Auconet Network Access Control vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) comparison

Auconet and Cisco are both solutions in the Network Access Control (NAC) category. Auconet is ranked #21, while Cisco is ranked #2 with an average rating of 7.6. Auconet holds a 0.6% mindshare in NAC, compared to Cisco’s 21.7% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Auconet users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 87% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

Auconet Network Access Control

Read 1 Auconet Network Access Control review

168 Views
163 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cisco Identity Services Eng...

Read 144 Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) reviews

15,070 Views
9,796 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

Auconet Network Access Control

Cisco Identity Services Eng...

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Auconet Network Access Control and Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco, Fortinet and others in Network Access Control (NAC).

To learn more, read our detailed Network Access Control (NAC) Report (Updated: February 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Network Access Control (NAC)

February 2026

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Helped 885,264 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

Auconet Network Access Control

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

21st

Average Rating

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Cisco Identity Services Eng...

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

2nd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

144

Ranking in other categories

Cisco Security Portfolio (4th)

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Network Access Control (NAC) category, the mindshare of Auconet Network Access Control is 0.6%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is 21.7%, down from 27.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Access Control (NAC) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)	21.7%
Auconet Network Access Control	0.6%
Other	77.7%

Network Access Control (NAC)

Featured Reviews

it_user1194

Head of Infrastructure at a tech company with 51-200 employees

A very good Network Access Control application with emphasis on MAC layer authentication

1) Auconet provides comprehensive control mechanisms for securing networks of any size. 2) Can support network devices of any make. 3) Provides MAC layer (layer 2) authentication of all network hardware, which has higher security, compared to other NAC tools. 4) It works on the basic assumption that VPN, Firewalls, etc. are only capable of blocking external sources of danger and the actual problem lies within the company itself. 5) PortSecurityManager, which is part of Auconet Network Access Control, can be implemented very quickly. 6) Gives a visual depiction of your network structure in real time. 7) Can be seamlessly integrated with the existing infrastructure.

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NicolasFigaro

Network and Technology Information Manager at Akkodis

Has improved authentication management and simplified visitor network access

The log capacity in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could be enhanced because today natively on the ISE can only have a look at the logs from the day before. You cannot search into the oldest logs; you have to use another tool for that. This can be blocking if you don't have any log consolidation solution. To do a search for an issue or something that happened two days ago, you cannot search directly in there. The capacity of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could be enhanced. Something between one week and one month for the log capacity would be nice.

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

"Overall, it's a good Network Access Control application and it does a good job by checking both in house, as well as external traffic."

"They have recently made a lot of improvements. My clients don't have much to complain about."

"With NAC, the profiling feature is valuable. We're able to see what we have out there in the network and dynamically assign policies to it. We can then use that to enforce TrustSec policy or anything else with NAC."

"When you push out the policy, it is able to populate the entire network at one time."

"In terms of scalability, I think it's scalable, quite scalable and very intricate, easy to use and provides good support."

"Cisco ISE now competes with any other product in the space because of its centralized and unified highly secure access control with ISE."

"The integration with Active Directory is the most valuable feature for us."

"Cisco ISE is a comprehensive solution that allows you to control access to network resources granularly based on policies."

"So far, we have had no issues with the stability."

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) pros

Cons

"Though officially advertised that it supports network hardware of any vendor, in reality, the lesser known vendors are not well supported and often you have to struggle to fix them."

"In order to make it a ten, it should be more user-friendly. You need somebody who is knowledgeable about it to use it. It's not easy to use. We have to rely heavily on technical support."

"There are always some things that I would request."

"Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) needs to improve the profiling preauthentication."

"On the network services devices, when you click on filter, the filter comes up. However, when I type in a search and I want to click on something it defaults back to the main page. I keep having an issue with that, and I'm not doing anything wrong."

"The software is a little bit complicated to understand in the beginning, meaning the implementation. It needs proper documentation so that we can understand the options more easily."

"There are still some bugs in ISE that need to be worked out."

"The interface is very complex, and there are tons and tons and tons of options."

"Cisco ISE is complex. The deployment and design of networks with it is so complex."

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"The Essentials licensing is reasonable, but I would like the Premier version to be perpetual instead of a subscription."

"The solution’s pricing is reasonable."

"We are running Version 2.9 because Version 2.9 of the ISE has a persistent license — it's a one-time payment. The latest version (3.1) is only available if you do a yearly subscription."

"Cisco ISE is not inexpensive, but the solution is well-built and worth the expense."

