Vectra AI and Cisco Secure Network Analytics are competing products in the network security and threat detection category. Vectra AI appears to have an advantage due to its focused AI-driven insights and detection capabilities, while Cisco excels in detailed network monitoring and analysis.
Features: Vectra AI leverages AI and machine learning for advanced threat detection, reduces alert fatigue, and offers integration with SIEM tools, providing visibility into lateral network movements. It efficiently prioritizes threats and correlates detections with compromised host devices. Cisco Secure Network Analytics provides network visibility and integrates with Cisco's suite, offering encrypted threat analysis and flow-based analytics for insights into network traffic and anomalies.
Room for Improvement: Vectra AI could enhance host-level visibility and integration with external data sources, as its network-based focus restricts full integration of host behaviors. Users have requested better documentation and smoother security tool integrations. Cisco Secure Network Analytics needs a more user-friendly interface and simpler integration processes. Its pricing model and network flow-based licensing can be complex, and more comprehensive AI features are desired for improved threat response.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Vectra AI provides flexible deployment options, including on-premises, public cloud, and hybrid setups, with customer service praised for responsiveness and expertise. Cisco Secure Network Analytics mainly operates on-premises with reliable support but users report occasional challenges with deployment complexity. Vectra's support is noted for quick response times, while Cisco's is initially cumbersome but dependable.
Pricing and ROI: Vectra AI's pricing is considered high due to its comprehensive AI capabilities, with tiered licensing based on IP addresses and features like Cognito Recall. It offers strong ROI through reduced attack response time and detection efficiency. Cisco Secure Network Analytics is also expensive, with pricing linked to network flow and feature usage. Its integration with larger Cisco solutions can add value but might be costly for smaller setups. Users find Vectra AI offers better ROI through its AI-driven insights and reduced manual workload.
The support is quite reliable depending on the service engineer assigned.
Neither Vectra nor Darktrace have a function like a status health check on my log sources and traffic sources.
Vectra is cheaper in terms of pricing and features compared to Darktrace.
Cisco Secure Network Analytics is a highly effective network traffic analysis (NTA) solution that enables users to find threats in their network traffic even if those threats are encrypted. It turns an organization’s network telemetry into a tool that creates a complete field of vision for the organization’s administrators. Users can find threats that may have infiltrated their systems and stop them before they can do irreparable harm.
Cisco Secure Network Analytics Benefits
A few ways that organizations can benefit by choosing to deploy Cisco Secure Network Analytics include:
Cisco Secure Network Analytics Features
Some of the many features that Cisco Secure Network Analytics offers include:
Reviews from Real Users
Cisco Secure Network Analytics is a solution that stands out even when compared to many other comparable products. Two major advantages that it offers are the way that it enables users to define the threshold at which the solution will issue a warning to administrators and the predefined alerts that it offers straight out of the box.
Gerald J., the information technology operations supervisor at Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., writes, “StealthWatch lets me see the ports running in and out and the country. It has excellent reporting, telemetry, and artificial intelligence features. With the telemetry, I can set thresholds to detect sudden changes and the alarms go through the PLC parts. I can see all the ports running on that trunk.”
A senior security engineer at a tech services company, says, “Cisco Stealthwatch has predefined alerts for different types of security issues that might happen in the network. Whether it's PCs or servers that are used for botnets or Bitcoin mining we receive the alerts automatically. This functionality is what we receive from the solution out of the box.”
Vectra AI is used for detecting network anomalies and potential malicious activities, providing visibility into network traffic and enhancing threat detection across environments.
Organizations deploy Vectra AI mainly on-premises with additional cloud components. It helps with compliance, incident response, security monitoring, detecting insider threats, and correlating network events. Vectra AI captures and enriches network metadata, provides detailed dashboards, reduces false positives, and supports cross-environment behavioral analysis to enhance threat detection and prioritization. While valued for its high accuracy and alert aggregation, it has room for improvement in UI/UX, packet management, and integration with SIEMs and other tools. It is noted for expensive pricing and limited proactive threat response features.
What are Vectra AI's most valuable features?In specific industries, Vectra AI is deployed to monitor complex networks and alleviate challenges in threat detection. It is particularly effective in sectors requiring stringent compliance and security measures, offering insights and capabilities crucial for protecting sensitive data and maintaining operational integrity.
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