

Portnox and Aruba ClearPass are both key players in the network access control sector. Portnox is favored for its cloud-native approach, providing substantial flexibility and scalability, whereas Aruba ClearPass excels in robust policy management and comprehensive network visibility.
Features: Portnox's key features include ease of cloud integration, flexibility, and efficient scalability. Aruba ClearPass stands out with robust policy management, enhanced network visibility, and advanced enforcement capabilities like guest access and device profiling.
Room for Improvement: Portnox could benefit from additional administrative tools and improved documentation support. It might also enhance its in-depth analytics capabilities. Aruba ClearPass can work on simplifying its complex setup process and refining its user interface. Further development could also better integrate its solutions with third-party systems.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Portnox offers straightforward deployment thanks to its cloud-based model and is supported by responsive customer service. On the other hand, Aruba ClearPass's deployment is more complex but offers comprehensive support that can handle detailed requirements.
Pricing and ROI: Portnox is considered cost-effective with lower upfront costs and faster return on investment due to cloud efficiency. In contrast, Aruba ClearPass, despite higher initial costs, provides strong long-term returns through an extensive feature set. The choice hinges on prioritizing either initial affordability or expansive feature offerings.
Using Aruba ClearPass has resulted in less engineering time compared to other products we've used.
The investment is huge for enterprise clients, but Aruba ClearPass makes processes easier.
If I compare this to an on-premises environment using Cisco ISE or Aruba ClearPass, it would require phenomenally large teams for infrastructure management.
If you were moving from a traditional on-premise NAC that was 100% managed by the IT department, there would be great savings in going to a cloud-based NAC with Portnox.
Portnox is one level up, as their customer support is outstanding.
We have faced delays in the resolution of production issues after raising tickets, which impacts productivity.
We have escalated questions to tech support, and I would rate the technical support an eight out of ten.
The main area needing improvement is the technical knowledge of support staff.
For very high severity issues where the entire office is non-functional, response time is within 30 minutes.
They respond very immediately and provide detailed, amazing support.
I believe the scalability of ClearPass is rated as ten out of ten.
Everything will be handled when you add new users because all configurations are deployed from the beginning.
In our environment, ClearPass handles up to 100,000 users, which is better than some other NAC solutions like Fortinox that scale up to 25,000.
They ensure the backend can support it and do the provisioning while maintaining headroom and elasticity.
I have experienced more than three years without zero downtime with Aruba ClearPass.
There are issues with some versions, especially in integrating with AD and SSL configurations over port sixty-three.
There aren't many stability issues, but sometimes the guest management function occasionally throws errors.
The product itself is available and its uptime is 100%.
In the four years that I used Portnox, if it crashed or the server crashed, that would not have been more than once.
If there is a version one and another version, the communication between the organization using it and Portnox should be firm so they can coordinate effectively.
The language and policy enforcement mechanisms are not clear, making it difficult to use the product effectively.
It is also better to improve threat intelligence for built-in threat detection and prevention.
A more streamlined menu of licensing options would be helpful.
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.
When I'm doing filtering at times, it doesn't filter the items properly.
They don't have much support during Asia Pacific hours.
Achieving the best price requires careful selection from a menu of licensing options.
We cannot mix in prices, and of course, prices are going higher.
Aruba ClearPass is a premium product with higher pricing, which seems unnecessary given its complexity.
If you compare Portnox with all other well-known standard products, it is the cheapest.
The pricing is a bit high, possibly due to the cloud features and running instances across regions like the US, Asia, and Europe.
You are charged according to the number of users.
In Aruba ClearPass, you can have control of all authentication in the company.
The ClearPass solution has reduced the amount of engineering time compared to previous solutions, making it more efficient for our purposes.
The most effective feature for us is the OnGuard feature.
It's notable how Portnox has improved operational efficiency.
It is a very robust application because three teams use that part: the network team, the security team, and the support people.
It is very easy to implement on our current network hardware.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Aruba ClearPass | 21.6% |
| Portnox | 5.5% |
| Other | 72.9% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 44 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 25 |
| Large Enterprise | 33 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 13 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 5 |
| Large Enterprise | 7 |
Aruba ClearPass is a network access control (NAC) solution that provides a range of security and access management capabilities for wired, wireless, and VPN networks. ClearPass enables organizations to secure their networks and devices, enforce security policies, and provide secure access to network resources.
Aruba ClearPass Features
Aruba ClearPass has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:
Aruba ClearPass Benefits
There are many benefits to implementing Aruba ClearPass. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:
Reviews from Real Users
Aruba ClearPass is a solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Some of its major advantages are that it’s easy to use, has a valuable Guest Captive Portal and virtual security enforcement, and has a good web dashboard and policy manager.
“It is easy to use and more integrated with the Aruba wireless networks,” says Muhammad N., Network & Information Security Engineer at a healthcare company.
Ammar F., Head of IT at Hubtech, explains, “What I like most about Aruba ClearPass is that it has the best enforcement feature for the network. I also like its Guest Captive Portal and virtual security enforcement features, but the virtual security enforcement feature is still under testing by my company. Aruba ClearPass also has a wonderful UI which I find valuable."
Another PeerSpot reviewer mentions, "The web dashboard and the policy manager are very intuitive and very easy for the engineers to use."
Portnox provides advanced network visibility and proactive security without complexity, ensuring easy setup and scalability. Its agentless nature and intuitive design enable seamless device management and system integration, promoting efficient network operations and endpoint security.
Portnox is known for offering comprehensive network access control, providing firms with vital tools for managing authentication and securing endpoint devices. It's praised for ease of use in integrating with systems such as RADIUS servers and offering detailed analytical capabilities to ensure compliance and control unauthorized access. While users appreciate the intuitive interface and device management, improvements have been suggested in the areas of better GUI, integration with firewalls, and enhanced configuration methods. Portnox aids in handling dynamic VLAN assignments and securing access in both wired and wireless networks, proving particularly valuable for on-premises and remote environments.
What are the key features of Portnox?In industries where network security is paramount, such as finance and healthcare, Portnox is implemented to fortify access control and manage endpoint connections effectively. Its ability to secure both on-premises and remote environments makes it a versatile choice across sectors that require stringent access management, particularly where unauthorized device connections pose significant risks.
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