Portnox vs Yubico YubiKey comparison

Portnox Security and Yubico are both solutions in the Passwordless Authentication category. Portnox Security is ranked #2 with an average rating of 7.8, while Yubico is ranked #3 with an average rating of 9.0. Portnox Security holds a 12.7% mindshare in PA, compared to Yubico’s 13.4% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of Portnox Security users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Yubico users who would recommend it.

Portnox

Read 21 Portnox reviews

104 Views
53 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Yubico YubiKey

Read 4 Yubico YubiKey reviews

149 Views
113 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Portnox

Yubico YubiKey

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 9, 2025

Portnox and Yubico YubiKey are prominent competitors in the cybersecurity category, focusing on network access control and secure authentication respectively. Portnox stands out in scalability and integration with its cloud-based service, whereas Yubico YubiKey's focus on robust security features gives it an edge in secure authentication solutions.

Features: Portnox provides advanced network access control with features like risk monitoring, proactive security measures, and scalability. Yubico YubiKey offers robust authentication through multi-factor options, biometric capabilities, and compatibility with a variety of platforms for flexible security.

Room for Improvement: Portnox could enhance its user interface and simplify complex configurations for better usability. It may also improve compatibility with niche network systems and expand its mobile platform support. Yubico YubiKey could benefit from including better support resources for initial setup, more extensive integration options with existing IT systems, and reducing reliance on external resources for deployment.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Portnox's cloud deployment facilitates easy integration and remote management, complemented by responsive customer service. Yubico YubiKey's plug-and-play nature ensures a straightforward deployment; however, it relies heavily on customer resources for comprehensive setup despite having fewer hands-on processes.

Pricing and ROI: Portnox's subscription model with scalable pricing is designed to be cost-effective for various business sizes and offers a rapid return on investment by reducing security threats. Yubico YubiKey, with a higher upfront cost, offsets its price through long-term durability and substantial security improvements, appealing to organizations where security is prioritized over cost.

To learn more, read our detailed Portnox vs. Yubico YubiKey Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Portnox vs. Yubico YubiKey

March 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

Portnox

Ranking in Passwordless Authentication

2nd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Access Control (NAC) (7th), ZTNA (11th)

Yubico YubiKey

Ranking in Passwordless Authentication

3rd

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Authentication Systems (7th), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) (2nd)

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Passwordless Authentication category, the mindshare of Portnox is 12.7%. The mindshare of Yubico YubiKey is 13.4%, down from 15.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Passwordless Authentication

Featured Reviews

Scott Kerr

President at TrackerSoft

It is seamless and integrates well with our Azure setup

We use devices like PLCs and controllers, and when we receive a request to allow one on the network, we bypass typical authentication, associate it with a group account, and push it to a firewalled VLAN. However, problems arise when the same MAC address is requested for a different project. Our current system only finds authenticated MAC addresses, making it difficult to troubleshoot when the same device is used for multiple purposes. Ideally, we should be able to search for any MAC address in the database, regardless of its authentication status, to see all its associated groups and potential conflicts.

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OmerKhan1

IT Specialist at Friendly Solutions Corp

A stable solution that is efficient, user-friendly, and easy to use

It would be better if the product can come up with a serial number for the keys. It would be nice if they had a numbering system as a configuration identity that would help the IT and technical teams to identify the keys because they look all the same. It would be more like putting a tag on them.

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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 solution has a valuable reporting feature."

"It's agentless, and it's scalable."

"The simplicity of the product is commendable."

"There is an add-on feature for application control to kill unwanted applications when launched on a user's device."

"It's easy to manage and troubleshoot thanks to the lightweight components."

"The cloud-based feature of Portnox is excellent."

"The product is a valuable solution within zero-trust architecture, enhancing network security and visibility."

"The Vidahost feature is currently in action, and it appears to be providing valuable data insights."

More Portnox pros

"The solution is simple to use and we have installed it in our clients' endpoints. The tool is just plug-and-play for the end user. The end user can just put in the key to the security computer and log in without any hassle. The solution is efficient, user-friendly, and easy to use."

"The most valuable feature of Yubico YubiKey is security."

"It's small and lightweight. Like a phone, it doesn't run out of battery. It also doesn't have to be unlocked. It doesn't break. Moreover, they're very durable and it's very convenient."

"YubiKey is a hardware security device with advanced security features."

Cons

"Their filtering system tends to lag quite a bit, so when I'm doing filtering at times, it doesn't filter the items properly."

"The integration between Portnox CORE and Portnox CLEAR can be better. These are two different systems, and there is no unique console for both devices. Portnox CORE is agentless, whereas Portnox CLEAR is not agentless."

"However, problems arise when the same MAC address is requested for a different project. Our current system only finds authenticated MAC addresses, making it difficult to troubleshoot when the same device is used for multiple purposes."

"It would be good to integrate Portnox CORE with CLEAR."

"Now, the way security is viewed, maybe including something like AI, to automate some of the things that are required to be done would be great."

"I believe there is a lot of room for improvement in terms of integration."

"The product should consider more integration with vendors like Huawei. It should also improve visibility. The solution should offer a partner portal that can provide customers training on the in and out of the solution."

"One of the things for the on-premise is that sometimes you click on it and it takes a while for it to respond."

More Portnox cons

"Currently, an area where the product lacks is in addressing service needs."

