Forescout Platform vs Palo Alto Networks IoT Security comparison

Forescout and Palo Alto Networks are both solutions in the IoT Security category. Forescout is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.4, while Palo Alto Networks is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.3. Forescout holds a 12.8% mindshare in IS, compared to Palo Alto Networks’s 6.9% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of Forescout users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Palo Alto Networks users who would recommend it.

Forescout Platform

Read 77 Forescout Platform reviews

8,880 Views
977 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Palo Alto Networks IoT Secu...

Read 10 Palo Alto Networks IoT Security reviews

1,439 Views
1,439 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Forescout Platform

Palo Alto Networks IoT Secu...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 3, 2025

Forescout Platform and Palo Alto Networks IoT Security compete in the network visibility and security solutions category. Forescout appears to hold an edge in device interaction and endpoint visibility while Palo Alto Networks excels with its next-gen firewall technology and integration capabilities.

Features: Forescout Platform offers comprehensive visibility of all devices on the network, integration with third-party security tools, and robust endpoint security without relying on 802.1x. Palo Alto Networks IoT Security utilizes next-gen firewall technology for risk assessment, aligns with zero-trust architecture, and provides detailed asset management features.

Room for Improvement: Forescout struggles with switch management data accuracy, high licensing costs, and requires better reporting. Palo Alto Networks IoT Security's user interface is complicated, integration capabilities can be enhanced, and reporting features lack depth.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Forescout supports on-premises, hybrid, and cloud deployments, with varied technical support satisfaction. Palo Alto Networks offers cloud and on-premises deployment options, with high customer service satisfaction but room for improvement in partner support.

Pricing and ROI: Forescout provides a flexible yet expensive licensing model, reflecting substantial total costs. Palo Alto Networks, also costly, justifies its price with robust features, though costs are a barrier for small organizations.

To learn more, read our detailed Forescout Platform vs. Palo Alto Networks IoT Security Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Forescout Platform vs. Palo Alto Networks IoT Security

June 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

Forescout Platform

Ranking in IoT Security

3rd

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Access Control (NAC) (4th), Endpoint Compliance (4th), Extended Detection and Response (XDR) (15th)

Palo Alto Networks IoT Secu...

Ranking in IoT Security

4th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the IoT Security category, the mindshare of Forescout Platform is 12.8%, down from 18.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Palo Alto Networks IoT Security is 6.9%, down from 7.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

IoT Security

Featured Reviews

AmjadKhan1

Head of data centers at a non-profit with 10,001+ employees

Blocks users who don't follow the policies and enforces compliance

The solution has a compliance enforcement feature that sends non-compliant systems to quarantine. Forescout Platform is a good product that provides seamless integration with Cisco Juniper and other devices. We wanted Forescout Platform to integrate with our firewalls and some vulnerability patch management solutions. Forescout Platform is currently the best product and top-of-the-line NAC solution in the market. I always recommend this product to other companies as well. We have 365 subsidiary companies. I work in the head office, and I always recommend it. This solution will be purchased by other companies in the next financial year. Overall, I rate the solution ten out of ten.

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Muhammad Ahsan Riaz

Chief Information Security Officer at Packages Group

Responsive system enhances network management but integration needs refinement

I find Palo Alto Networks IoT Security to be highly responsive, and its separate management and data planes are a major advantage. As an insurance company in the financial sector, we must meet strict regulatory requirements, and Palo Alto has proven to be an excellent solution. Its management is straightforward, the dashboards and reporting are comprehensive, and most importantly, it functions exactly as described in the documentation. For example, when we needed to block YouTube on our network, Palo Alto successfully blocked access while our Cisco firewall failed to block access on iPhones. This highlights the inconsistency we've experienced with different firewalls, whereas Palo Alto has consistently performed as expected.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable features are remote access and administration scripts."

"The most valuable feature of Forescout Platform is that it has everything that Aruba has at significantly less cost."

"Forescout Platform's best feature is plug-in integration."

"Forescout has a feature that blocks the endpoint at the point of collection. It sets preconditions and will block the system if those aren't met."

"Forescout Platform's most valuable aspect is its excellent device profiling for devices without agents, which is crucial for our work due to challenges with agent-based devices. Its isolation and blocking actions are particularly effective for network security. The device compliance feature helps us ensure device compliance through immediate actions like updating antivirus software. We have already integrated Forescout with antivirus and vulnerability assessment tools, allowing it to monitor vulnerability scores and automatically isolate devices if critical vulnerabilities are detected."

"The most valuable feature is the ease of deployment, which does not require the use of an agent."

"Forescout Platform has granular features and one of the most impressive features is the agentless feature."

