The solution is primarily used for Network management and Network Access Controls.
Co-Founder & Director at a tech company with 11-50 employees
Easy to configure with great functionality and good reliability
Pros and Cons
- "From a configuration point of view, it's simple."
- "It would be ideal if Cisco could provide some short training videos or documentation to customers to help them understand how to use the product."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The general usefulness of the product is not specific to a particular feature. This is a comprehensive solution covering access to network to create a zero trust environment. It covers Network Access Control, Network Segmentation & policy control
The solution integrates well with other Cisco solutions. It works both from a single-vendor perspective and in cases where the client might have a hybrid network and multiple security solutions.
The product offers very good functionality.
From a configuration point of view, it's simple. It's not very complex. I don't see any major challenges when using the product.
The solution is reliable.
The scalability is good.
We haven't had any issues with technical support. They have been helpful.
What needs improvement?
I have not come across any missing features.
It would be ideal if Cisco could provide some short training videos or documentation to customers to help them understand how to use the product.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have not used this solution for ourselves but implemented it for various organisation's.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)
February 2026
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable and reliable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. The performance is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This solution can work well for large enterprises that have a larger environment, such as a distributed environment. Mostly, from my organization's perspective, we deal with SMEs.
The solution is quite scalable.
How are customer service and support?
I've been in touch with technical support in the past. They are quite good. I am satisfied with the level of support they provide. I don't have any complaints.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not very complex. All similar solutions will have a similar type of configuration as well, so it's pretty simple to figure things out.
In terms of how long a deployment takes, it primarily depends upon the environment the customer has. Customers might have a very basic environment wherein it might get done in a couple of hours or so. If it is a very complex environment and they have multiple policies to be deployed, then it could definitely take more time.
There aren't any challenges when it comes to maintenance. It's pretty simple.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I don't handle the licensing aspect of the product. I can't speak to the exact costs involved.
We have not faced any major challenges in terms of getting a good price point from our customer's perspective. That said, the pricing would depend upon the perceived value of the solution rather than the actual cost of the product. If the solution is able to help the customer in mitigating its challenges many customers don't see any point in discussing the price point if POC is successful
What other advice do I have?
We are a system integrator.
The version of ISE we are using depends on the customer.
We primarily have the solution set up on premise.
In terms of advice, from a security standpoint, it is paramount for any organisation, to be secure, no matter its size (large or small). Having secure network access control will always make it safer & help organisation in attaining a zero trust environment
I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Sr.Manager at a energy/utilities company with 10,001+ employees
Easy to use, centralized administration, and scalable
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features are authentication, we have more granular control on the access policies for the administrators. The solution is easy to use, has a center point administration, and has a good GUI."
- "The solution could be more secure."
What is our primary use case?
We use Cisco ISE for device authentication, such as auto switches, and wireless authentication.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features are authentication, we have more granular control on the access policies for the administrators. The solution is easy to use, has a center point administration, and has a good GUI.
What needs improvement?
The solution could be more secure.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) for approximately five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cisco ISE is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I have found Cisco ISE to be scalable.
We have approximately 500 people using this solution in my organization.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We were using Cisco ACS previously. I have found Cisco ISE to be a more advanced and easy-to-use solution than the Cisco ACS.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is straightforward since we have worked on Cisco platforms previously.
What about the implementation team?
We have approximately 100 people for the maintenance and support of this solution.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)
February 2026
Learn what your peers think about Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: February 2026.
881,757 professionals have used our research since 2012.
NOC Manager at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Integrates well, stable, and helpful support
Pros and Cons
- "We were originally a Cisco shop and Cisco ISE integrated well with our other Cisco switches and networks."
- "The installation is not straightforward, it took us approximately one month."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Cisco ISE for limiting port access in our organization's building for wired and wireless networks.
What is most valuable?
We were originally a Cisco shop and Cisco ISE integrated well with our other Cisco switches and networks.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) for approximately three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable and has good performance.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Cisco ISE is scalable.
We have approximately 200 people using this solution in my organization.
