Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Portnox CORE comparison

Cisco ISE is an all-in-one solution that streamlines security policy management and reduces operating costs. Cisco ISE delivers visibility and access control over users and devices across wired, wireless, and VPN connections.

Identity Services Engine enables enterprises to deliver secure network access to users and devices. It shares contextual data, such as threats and vulnerabilities, with integrated solutions from Cisco technology partners. You can see what is happening in your network, which applications are running, and more.

Features of Cisco ISE

• Centralized management helps administrators configure and manage user profile characteristics - a single pane of glass for integrated management services.
• Contextual identity and business policy: The rule-based attribute is a driven policy model. The goal is to provide flexible access control policies.
• Wide range of access control options, including Virtual LAN (VLAN) URL redirections, and access control lists.
• Supplicant-less network access: You can roll out secure network access by deriving authentication from login information across application layers.
• Guest lifecycle management streamlines the experience for implementing and customizing network access for guests.
• Built-in AAA services: The platform uses standard RADIUS protocol for authentication, authorization, and accounting.
• Device auditing, administration, and access control provide users with access on a need-to-know and need-to-act basis. It keeps audit trails for every change in the network.
• Device profiling: ISE features predefined device templates for different types of endpoints.
• Internal certificate authority: Qn easy-to-deploy single console to manage endpoints and certificates.

Benefits of Cisco ISE

Cisco’s holistic approach to network access security has several advantages:

• Context-based access based on your company policies. ISE creates a complete contextual identity, including attributes such as user, time, location, threat, access type, and vulnerability. This contextual identity is used to enforce a secure access policy. Administrators can apply strict control over how and when endpoints are allowed in the network.
• Better network visibility via an easy-to-use, simple console. In addition, visibility is improved by storing a detailed attribute history of all endpoints connected to the network.
• Comprehensive policy enforcement. ISE sets easy and flexible access rules. These rules are controlled from a central console that enforces them across the network and security infrastructure. You can define policies that differentiate between registered users and guests. The system uses group tags that enable access control on business rules instead of IP addresses.
• Self-service device onboarding enables the enterprise to implement a Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) policy securely. Users can manage their devices according to the policies defined by IT administrators. (IT remains in charge of provisioning and posturing to comply with security policies.)
• Consistent guest experiences: You can provide guests with different levels of access from different connections. You can customize guest portals via a cloud-delivered portal editor with dynamic visual tools.

Support

You can get ISE as a physical or virtual appliance. Both deployments can create ISE clusters that create scale, redundancy, and requirements.

Licensing

Cisco ISE has four primary licences. Evaluation for up to 100 endpoints with full platform functionality. The higher tiers are Partner, Advantage and Essential.

Reviews from Real Users

"The user experience of the solution is great. It's a very transparent system. according to a PeerSpot user in Cyber Security at a manufacturing company.

Omar Z., Network & Security Engineer at an engineering company, feels that "The RADIUS Server holds the most value."

“Whether I deploy in China, the US, South Africa, or wherever, I can get all the capabilities. It allows me to directly integrate with 365, and from a communications point of view, that is a good capability," says Rammohan M., Senior Consultant at a tech services company.

Hassan A.,Technology Manager at Advanced Integrated Systems, says that "The most valuable feature is the integration with StealthWatch and DNA as one fabric."

Portnox CORE is used for Network Access Control and management, securing wired and wireless networks by controlling access to endpoints like computers and CCTV cameras. It gathers essential data such as IP address, MAC address, hostname, username, switch location, and port number.

Portnox CORE helps manage guest and consultant access, profile endpoints, and enhance security against threats and unauthorized devices. It offers a NAS view for graphical representation of switches, application control, compliance checking, antivirus support, scheduling reports, and valuable profiling for endpoint visibility. Ideal for heterogeneous environments, it provides easy setup, navigation, is agentless, and enables network device management. Users appreciate its simplicity, scalability, stability, and enhanced security features accompanied by helpful technical support and reasonable pricing.

• NAS View: Provides graphical representation of switches
• Application Control: Add-on for managing applications
• Compliance Checking: Ensures devices meet security standards
• Antivirus Support: Integrates with antivirus software
• Scheduling Reports: Automates report generation
• Endpoint Profiling: Enhances visibility into endpoint devices

• Ease of Deployment: Quick and simple setup process
• Scalability: Grows with network needs
• Enhanced Security: Protects against unauthorized access
• Stable Performance: Reliable operation under various conditions
• Technical Support: Responsive and helpful assistance
• Reasonable Pricing: Cost-effective for its capabilities

Portnox CORE is used across industries to manage network access, ensuring security and compliance. It is particularly beneficial in environments requiring strict access control, such as financial institutions, healthcare facilities, educational establishments, and government agencies. These industries implement Portnox CORE to safeguard sensitive data and support regulatory requirements.