"The most valuable feature of the Forescout Platform is the large capacity it can handle. Additionally, the interface of the platform is good."

More Forescout Platform pros

"It is simple to use. We just need to enable features and then configure IoT policies."

"I would recommend Palo Alto Networks IoT Security to any organization with automation plants or standard enterprise IT environments."

"I like the threat information, and we can share the logging data with Cortex Data Lake."

"Palo Alto is valued for its GlobalProtect feature, which offers a range of security options, including user ID mapping and VPNs."

"This solution has been most valuable for establishing a VPN and implementing allow/deny rules. It has also enabled us to create security policies. It is an easy solution to customise when it comes to creating templates and pulling reports."

"I like the Cortex Data Lake integration with security automation."

"The key strength of Palo Alto firewalls lies in their application-based approach, offering a much finer level of control compared to traditional firewalls."

"From a security standpoint, it provides a comprehensive range of standard security features that align with our requirements."

More Palo Alto Networks IoT Security pros

Cons

"The console is a fat client, and a web interface would be preferable."

"Multitenancy should be included in the next version so it could be used as a managed service provider."

"We have found that the agent-based authentication, available within this solution could be improved."

"The fact that Forescout Platform doesn't have a presence in the South African region is a weakness because of which you can't ask for help from them if you have any problems."

"This solution is not that easy to scale but this depends on a company's needs."

"It's scalable, but not without a big investment. It doesn't do so well at the branch. At the home office, it does okay and not so well at the branch."

"Two things can be improved in the Forescout Platform. First of all, the support for some certain proprietary protocols from other vendors, but they are very widely used. If the TechEx from Cisco, was added to Forescout, then it will be a full solution for me."

"For the user, the policy that they have implemented sometimes needs adjustments. Sometimes the features that the customer asks for aren't involved in the main installation, and I need to bolt an add-on in. However, I never know if this policy is the right one when I do this."

More Forescout Platform cons

"The support is in line with Palo Alto Networks services for other products but needs improvement."

"More application signatures are required."

"It would be beneficial if Palo Alto IoT Security could integrate with Let's Encrypt for free SSL certificates."

"It would be beneficial to have a more centralized and user-friendly platform that could consolidate all the necessary information, which proved challenging during the initial POC phase."

"The cost is still high and licensing is still complex."

"Essentially, this solution focuses on data analysis and cannot perform any physical actions."

"While not overly complex, its usability could be enhanced, making it a more intuitive experience for everyone."

"There can be more automation in terms of security and detection. It is already good."

More Palo Alto Networks IoT Security cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"For one license, we pay around 3,000 Indian rupees."

"The price of the Forescout Platform is expensive. I purchased it for approximately 94 lakhs."

"The price of Forescout is reasonable when compared to Cisco ISE."

"We might have paid in the ballpark of $20,000 yearly for our licenses. I do not recall there being other fees over and above the standard licensing fee."

"We went with the virtual appliance option. The biggest cost to running these types of appliances would be to either have multiple virtual appliances at every data center or running Remote SPAN hardware to provide you the real-time network visibility."

"The ROI is priceless."

"Forescout's pricing is noted for its attractiveness, with potential discounts depending on partnership levels."

"Devices with multiple IP's count multiple times against your license count."

More Forescout Platform pricing and cost advice

"The initial investment is substantial, but the renewal costs make it financially unsustainable."

"While Palo Alto Networks IoT Security might cost more than some competitors, its features and effectiveness justify the price tag."

"The pricing for Palo Alto Networks IoT Security is a bit high."

"The successful migration trend suggests that Palo Alto provides a superior cost-benefit ratio for firewall solutions."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Educational Organization

Government

Manufacturing Company

17%

Computer Software Company

14%

Performing Arts

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What advice do you have for others considering Forescout Platform?

Forescout is a very powerful NAC product that does not rely on port level configuration. It can detect and block unauthorized devices very quickly. But it has a lot of capabilities and really would...

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What advice do you have for others considering Forescout Platform?

I would rate the Forescout Device and Visibility Control Platform at a six out of ten.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Forescout Platform?

I recommend doing a compression demo. If people use it, they will buy it. So they have to see the product in place. That's the main recommendation is to do a proof of concept. If they do, they will...

See all answers

What do you like most about Palo Alto Networks IoT Security?

From a security standpoint, it provides a comprehensive range of standard security features that align with our requirements.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Palo Alto Networks IoT Security?

The major challenge is the integration with existing complex production lines. These architectures were developed with a focus on automation functionalities, not security. Finding the right integra...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Palo Alto Networks IoT Security?

