Forescout Platform vs Sophos Network Access Control comparison

Forescout and Sophos are both solutions in the Network Access Control (NAC) category. Forescout is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.4, while Sophos is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.2. Forescout holds a 11.8% mindshare in NAC, compared to Sophos’s 1.8% 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 77 Forescout Platform reviews

8,039 Views
5,467 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

Sophos Network Access Control

Read 22 Sophos Network Access Control reviews

1,053 Views
1,021 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Forescout Platform

Sophos Network Access Control

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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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: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Forescout Platform vs. Sophos Network Access Control

September 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 Network Access Control (NAC)

4th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

IoT Security (3rd), Endpoint Compliance (4th), Extended Detection and Response (XDR) (15th)

Sophos Network Access Control

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

8th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Network Access Control (NAC) category, the mindshare of Forescout Platform is 11.8%, down from 13.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos Network Access Control is 1.8%, up from 1.4% 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	11.8%
Sophos Network Access Control	1.8%
Other	86.4%

Network Access Control (NAC)

Featured Reviews

Odai Halawani

Sr. Security Engineer at Topvision

It's an easy and effective solution, especially for device profiling without agents

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.

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Vishal Deshwal

technical associate at seamlessinfotech.com

Technical support excels but hardware enhancements are needed for faster processing

The best features in Sophos Network Access Control are fewer than FortiNAC and Cisco ISE, but when discussing budget and customer support, different vendors have different perspectives. Cisco is better in support, FortiNAC is better in security, and different vendors maintain different perspectives. I utilized the device quarantine feature around eight months ago. It is specifically for when any malicious or harmful file comes to the system. Through NAC, we can put it in quarantine, and if anything comes or goes from this system, it will be monitored continuously. We can define these parameters as needed. The role-based access controls feature of Sophos Network Access Control allows persons at different positions in an organization to have different types of roles. We can give them full access as an administrator, provide some network access, or give users only read-only access. This depends on the user's requirements and the position they hold within the organization, allowing us to grant roles according to their post. The integration capabilities of Sophos Network Access Control are good, as it can easily integrate with other solutions and vendors.

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

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

"This solution can be used to organize guest portals, integrate switches, and create policies. Some of its standard use cases also include completing key process upgrades and anti-virus of Windows OS."

"The most valuable features of ForeScout is the fact that it can do network access control either with 802.1x or without 802.1x."

"The most valuable feature of the Forescout Platform it's highly customizable and flexible."

"The best parts of Forescout Platform are its orchestration features, discovery capabilities, classification buckets, and flexibility in creating policies."

"The standout strength of this solution lies in its unique capability to effectively manage unmanaged switches."

"The stability is amazing for the Forescout Platform. We have been using Forescout for four years, and no one complained about the stability."

More Forescout Platform pros

"The platform's most valuable features include robust reporting and analytics capabilities, which provide deep insights into our sales performance and customer behavior."

"Sophos Network Access Control has a useful interface, and I like its dashboard, which is very useful for us to check everything."

"The wifi control is fantastic and makes it very easy to administer."

"What Sophos has done is integrate almost the entire OSI layer infrastructure. It gives me visibility across my infrastructure. It gives me visibility into all the mobile devices that are on my network and into the security I have on those mobile devices."

"Sophos Network Access Control saves our clients time and money."

"We have had interactions with the technical support team through the Xnet platform. It's good."

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

"I am very satisfied with this solution overall. All of the features that we use have been working successfully."

More Sophos Network Access Control pros

Cons

"The licensing costs are quite high. With the amount of hardware we have, we need too many licenses to make the product effective and it's ultimately just too costly."

"The cost is too high."

"I should be able to integrate my Forescout with any other third party security technology, to build that connected security strategy."

"As a user, if I am using a laptop that is Wi-Fi connected, Forescout identifies my port connectivity as one user license, and if I take that same laptop with the same username to a wired network, which is also the same network that is used for the Wi-Fi connection, Forescout detects it as a separate license."

"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."

"It does not support the TACACS+ protocol."

"The solution's customer support is bad and should be improved."

"Forescout Platform's technical support is slow to respond and could be more knowledgeable."

More Forescout Platform cons

"The solution could offer more useful documentation."

"I would like more details on the incoming connection, like what is the download speed and how it fluctuates. If Sophos can give that information, it would be really good."

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

"The user interface, in terms of managing the product, could be better."

"There is room for improvement in pricing."

"Continuous development in specific areas might be required."

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

"An area that could be improved is the information about licensing, which is fairly confusing at present."

More Sophos Network Access Control cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution’s pricing is fine."

"I would rate Forescout Platform's pricing as four out of five."

"Forescout Platform is on the expensive side."

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

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

"It might not be the cheapest solution, but you get what you pay for."

"The cost of licensing for this product is quite high, but this cost covers all the features of the solution so it is a single payment for the term that has been selected."

"We need to pay for integration for each integration that we want to do and there is an additional license fee. This adds more costs. It is not something that anyone can afford. If you want to integrate this with a lot of other tools, it can be costly."

More Forescout Platform pricing and cost advice

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

"Sophos Network Access Control is an expensive solution."

"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."

"It is quite expensive."

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

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

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Computer Software Company

12%

Government

10%

Construction Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	30
Midsize Enterprise	10
Large Enterprise	43

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	15
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	2

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.

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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...

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What do you like most about Sophos Network Access Control?

Sophos Network Access Control has a useful interface, and I like its dashboard, which is very useful for us to check everything.

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

I am not able to say much on the financial specifics as it pertains to the sales unit.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sophos Network Access Control?

A point for improvement for Sophos Network Access Control would be to implement a SIEM tool functionality. For example, CrowdStrike is direct competition to Sophos Network Access Control, not even ...

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Comparisons

Aruba ClearPass vs Forescout Platform

Compared 22% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Forescout Platform

Compared 20% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Forescout Platform

Compared 13% of the time

Nozomi Networks vs Forescout Platform

Compared 6% of the time

Portnox vs Forescout Platform

Compared 5% of the time

More Forescout Platform Competitors

Aruba ClearPass vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 34% of the time

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

Compared 23% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 13% of the time

Portnox vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 12% of the time

More Sophos Network Access Control Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Forescout Platform

September 2025

Download Forescout Platform product report

Buyer's Guide

Sophos Network Access Control

August 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

September 2025

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