"The technology is good, but to use some of the other features, and capabilities, they request that we purchase the Cisco DNA Center. As a result, the bundled price is a little high."

"Previously, Cisco ISE had a perpetual licensing model, but now they have shifted to a subscription-based licensing system."

"It has a fair price. It is better than it was before."

"That's where things got a bit more complicated. Previously, it was a one-time purchase and we just had to renew support. These days, there's a subscription model, which is supposed to be easier and cheaper as well, but it's more pricey"

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Manufacturing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	45
Midsize Enterprise	32
Large Enterprise	91

Questions from the Community

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Which is better - Aruba Clearpass or Cisco ISE?

Aruba ClearPass is a Network Access Control tool that gives secure network access to multiple device types. You can adapt the policies to VPN access, wired, or wireless access. You can securely ...

See all answers

What are the main differences between Cisco ISE and Forescout Platform?

OK, so Cisco ISE uses 802.1X to secure switchports against unauthorized access. The drawback of this is that ISE cannot secure the port if a device does not support 802.1x. Cameras, badge readers, ...

See all answers

How does Cisco ISE compare with Fortinet FortiNAC?

Cisco ISE uses AI endpoint analytics to identify new devices based on their behavior. It will also notify you if someone plugs in with a device that is not allowed and will block it. The user exper...

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Comparisons

Forescout Platform vs Auconet Network Access Control

Compared 48% of the time

Aruba ClearPass vs Auconet Network Access Control

Compared 29% of the time

More Auconet Network Access Control Competitors

Aruba ClearPass vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 25% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 17% of the time

Forescout Platform vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 7% of the time

CyberArk Privileged Access Manager vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 3% of the time

Portnox vs Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Compared 3% of the time

More Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Network Access Control (NAC)

February 2026

Download Auconet Network Access Control product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

March 2026

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) report

Download Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) product report

Also Known As

No data available

Cisco ISE

Overview

Unique among NAC platforms, Auconet Network Access Control is fully multi-tenant capable, making it the perfect complement to existing security measures at data centers operated by external service providers. In addition, it provides security over endpoints across the company, protecting the data center by protecting the overall network.

Auconet

Cisco Identity Services Engine offers robust authentication, posture profiling, guest and secure access, and dynamic policy management. Known for its seamless integration with Cisco tools and network access control features, it ensures secure device and user authentication across networks.

Cisco Identity Services Engine is renowned for its capabilities in managing authentication, guest access, and policy management through segmentation. Its TrustSec functionality, alongside RADIUS and TACACS+ support, provides enhanced security, further augmented by its ability to operate in diverse environments. Its scalability and integration with Cisco solutions aid in maintaining network visibility and access control. Challenges include the complexity of initial deployments, somewhat cumbersome documentation, and limited integration in multi-vendor environments. While encountering issues in stability and updates, the demand for better analytics and straightforward troubleshooting alongside cost-effective licensing is notable.

What are the key features of Cisco Identity Services Engine?

Authentication: Secures user and device access to networks using robust authentication protocols.
Posture Profiling: Provides in-depth analysis of device compliance with security policies.
Guest Access Management: Allows controlled network access for guest users through streamlined processes.
Dynamic Policy Management: Enables automatic adjustment of security policies based on real-time data.
Segmentation via TrustSec: Enhances security levels by segmenting network traffic based on identity.

What benefits or ROI should users expect from Cisco Identity Services Engine?

Comprehensive Security: Ensures enforceable security policies across network access points.
Enhanced Integration: Facilitates seamless collaboration with existing Cisco infrastructures.
Improved Compliance: Helps meet industry security standards for network access and user rights.
Increased Visibility: Provides detailed insights into network traffic and user activities.
Device Management Efficiency: Streamlines the process of managing diverse devices within a single framework.

Industries implement Cisco Identity Services Engine primarily for network access control, ensuring secure authentication and segmentation in both wired and wireless environments. Supporting policies like bring-your-own-device and compliance standards, ISE manages identity-based access control, especially beneficial for entities that require detailed user rights management and integration within enterprise networks.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Krone, DHL, Toll Collect, Reise Bank, BASF, T Systems, ING, Saint Martin's University, Euronet Worldwide, Muller, Uniqa

Aegean Motorway, BC Hydro, Beachbody, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Cisco IT, Derby City Council, Global Banking Customer, Gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha, Houston Methodist, Linz AG, London Hydro, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Molina Healthcare, MST Systems, New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Reykjavik University, Wildau University

Buyer's Guide

Network Access Control (NAC)

February 2026

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