Cisco DNA Center vs VMware NSX comparison

Cisco and VMware are both solutions in the Network Automation category. Cisco is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.0, while VMware is ranked #5 with an average rating of 7.7. Cisco holds a 14.5% mindshare in NA, compared to VMware’s 3.6% mindshare. Additionally, 89% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of VMware users who would recommend it.

Cisco DNA Center

Read 41 Cisco DNA Center reviews

2,518 Views
1,554 Comparison Views

89% willing to recommend

VMware NSX

Read 102 VMware NSX reviews

699 Views
485 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Cisco DNA Center

VMware NSX

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 6, 2025

VMware NSX and Cisco DNA Center both compete in the networking solutions category. VMware NSX is favored for its emphasis on automation and security, whereas Cisco DNA Center stands out for its seamless integration with Cisco devices, making it advantageous for those already invested in Cisco infrastructure.

Features: VMware NSX offers robust security with features like micro-segmentation, distributed firewall, and dynamic load balancing, making it ideal for scalable virtual networking. Cisco DNA Center provides advanced analytics, integration with Cisco's ecosystem, and streamlined network management with detailed visibility and control.

Room for Improvement: VMware NSX could focus on simpler integration with non-VMware systems, improving its scalability, and addressing pricing complexities. Cisco DNA Center users desire more intuitive user interfaces, better integration with non-Cisco products, and reduced complexity during initial learning phases.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: VMware NSX is recognized for its flexibility across various environments and responsive technical support. Cisco DNA Center is known for its robust support network and user satisfaction, although users recommend expanding integration with third-party devices.

Pricing and ROI: VMware NSX is expensive but offers significant ROI through reduced hardware needs and enhanced security. Cisco DNA Center's high costs can be a challenge for smaller businesses despite potential long-term savings, primarily due to its centralized management and network efficiency benefits.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco DNA Center vs. VMware NSX Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center vs. VMware NSX

March 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

Cisco DNA Center

Ranking in Network Automation

2nd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Management Applications (1st), Network Monitoring Software (12th)

VMware NSX

Ranking in Network Automation

5th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

102

Ranking in other categories

Network Virtualization (2nd), Cloud and Data Center Security (3rd), Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) (8th), Network Detection and Response (NDR) (9th), Microsegmentation Software (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Network Automation category, the mindshare of Cisco DNA Center is 14.5%, down from 18.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of VMware NSX is 3.6%, down from 6.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Automation

Featured Reviews

AvrahamSonenthal

Senior Network Engineer at Inside Global

Efficiently manages our wireless network and provides valuable monitoring features

The platform's biggest benefit has been in managing our wireless network. Having a single pane of glass to control all wireless controllers and access points and to monitor activity has been a significant advantage. We're a small federal agency with around 300 network devices, so automation is a minor focus. It's more relevant for larger networks. The main benefits we've seen are in inventory management and the potential for configuration automation. However, I recommend using the DNA Centre only for larger networks with over a thousand devices; otherwise, it may not be cost-effective. Before proceeding, ensure that your devices are compatible with DNA Center, as not all Cisco devices are supported. Also, investing in proper training is different from plug-and-play. I rate it an eight.

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DanielBass

Senior IT Strategy Consultant at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

Improves network security with micro-segmentation but setup is complex

I value the ability to dynamically configure our network on the fly using VMware NSX. This flexibility is a huge advantage because it allows us to avoid static configurations that come with traditional hardware setups. Additionally, the micro-segmentation feature is beneficial for adhering to strict security regulations from our security department.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The best feature of Cisco DNA Center is the visibility page, where you can see everything on the dashboard, and you don't have to be a technical person to view the issues."

"We can monitor all devices and get the required information using the product."

"The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration."

"Automation helps configure devices without manual intervention, enabling zero-touch provisioning."

"It is simple to manage and it is all done from a single dashboard."

"The product's most valuable feature is the visual representation of the switch's front panel."

"What I found valuable in Cisco DNA Center is the Software-Defined Access Network, so the entire LAN network can be centralized and managed from a single dashboard. Cisco DNA Center is suitable for centralized management and lets you deploy switches in a centralized fashion. You can also do multiple switch port configurations simultaneously and segregate your traffic into multiple fabrics. Another valuable feature of Cisco DNA Center is enhanced security through Scalable Group Tags. Cisco DNA Center can be integrated with your Cisco ISE to enhance the port securities, and this paves the way for Software-Defined Networking in the LAN segment, which is the main advantage of Cisco DNA Center. I also like that you can use Cisco DNA Center for data assurance or correlation. The solution shows your network and client health parameters, which I find convenient for troubleshooting."