"It's a hardware device, so it isn't cost-effective to use for all your accounts. You might have a hard time getting budget approval. It's better to take a strategic approach and use it only for critical accounts. You can use other forms of authentication for the rest."

"Yubico YubiKey is inconvient. No one likes the idea of having to put a USB device into the system, having to remember to take it out, and having passwords. It may be very good for security but it is not great for people to use."

"It would be better if the product can come up with a serial number for the keys. It would be nice if they had a numbering system as a configuration identity that would help the IT and technical teams to identify the keys because they look all the same. It would be more like putting a tag on them."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Pricing is quite reasonable."

"Portnox CORE's pricing is adequate and cheaper compared to other complex solutions. Its licensing costs are yearly and include support. Cost is calculated per device."

"The tool is more expensive than Fortinet."

"The solution is very expensive and I would rate it 10 out of 10."

"The pricing is a bit high, possibly due to the cloud features and running instances across regions like the US, Asia, and Europe."

"The cost of Portnox Clear is reasonable."

"The licensing module should be reviewed to count the number of devices instead of port numbers of total switches. There is a case for this where not all ports for a switch are used by devices. Unused ports are calculated in the license, then the customer pays for license for those unused ports."

"We pay for port licensing and support on a yearly basis, and it's not cheap."

More Portnox pricing and cost advice

"We paid 100 bucks for one Yubikey."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

16%

Computer Software Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

13%

Government

12%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Portnox CORE?

It's easy to manage and troubleshoot thanks to the lightweight components.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Portnox CORE?

It's not cheap. It's not expensive. It's in the middle, so I'll probably give it a seven out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Portnox CORE?

We have been having some issues with it. That's why we're considering migrating to Portnox Clear due to some limitations with CORE. At the end of the day, Portnox Clear's capabilities are much more...

See all answers

What do you like most about Yubico YubiKey?

The solution is simple to use and we have installed it in our clients' endpoints. The tool is just plug-and-play for the end user. The end user can just put in the key to the security computer and ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Yubico YubiKey?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Yubico YubiKey?

We use YubiKey to authenticate online services with email, web, and Twitter. We deploy it for some sensitive administrative accounts to improve security.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 30% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Portnox

Compared 26% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Portnox

Compared 18% of the time

Forescout Platform vs Portnox

Compared 16% of the time

SecureW2 vs Portnox

Compared 6% of the time

More Portnox Competitors

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Compared 46% of the time

Fortinet FortiToken vs Yubico YubiKey

Compared 12% of the time

Cisco Duo vs Yubico YubiKey

Compared 10% of the time

Thales Authenticators vs Yubico YubiKey

Compared 7% of the time

Microsoft Entra ID vs Yubico YubiKey

Compared 5% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Portnox

March 2025

Download Portnox product report

Buyer's Guide

Authentication Systems

March 2025

Download Yubico YubiKey product report

Also Known As

Access Layers Portnox, Portnox CLEAR

YubiKey

Interactive Demo

Portnox Security

Demo not available

Yubico

Overview

Portnox offers Network Access Control to manage user access based on policy, securing both wired and wireless networks while ensuring compliance. It supports endpoint security and prevents unauthorized access across industries such as banking, IT, and energy distribution.

Designed for both on-premises and cloud deployments through CORE and Clear versions, Portnox delivers a straightforward interface aiding in deployment. It integrates effectively with equipment from multiple vendors and security solutions, enhancing endpoint profiling and ensuring compliance. Portnox provides real-time alerts and network activity insights, bolstered by excellent technical support and scalability. It also automates monitoring, reducing the need for dedicated resources while offering a comprehensive view of network activities.

What are the essential features of Portnox?

Comprehensive Network Visibility: Delivers detailed insights into network activity.
Agentless Operation: Simplifies deployment without requiring additional software on endpoints.
Seamless Integration: Works well with diverse equipment and security systems.
Real-Time Alerts: Immediate notifications for unauthorized activities.
Scalability: Accommodates growing network needs without adding complexity.

What benefits should users focus on in Portnox reviews?

Ease of Deployment: Quick setup without complex processes.
Security Capabilities: Strong defense against unauthorized access and breaches.
Automatic Monitoring: Continuously observes network traffic, requiring fewer resources.
Intuitive Insights: Clear visualization of network operations aids decision-making.
Reliable Support: Access to helpful technical assistance when needed.

Across industries like banking and IT, organizations rely on Portnox for endpoint profiling and compliance, ensuring remote worker security. Electricity distributors leverage its robust features for managing secure network access. Improvements like better third-party integration, enhanced graphical interface, and expanded support are desired, along with licensing adjustment and expanded use of AI and behavioral analytics.

Portnox Security

The YubiKey works with hundreds of enterprise, developer and consumer applications, out-of-the-box and with no client software. Combined with leading password managers, social login and enterprise single sign on systems the YubiKey enables secure access to millions of online services.

Yubico

Sample Customers

Data Realty, Royal London, Wales Millennium Centre, McLaren Construction Group, EL AL Israeli Airlines,

Google Inc., Salesforce, Novartis, Facebook, GitHub, CERN, Duke University, Code Enigma, Luther Burbank High School, ZorgSaam, Agfa, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Dyson Ltd, Portugal Telecom, Boral, Canonical Ltd

Buyer's Guide

Portnox vs. Yubico YubiKey

March 2025

Free Report: Portnox vs. Yubico YubiKey

Find out what your peers are saying about Portnox vs. Yubico YubiKey and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.

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