How are customer service and support?
When I have contacted the support for Cisco ISE I have always been satisfied.
How was the initial setup?
The installation is not straightforward, it took us approximately one month.
They need to reduce the number of options for the installation or have a wizard that covers small, medium, and large enterprises.
What about the implementation team?
We had an integrator help with the implementation. For the deployment, we had five engineers and for the maintenance and support, we use three engineers.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) is expensive and we are thinking about changing to FortiGate.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I have evaluated Fortinet FortiGate solutions.
What other advice do I have?
I would not recommend this solution.
I rate Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) a six out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Network & Security Engineer at a engineering company with 201-500 employees
Excessive lagging, expensive, complicated installation, but has good features and support
Pros and Cons
- "The RADIUS Server holds the most value."
- "I would like to see the product simplified more, especially with the configuration."
What is most valuable?
The RADIUS Server holds the most value.
The TACACS feature in ISE is good.
We also use the Posture feature to control the environment.
The product features are quite good.
What needs improvement?
One of the main issues in Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) is that it lags excessively.
Sometimes Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) just doesn't work properly, due to misconfiguration.
I would like to see the product simplified more, especially with the configuration.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) for approximately two years.
We are using version 2.7 Patch 2.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) is easy to scale.
I have approximately 450 Apex end-based licenses.
Currently, we don't have plans to expand.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support as always is one of the best.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was a bit complex. It took us three to four weeks to complete the setup and get it up and running. We had help from the reseller.
It was deployed by a vendor.
What about the implementation team?
It was installed by a vendor.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's a bit expensive, especially the licensed product.
The hardware is purchased one time.
The support license is reasonable, but when compared to other products, such as ClearPass or Fortinet, the base license for users is much lower in other products. In general, Cisco is more expensive.
I would like to see one license based on one user. We do not need to use multiple licenses in order to have multiple features in the product.
One of the issues in ISE is that if you need more features you have to have multiple licenses per user. One user can have three or four licenses.
It would be beneficial to have a single license that included all of the features.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We are currently trying to deploy Fortinet network access control. The support from Fortinet is disappointing.
We are in the testing phases, but there is a good possibility that we will go with Fortinet.
We have not used it yet. We will try the POCs this week coming.
What other advice do I have?
I would suggest having an experienced engineer implement the product. If there is an error when implementing, you will experience many issues, especially lagging.
If it was well implemented I would rate it a nine out of ten, because it's good.
Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) is used in large enterprise companies. In our company and with our implementation, I would rate Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) a four out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Technical Solutions Architect at a wholesaler/distributor with 201-500 employees
Secure access that is reliable, simple to scale, and easy to install
Pros and Cons
- "The profiling model included is the most valuable feature."
- "The user interface could be improved to make it more user-friendly."
What is our primary use case?
I am a reseller. We also implement solutions for our clients. Currently, we have a client who is doing a proof of concept with different clients of their own.
We sell this product to many different clients here in Mexico for both retail and manufacturing plants.
Our clients use Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) to secure the access of the users. It's a great tool for access control functions.
What is most valuable?
The profiling model included is the most valuable feature.
What needs improvement?
The user interface could be improved to make it more user-friendly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been selling Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) for eight years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) is very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is very scalable. Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) is a nice solution.
How are customer service and support?
I have not had any contact with technical support.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is easy.
It can take three days for a basic configuration.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
As resellers, we frequently evaluate solutions for our customers.
What other advice do I have?
After the deployment, I would recommend completing a proof of concept.
I would rate Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) a nine out often.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Networks Lead Engineer at a mining and metals company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Reliable performance with good network control and great integration capabilities
Pros and Cons
- "There is good integration with third-party systems like antivirus patch management, MDM."
- "The pricing and licensing structure are not ideal for customers."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution in our infrastructure.
What is most valuable?
I'm very satisfied with the product. It has been excellent so far.
From the performance perspective, it is excellent. The outcome is as expected, giving control to the network.
There is good integration with third-party systems like antivirus patch management, MDM.
