from multiple vendors."
"The customized modules for guests, the self-registration and login, one license for all, no license for guest users, and the self-integration of sandbox integration are the most valuable features."
"It has an easy to learn web GUI and command lines."
"Document authentications allows us to decide which users can connect to an office VLAN and this has been the most valuable feature."
"Cisco ISE scales exceptionally well."
"The most valuable features are the ability to retrieve information about Active Directory user names, viewing the log files to see which MAC address tried to connect with the created SSIDs, portal designing for your company, hotspot tools, and creating network rules for WiFi access."
"The authorization and accounts inside of ISE are very useful for us."
"The best features are the scalability and the license structure."
"One of the most important features is the authentication security for the individual connection to the network through their computer or laptop."
"Cisco ISE is a comprehensive solution that allows you to control access to network resources granularly based on policies."
"The TACACS and RADIUS have been the most valuable features so far."
"RADIUS is the best feature because it supplies authentication to our entire campus."
"A specific component is part of the solution called ClearPass Onboard, which can sometimes be complex and challenging to set up. If they could simplify the process and make it easier, that would be a benefit."
"What needs improvement in Aruba ClearPass is just the endpoint context server, in particular, the indication with the context server because sometimes the daily process isn't as smooth-sailing. Sometimes, the information isn't up-to-date. I'm not sure if that's a vendor limitation, but currently, it's the only tricky part of the current configuration. What I'd like to see in the next release of Aruba ClearPass is a dashboard or a monitoring feature that would allow users to see the integration process with an external server because there's no visibility into that right now."
"I remember our technical team stating that the installation front of the solution was a bit difficult when compared to other solutions."
"Instructions on adding layouts are not as clear as they could be."
"The initial setup was quite complex, it is not that easy."
"Licensing cost is extremely high."
"I would like to see better integration with the firewall for zeroing out blacklisted users."
"I would like the area of managing wired technology to be improved. Wireless is very good but I'm still struggling a bit to do my end to end configurations in the wired technology area."
"The user interface can be improved."
"The web UI should be made similar to the one in DNAC."
"I don't see as many customers as I should adopting the onboarding feature. I think Cisco should make that process a lot easier and less intrusive on the end users' devices."
"The Guest Network verification needs to add a QR code option."
"I would like to see integration with other vendors, and the RADIUS integration needs to be improved a little bit."
"The support could be faster and the pricing could be reduced."
"Cisco ISE integration with Cisco ACI is something that can be done in a less complex way. And the simplification in that area may help us do better."
"The solution could be more secure."
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Aruba ClearPass is ranked 2nd in Network Access Control (NAC) with 75 reviews while Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) is ranked 1st in Network Access Control (NAC) with 138 reviews. Aruba ClearPass is rated 8.6, while Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of Aruba ClearPass writes "Easy to use, multifeatured, and reliable policy management platform for identity authentication and new device onboarding". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) writes "Gives us that extra ability to assist the end user and make sure that we are making them happy". Aruba ClearPass is most compared with Fortinet FortiNAC, Forescout Platform, Microsoft Intune, Ruckus Cloudpath and macmon Network Access Control, whereas Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) is most compared with Fortinet FortiNAC, Forescout Platform, CyberArk Privileged Access Manager, Fortinet FortiAuthenticator and Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security. See our Aruba ClearPass vs. Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) report.
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