I use Palo Alto Networks IoT Security ( /products/palo-alto-networks-iot-security-reviews ) for discovering automation devices and detecting various types of data traffic on automation infrastructu...

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Comparisons

Aruba ClearPass vs Forescout Platform

Compared 24% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Forescout Platform

Compared 20% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Forescout Platform

Compared 14% of the time

Nozomi Networks vs Forescout Platform

Compared 6% of the time

Portnox vs Forescout Platform

Compared 4% of the time

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Nozomi Networks vs Palo Alto Networks IoT Security

Compared 42% of the time

Armis vs Palo Alto Networks IoT Security

Compared 28% of the time

Microsoft Defender for IoT vs Palo Alto Networks IoT Security

Compared 12% of the time

Azure Sphere vs Palo Alto Networks IoT Security

Compared 9% of the time

More Palo Alto Networks IoT Security Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Forescout Platform

July 2025

Download Forescout Platform product report

Buyer's Guide

Palo Alto Networks IoT Security

June 2025

Download Palo Alto Networks IoT Security product report

Also Known As

Forescout Platform, CounterACT for Endpoint Compliance, ForeScout CounterACT

No data available

Overview

Forescout Platform provides today’s busy enterprise organizations with policy and protocol management, workflow coordination, streamlining, and complete device and infrastructure visibility to improve overall network security. The solution also provides concise real-time intelligence of all devices and users on the network. Policy and protocols are delineated using gathered intelligence to facilitate the appropriate levels of remediation, compliance, network access, and all service operations. Forescout Platform is very flexible, integrates well with most of today’s leading network security products, and is a very cost-effective solution.

Forescout Platform Features

Real-time complete visibility: With Forescout eyeSight, each and every device is classified when any attempt to access your network has been made. This includes - but is not limited to - desktops, laptops, android devices, virtual machines, switches, VoIP phones, USB memory sticks, webcams, IoT devices, and more.
Policy-based and manual controls: In today’s busy robust environment, networks are continually changing; there are different types and amounts of devices connected, various software applications, network compliance requirements, and the constant potential for risk make managing an IT network a very daunting challenge. The Forescout Console is used to simplify the administration and management of important alerts, remediation, and access controls to keep the network secure.
Intuitive real-time dashboards: Forescout Dashboards, a component of Forescout WebClient, is a comprehensive web-based intelligence center that gives full visibility and real-time insight of the complete network using both out-of-the-box and user-created widgets. The dashboards are very intuitive and deliver robust, easy-to-understand information about device visibility, compliance, health monitoring, and more.
Advanced reporting capabilities: The Forescout Reports Plugin will generate numerous valuable reports indicating real-time and overall status information about endpoint compliance, device details, networks guests, protocols, and more. The reports help to ensure IT administrators, executives, security teams, and other important shareholders stay well-informed about all network activity at all times.
Comprehensive third-party overview: Forescout eyeExtend facilitates seamless information sharing with third-party vendors, networks, and IT management solutions supporting improved automated workflows, productivity, cost-effectiveness, and overall security.

Real User Reviews

An important main feature of Forescout is the visibility the solution offers.

One reviewer who is a Consultant at a tech services company, says, "Within three or four days, you can have complete visibility of your infrastructure on the network. Compared to other solutions, the deployment of the solution is easier and we can close the project quickly."

Users also appreciate that the user interface is clear and easy to understand.

An Instructor at a tech services company, shares, "The most valuable feature of the Forescout Platform is the large capacity it can handle. Additionally, the interface of the platform is good."

Forescout

Introducing comprehensive IoT Security solutions tailored for enterprises, healthcare, and industrial operations. Safeguard every device, visible or unseen, with Zero Trust security protocols, ensuring protection against known and unknown threats. With rapid 15X faster deployment times, Enterprise IoT Security, Medical IoT Security, and Industrial OT Security streamline operations, allowing teams to prioritize security over setup. Seamlessly integrate with Palo Alto Networks ML-Powered NGFWs or Prisma Access for swift implementation, making your infrastructure IoT-aware within minutes. Eliminate blind spots across existing IT and security solutions with playbook-driven, built-in integrations, and simplify cloud delivery for deployment across any architecture without the need for multiple sensors or network redesign. Protect your assets and ensure uninterrupted operations with our comprehensive IoT security solutions.

Palo Alto Networks

Sample Customers

NHS Sussex, SAP, SEGA, Vistaprint, Miami Children's Hospital, Pioneer Investments, New York Law School, OmnicomGroup, Meritrust

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Forescout Platform vs. Palo Alto Networks IoT Security

June 2025

Free Report: Forescout Platform vs. Palo Alto Networks IoT Security

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