What needs improvement?
They need to simplify the processes and management more, as well as the platform. Their user experience is a bit complicated, and it's not easy to manage. They need to do something to enhance the management console and make it more simple and easier to use.
I need to see stronger integration with Cisco SDN. Instead of treating it as a separate appliance, it should be a built-in feature in the SDN solution. This is one of the things that will reduce the complexity of Cisco's architecture. Instead of having multiple appliances, and getting lost in-between, and not knowing where is the problem is, everything can just be in one place. It will be better to move this feature or this technology as a built-in technology in the SDN solutions, similar to DNA and ACI.
The pricing and licensing structure are not ideal for customers.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used this solution for about five years, both in my previous company and my current company as well.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution provides excellent stability and reliability. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We are a customer and an end-user.
Cisco, on the price, is not good now. This might entice customers or end-users to go for another cheaper solution where they can still find most of the features Cisco offers.
They are now offering subscription licenses, and you have to pay thousands of dollars every year for maintenance and renewing support. Most users will not accept this new strategy of Cisco. It's not like HP or Dell, where, when you purchase the hardware and it's a lifetime license. It's a lifetime subscription. You don't need to renew the license every two years. Therefore, from a price perspective, no, Cisco's not good. Their strategy now seems to be pushing customers to go for other solutions.
What other advice do I have?
The product is excellent and I would rate it at a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Deputy Manager at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Stable, scalable, feature-rich, with good guest and stop authentication
Pros and Cons
- "It has all of the features available, in fact, more than what you need."
- "The support could be faster and the pricing could be reduced."
What is our primary use case?
I am a reseller. I provide solutions to our customers.
We used Cisco ISE for Wi-Fi implementation for one project at the International Airport.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of this solution are guest authentication and stop authentication.
I felt that it was quite good and well suited for us.
Overall, the features and the product are quite good.
It has all of the features available, in fact, more than what you need.
What needs improvement?
The initial setup could be simplified.
The support could be faster and the pricing could be reduced.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Cisco ISE is a stable product.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is a scalable solution.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is fine.
It might take some time. At times, it will take two hours to come online.
Support is available as long as you have the support contract.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have not worked on any other product.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is a bit complex. The integration with the Active Directory is a bit involved.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price is a bit on the high side.
What other advice do I have?
The features are quite comprehensive, but it's okay. However, the pricing is on the higher side.
Feature-wise, it is a nine out of ten. Overall, I would rate Cisco ISE an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Team Lead Network Infrastructure at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Scalable with good device administration and good stability
Pros and Cons
- "Typically, the installation is pretty simple."
- "Deploying to a machine, as opposed to a dedicated appliance, can be a bit difficult."
What is our primary use case?
The solution is primarily used for authentification purposes.
What is most valuable?
The solution is stable.
We have found the product to be scalable.
The device administration is great.
It offers very good integrations and can easily be integrated with mobile devices.
The product works well with StealthWatch.
It's quite an innovative product.
Typically, the installation is pretty simple.
What needs improvement?
The solution isn't as dynamic as it could be. There are some limitations, specifically around switches.
Deploying to a machine, as opposed to a dedicated appliance, can be a bit difficult.
The network solutions need to be improved by Cisco.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for three to four years. It's been a while at this point.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution has been quite stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is good. If a company needs to expand it, it can do so. It's not a problem.
We have this solution deployed to 6,000 or more users.
How was the initial setup?
An installation is pretty simple if it is on a dedicated hardware appliance. However, if someone chooses to deploy to a machine, then you can face certain challenges during the installation. On a dedicated appliance, you can deploy in two to three hours.
You only really need one person to deploy the product. You don't need to have a big team.
What about the implementation team?
We are integrators and can deploy the solution for clients.
What other advice do I have?
We are a systems integration company.
I'm using different versions of the solution, and not necessarily the latest one.
I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten. It's worked well for us so far. We find Cisco to be innovative and to offer good products.
I would recommend the solution to other users and organizations.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Integrator
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Updated: February 2026
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