"Cisco DNA Center is a user-friendly solution."

More Cisco DNA Center pros

"To be able to do the DR and SRM migrations from datacenter to datacenter, we're able to do them with SRM with VXLAN, with the NSX product."

"The solution is robust as it covers everything we want to do and is stable, so we're happy enough with it. We have had no problems so far. Everything is great."

"The most valuable features are its security aspects, especially the IPS and IDS for intrusion detection and protection."

"The most valuable features are security and dynamic routing."

"Though I haven't been working a lot on VMware NSX, it's good to have. What I like the most about it is that its console is good, and it doesn't take a lot of effort in terms of doing my daily tasks on it or what it's meant for. VMware NSX is still a preferred product in the market."

"The solution is very stable and reliable."

"It does have capabilities of micro-segmenting a network, being able to create smaller segments of various types of applications separated by various tiers."

"Technically, VMware NSX is more advanced technology-wise when compared to others. We have been studying it and so far, so good. We know that the NSX product is superior when it comes to software virtualized networks. </p> <p>If you are looking to work with new and future technologies, then NSX is one of the best options. It costs less for power consumption since it will be a virtual network and not a pure physical network that consumes more energy."

More VMware NSX pros

Cons

"The product doesn’t have good monitoring capabilities."

"They can improve the network visibility. Licensing and its maintenance are also needed."

"DNA Center has been on the market for a few years and they need to update it."

"The solution's integration feature can be better."

"The tool's deployment is complex. It also needs to improve its GUI."

"We encountered issues with their response times, which had a big impact on our workflow."

"Cisco could improve the security side of their solutions."

"The network, data center, and SD-WAN are all being treated as different services, but I would like to have only one solution to manage all of them."

More Cisco DNA Center cons

"VMware NSX provides a lot of automation capabilities, but there is still room for improvement."

"I would like them to make integration with other vendors easier."

"Migrating from V to T is very tricky, complicated, and there are a lot of parameters to account for."

"The training costs a minimum of $3,000, which is expensive and should be reduced."

"They have to work more and more on the integration for public cloud services and have cyber security platform integration."

"The price is rather high."

"It still needs to grow. There are still some features that it doesn't do, like it doesn't do multicasting."

"We would to have a reverse proxy. This would add great value to the solution."

More VMware NSX cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Affordability is a problem because it's created for large enterprises only. So, some customers, even if their engineers want the solution, might have problems with budget limitations."

"We have a three-year license with them."

"Licensing for Cisco DNA Center is a little bit expensive, just like any Cisco solution. Its cost could still be improved."

"Cisco DNA Center is expensive."

"The price could be better. It's a very expensive tool."

"Cisco DNA Center is too expensive."

"The solution is a little bit expensive but depends a lot on the customer's usage. If you use it in the right place, you can easily pay for it."

"The solution is expensive."

More Cisco DNA Center pricing and cost advice

"We haven't had to hire a dedicated network engineer because NSX handles 90 percent of it. The reduced overhead in terms of managing networks has been the biggest plus."

"The tool's pricing is reasonable."

"VMware NSX is expensive and everything is licensed. We have to pay for each individual feature."

"We can't go without NSX, so it's invaluable from this perspective."

"Our customers have definitely complained about its cost. It's expensive. I'd rate it a nine out of ten in terms of pricing where ten represents a high price. There are other products out there that are equally expensive."

"The subscription is on a yearly basis."

"We are using a perpetual license to use the solution and we have support."

"If five is a good price and one is a high price, I would rate the price a one out of five."

More VMware NSX pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Government

10%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

14%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco DNA Center?

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco DNA Center?

The cost is very high.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco DNA Center?

The system is working fine for me currently.

See all answers

What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?

There are some very major differences between both the Products and to name a few. -Cisco ACI have physical network gear (9K Switches) where the Code runs in ACI Policy Mode & the UCS server wh...

See all answers

What are the biggest differences between Cisco ACI and VMware NSX?

Once you know your way around the Cisco ecosystem, using Cisco ACI is not so difficult. It is a global product, so when you change one interface, changes are automatically reflected on every switch...

See all answers

What do you like most about VMware NSX?

The product has valuable features for security and network extension.

