Forescout Platform vs Sophos Network Access Control comparison

Forescout and Sophos are both solutions in the Network Access Control (NAC) category. Forescout is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.3, while Sophos is ranked #10 with an average rating of 7.3. Forescout holds a 10.8% mindshare in NAC, compared to Sophos’s 2.2% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of Forescout users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of Sophos users who would recommend it.

Forescout Platform

Read 78 Forescout Platform reviews

7,212 Views
4,688 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Sophos Network Access Control

Read 23 Sophos Network Access Control reviews

1,030 Views
999 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Forescout Platform

Sophos Network Access Control

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 5, 2024

Sophos Network Access Control and Forescout Platform are competitive solutions within the network security category. Forescout generally has an edge due to its comprehensive features, while Sophos wins on pricing and support, making it ideal for budget-conscious buyers.

Features: Sophos offers straightforward policy management, threat isolation, and robust security. Forescout provides extensive device visibility, automated responses, and advanced integration capabilities with other IT systems.

Room for Improvement: Sophos could better enhance its device visibility and automation features. Additionally, its integration capabilities with third-party systems could be expanded. Forescout may improve by simplifying its user interface and reducing the complexity of its initial setup. The solution would benefit from streamlined network configuration processes.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Sophos has a simpler deployment process with efficient, accessible customer service. Forescout requires a more intricate setup but offers personalized support, which may require additional resources.

Pricing and ROI: Sophos is praised for its lower initial setup costs, appealing to small to medium enterprises. Forescout, with higher initial costs, tends to provide superior ROI through scalability and feature set, attracting larger enterprises seeking long-term value.

To learn more, read our detailed Forescout Platform vs. Sophos Network Access Control Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Forescout Platform vs. Sophos Network Access Control

December 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 879,711 peers since 2012

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 Network Access Control (NAC)

5th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

IoT Security (4th), Endpoint Compliance (5th), Extended Detection and Response (XDR) (20th)

Sophos Network Access Control

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

10th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Network Access Control (NAC) category, the mindshare of Forescout Platform is 10.8%, down from 13.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos Network Access Control is 2.2%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Access Control (NAC) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Forescout Platform	10.8%
Sophos Network Access Control	2.2%
Other	87.0%

Network Access Control (NAC)

Featured Reviews

AshishKumar Rai

Security Consultant at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

Comprehensive visibility has strengthened endpoint control and automated threat response across networks

When it comes to improving Forescout Platform, I have faced some issues recently, particularly with the switch integration part. When integrating a switch, it asks for the vendor type, and often it does not match. For example, one series of HP switches may not be found in that vendor list. This leads to frustration because you have to check again with different HP models, and once you integrate a switch, you cannot edit the vendor list without removing it. Other issues are being worked on, particularly related to switch integration. I believe they will be fixed in the next upgrade or patch fix. There are no major issues, but the configuration changes needed for the switch model are necessary, and I think it would help if during integration, an admin user could check the password or credential used, as they currently cannot see the password after it is entered and saved.

Read full review

HirenPatel2

Manager at rspl

Have faced delays in support despite strong multi-layer policy configuration

I have observed some disadvantages as we have experienced one particular problem. We were facing an issue of synchronization of the endpoint with our firewall with help on a cloud for heartbeat syncing. However, it was not syncing as per our requirement. The user has to connect our firewall with the help of VPN. We were supposed to assume a solution on a cloud, which has good synchronization on a cloud with Sophos Central. It will sync with our firewall as well with the help of Sophos Central. Endpoint and firewall synchronization is not as smooth as we are expecting from Sophos Network Access Control. We have to connect with VPN. We are expecting that if we have already installed an endpoint on our system and it is connected to the internet, then it must be synchronized on a cloud with Sophos Central. Through Sophos Central, it must connect with our firewall. If the endpoint is configured on Sophos Central and the firewall is also configured in Sophos Central, then there should be no need to connect to VPN.

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 user management has been very easy for the most part."

"The threat prevention feature provides complete visibility."

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

"The actions that the agentless visibility, allow us to perform on the endpoint, are really amazing, especially in the way that it is done."

"This is clearly the best product for the NAC use cases in this field for Forescout."

"Its feature that I have found most valuable is that it is very granular. You can configure granular controls just as you want those policies to be implemented. It gives you that flexibility to go granular in how you want your controls to be implemented. That's something I like about it."

"The 802.1X compliance authentication feature of this solution is very good."

"Forescout Platform has made it possible to block people working near our construction sites who should not have access to our network."

More Forescout Platform pros

"The user interface makes it easy to configure and use."

"We get full visibility into the network as a product, which is one of the key features of the product because recently they have acquired another product called Secure Wave, which is integrated into Sophos Network Access Control and provides advanced capabilities for managed detection and remediation, MDR, a major plus for customers."

"Sophos' technical support is great, very fast and responsive, and they always know how to fix the problem."