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Catalyst Center vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 10% of the time

Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 7% of the time

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 7% of the time

Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 7% of the time

Meraki Dashboard vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 6% of the time

More Cisco DNA Center Competitors

Illumio vs VMware NSX

Compared 21% of the time

Nutanix Flow Network Security vs VMware NSX

Compared 20% of the time

Akamai Guardicore Segmentation vs VMware NSX

Compared 17% of the time

Cisco Secure Workload vs VMware NSX

Compared 8% of the time

Cisco Nexus vs VMware NSX

Compared 1% of the time

More VMware NSX Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center

March 2025

Download Cisco DNA Center product report

Buyer's Guide

VMware NSX

March 2025

Download VMware NSX product report

Also Known As

DNA Center

VMware Nicira, Lastline Defender

Overview

Cisco DNA Center offers a comprehensive platform for network automation and management, providing detailed analytics, enhanced security, and streamlined operations for both wired and wireless networks.

Cisco DNA Center integrates with Cisco infrastructure to deliver efficient network automation and management, helping organizations improve network visibility, security, and control. It supports AI-driven analytics and automated workflows to enhance operational efficiency and reduce errors. Challenges include compatibility with third-party systems, steep learning curve, and complex deployment. Its interface facilitates centralized control, vital for troubleshooting, policy management, and configuration management, with support for zero-touch provisioning and SD-Access.

What are the key features of Cisco DNA Center?

Robust Analytics: Provides detailed insights into network health with AI-driven analytics.
Centralized Security: Integrates with ISE for comprehensive security management.
Automated Device Management: Simplifies device provisioning and configuration transfers.
Wi-Fi Analytics: Offers deep insights into wireless network performance.
Zero-Touch Provisioning: Streamlines new device deployments with minimal human intervention.
Scalable Segmentation: Efficiently segments network traffic ensuring security and performance.

What benefits should users consider?

Operational Efficiency: Automation reduces potential errors and streamlines workflow.
Enhanced Security: Integration with Cisco ISE bolsters security capabilities.
Network Visibility: Comprehensive dashboards and analysis tools enhance monitoring.
Troubleshooting: Real-time monitoring aids in identifying and resolving issues swiftly.

In sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail, Cisco DNA Center is utilized for its ability to enhance security and compliance, manage large-scale networks, and provide detailed analytics for better operational decision-making. Its support for location tracking and policy automation ensures efficient network management across diverse environments.

Cisco

VMware NSX is a sophisticated solution utilized for micro-segmentation, network security, software-defined networking, and private cloud construction. It aids in the transition from physical to virtual infrastructure, ensuring efficient network virtualization and security of production workloads.

VMware NSX empowers organizations to manage network functions, implement distributed firewalls, and enhance security within virtual environments. Crucial for disaster recovery and load balancing, it supports cloud-native application development and enterprise clients. Its ease of use, scalability, and seamless integration with existing VMware solutions ensure streamlined network management and swift deployment. Despite its extensive features, areas like pricing, routing functionality, and compatibility with certain platforms require attention.

What are the key features of VMware NSX?

Ease of Use: Simplifies network management with an intuitive interface.
Scalability: Adapts to growing infrastructure needs seamlessly.
Micro-Segmentation: Enhances security by dividing networks into smaller, manageable segments.
Integration: Seamlessly works with existing VMware solutions and third-party applications.
Dynamic Routing: Optimizes network traffic efficiently.
Security Options: Offers robust firewall features and security measures.
Automation: Facilitates quick deployment through comprehensive automation capabilities.
High Bandwidth: Ensures high-performance network operations.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Enhanced Network Security: Superior protection for virtual environments.
Efficient Disaster Recovery: Reliable support for business continuity.
Reduced Deployment Time: Fast implementation and configuration.
Improved Network Management: Centralized and streamlined control of network resources.

VMware NSX is widely implemented across industries such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Organizations in these sectors utilize it to bolster security, enhance network efficiency, and support cloud-native applications. By extending on-premise networks into provider spaces and managing virtual access networks, VMware NSX significantly optimizes infrastructure operations.

VMware

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

City of Avondale, Lumeta, Kroll Ontrack, Heartland Payment Systems, Baystate Heallth, Exostar, Tribune Media, iGATE, NTT Communications, Synergent, California Natural Resources Agency, Bloomington Public Schools, Columbia Sportswear, Join Experience S.A, Schuberg Philis

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center vs. VMware NSX

March 2025

Free Report: Cisco DNA Center vs. VMware NSX

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