"The scalability of the system and the performance of the system and the solution's most valuable features."

"I found all Sophos Network Access Control features valuable, but IP blocking is the most useful."

"There is really good visibility for the appliance."

"The most valuable features of Sophos Network Access Control are the quick response times to threats and reliable security."

"The initial setup is very easy."

More Sophos Network Access Control pros

Cons

"The ability to block external devices in Mac is lacking and needs to be added."

"In the next release of the solution, it could benefit from being more flexible to allow for more freedom."

"The solution needs more definitive pricing. The costs are hard to nail down."

"The initial setup was complex."

"For improvements, I think technical support could be enhanced. The time zone difference makes remote support difficult - I'm in Indonesia, and they're in the US. Maybe the Forescout Platform could provide engineers from Asia Pacific."

"Forescout Platform could improve the costs of integrations."

"The solution does have a bit of complexity, and there's some complexity in the deployment. Users need to be trained before undertaking an initial setup."

"When adding what is in scope to a policy, it would be nice if you could select multiple policies instead of one policy at a time to add what is in the scope for network segmentation. I have found that during the install and configuration of the policies that if you want to modify multiple policies or enable multiple policies that you need to define what is in the scope (IP range or segments) one rule at a time. This caused some slow downs when implementing policies."

More Forescout Platform cons

"The solution could increase the integration with other platforms or other systems. This would be very useful."

"Sophos Network Access Control could be improved by having an ASIC chip similar to FortiNAC, as this would provide better processing for big organizations."

"Users are not controlled by role-based access; it's basically device-based control. The definition of role-based control is a little vague here because on the cloud level, it regulates access rather than tasks."

"The solution can improve the for applying policies. They can be complex depending don't the group they are applied to."

"It would be good if Sophos Network Access Control had better integration with other devices."

"In order to provide better management, it would be ideal with they offered better plugins for their firewall."

"There is room for improvement in pricing."

"The difficult thing was finding the metrics."

More Sophos Network Access Control cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Licenses are perpetual but can come with renewable support."

"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."

"Forescout is more expensive than Cisco because Cisco gives high discounts."

"The price of the solution is reasonable. We have paid for the license for five years. We have integration with Symantec AV for orchestration, and we have an additional license."

"Forescout Platform is on the expensive side."

"They base the license on the number of devices, which is quite misleading."

"The ROI is priceless."

"The product's pricing is reasonable."

More Forescout Platform pricing and cost advice

"It is quite expensive."

"Sophos Network Access Control is an expensive solution."

"I rate the price of Sophos Network Access Control a five out of ten."

"Sophos Network Access Control is very cheap compared to other solutions like Cisco, Barracuda, and Palo Alto."

"It provides a moderate pricing option for all of its features and benefits."

"Sophos Network Access Control is costly but has a similar price range as CrowdStrike and Check Point. The product can get more market share if Sophos can play around with Sophos Network Access Control pricing and improve it."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Access Control (NAC) solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

879,711 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

11%

Government

10%

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	30
Midsize Enterprise	10
Large Enterprise	44

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	16
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	3

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...

See all answers

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 is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sophos Network Access Control?

I think the pricing of the solution is expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sophos Network Access Control?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Sophos Network Access Control?

I am currently using the product as a customer. We are using Sophos Network Access Control solution for security purposes and security analysis only.

See all answers

Comparisons

Aruba ClearPass vs Forescout Platform

Compared 20% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Forescout Platform

Compared 17% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Forescout Platform

Compared 12% of the time

Portnox vs Forescout Platform

Compared 5% of the time

Armis vs Forescout Platform

Compared 4% of the time

More Forescout Platform Competitors

Aruba ClearPass vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 32% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 22% of the time

Portnox vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 14% of the time

Twingate vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 12% of the time

More Sophos Network Access Control Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Forescout Platform

January 2026

Download Forescout Platform product report

Buyer's Guide

Sophos Network Access Control

December 2025

Download Sophos Network Access Control 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

Sophos NAC Provides comprehensive, easy-to-deploy network access control that protects enterprise networks from the threats posed by non-compliant, compromised, or misconfigured endpoint computers. The software solution is vendor-neutral and works with existing network infrastructure and security applications. Computers are permitted or denied access to the network, based on a centrally defined, policy-driven assessment - and isolated, quarantined for remediation, automatically remediated, or sent alerts. Administrators can define and manage policies uniquely for managed and guest computers, including checking their security status and ensuring that no unwanted applications are run.

Sophos

Sample Customers

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

Rushmoor Borough Council

Buyer's Guide

Forescout Platform vs. Sophos Network Access Control

December 2025

Free Report: Forescout Platform vs. Sophos Network Access Control

Find out what your peers are saying about Forescout Platform vs. Sophos Network Access Control and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

879,711 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Forescout Platform vs. Sophos Network Access Control report.

See our list of best Network Access Control (NAC) vendors.

We monitor all Network Access Control (NAC) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.