Cisco DNA Center vs Forward Enterprise comparison

Cisco and Forward Networks are both solutions in the Network Automation category. Cisco is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.4, while Forward Networks is ranked #17. Cisco holds a 8.6% mindshare in NA, compared to Forward Networks’s 3.4% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Forward Networks users who would recommend it.

Cisco DNA Center

Read 43 Cisco DNA Center reviews

7,282 Views
1,456 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Forward Enterprise

Read 1 Forward Enterprise review

575 Views
420 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cisco DNA Center

Forward Enterprise

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Cisco DNA Center and Forward Enterprise based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat, Cisco, Broadcom and others in Network Automation.

To learn more, read our detailed Network Automation Report (Updated: January 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Network Automation

January 2026

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Helped 881,733 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

Cisco DNA Center

Ranking in Network Automation

2nd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Management Applications (1st), Network Monitoring Software (17th)

Forward Enterprise

Ranking in Network Automation

17th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Modeling and Simulation (21st)

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Network Automation category, the mindshare of Cisco DNA Center is 8.6%, down from 15.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Forward Enterprise is 3.4%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Automation Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Cisco DNA Center	8.6%
Forward Enterprise	3.4%
Other	88.0%

Network Automation

Featured Reviews

Mahir Öztürk

Network Engineer at NGN Bilgi ve İletişim Hizmetleri

Client history has helped resolve past network issues more efficiently

I mostly use the client history feature of Cisco DNA Center. I didn't use the real-time monitoring capability of Cisco DNA Center because I primarily used it for client history regarding issues and problems. I don't use it for real-time monitoring. If there is a problem, I can inspect the situation and see what is happening, which is beneficial.

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Rozita Ahmadi

IT Architectural System Expert at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees

Plenty of useful features, and simple implementation

Forward Enterprise has improved the way my organization functions All the features are valuable in Forward Enterprise. Forward Enterprise could improve by increasing flexibility. Additionally, there should be an Android version or desktop. I have been using Forward Enterprise for approximately…

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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

"I like that we can easily configure any new hardware. It's also easy to deploy and easy to troubleshoot."

"The most valuable features of the solution are all of its security features...It is a highly scalable solution."

"It offers automation, security enforcement, analytics, and integration with other Cisco technologies, making it a key driver for efficient network operations and compliance with security protocols."

"I think that their LAN automation is a very good feature."

"The most valuable features were the monitoring, maintenance, and configuration."

"The monitoring is very valuable to me."

"It enables monitoring of various components such as access points, switch cards, and other elements within the company's solutions."

"Cisco DNA Center provides operational support, compliance support, security vulnerability detection, and automatic scheduling."

More Cisco DNA Center pros

"All the features are valuable in Forward Enterprise."

Cons

"An area for improvement in Cisco DNA Center is the latency in data correlation. For example, sometimes, when an issue happens, and I check the logs, I can't find the corresponding log. There's a delay in log replication, so this is what needs improvement in Cisco DNA Center. Reporting in Cisco DNA Center could also be improved because it only has a few templates, and you can't customize it based on your requirements. There aren't many options available in Cisco DNA Center regarding reporting, versus Cisco Prime, which has excellent features for different levels of detailed reports. I'd like to see real-time data replication in the next release of Cisco DNA Center, similar to what's done in Meraki. Data in Meraki is real-time with no delay, so data is immediately replicated in the cloud. Currently, there's a lag in Cisco DNA Center, and addressing that lag is the enhancement I'd like to see in Cisco DNA Center. The solution also needs to be more user-friendly."

"The solution's integration feature can be better."

"The product doesn’t have good monitoring capabilities."

"What I want to see in Cisco DNA Center in the future is more support for other platforms so that you can manage third-party products, such as Fortinet."

"The tool's deployment is complex. It also needs to improve its GUI."

"The task failure reporting or provisioning failure reporting could be a little bit better in the UI, with more information given to the user."

"There is a limitation with the number of VRFs that you can have in your network, and this has caused us problems with some customers."

"In my opinion, the client history in Cisco DNA Center can be longer than 10 days, perhaps extending to 15 or 20 days."

More Cisco DNA Center cons

"Forward Enterprise could improve by increasing flexibility. Additionally, there should be an Android version or desktop."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We get a yearly license at the time we buy the product."

"The price could be better. It's a very expensive tool."

"The price of the solution is expensive. The hardware is licensed on the device, but the hardware on the server is expensive."

"We have a three-year license with them."

"The product is very costly."

"The partnership price is notably high, but it ultimately depends on the chosen business model."

"Our licensing agreement is for three years."

"The tool is medium-priced."

More Cisco DNA Center pricing and cost advice

"We pay for the solution annually."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

13%

Government

10%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

22%

Computer Software Company

22%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	10
Midsize Enterprise	9
Large Enterprise	25

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco DNA Center?

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco DNA Center?

After evaluating other solutions, we will provide feedback.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco DNA Center?

In my opinion, the client history in Cisco DNA Center can be longer than 10 days, perhaps extending to 15 or 20 days. I am using it in a huge factory in Turkey, and sometimes I need to see what occ...

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Comparisons

Cisco Catalyst Center vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 11% of the time

Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 6% of the time

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 5% of the time

Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 4% of the time

HPE Intelligent Management Center vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 4% of the time

More Cisco DNA Center Competitors

NetBrain vs Forward Enterprise

Compared 80% of the time

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Forward Enterprise

Compared 11% of the time

More Forward Enterprise Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center

February 2026

Download Cisco DNA Center product report

Buyer's Guide

Network Automation

January 2026

Download Forward Enterprise product report

Also Known As

DNA Center

No data available

Overview

Cisco DNA Center delivers powerful centralized security, automation, and comprehensive analytics for enhanced network management. With an intuitive dashboard and integration with Cisco devices, it reduces errors, boosts efficiency, and ensures seamless wired and wireless network operations.

Organizations leverage Cisco DNA Center for network management and automation, offering increased visibility into traffic flows and efficient device provisioning. It supports real-time data transmission, network segmentation, and integrates with ISE. Features like wireless assurance, centralized management, and AI-driven insights into network health promote an efficient network environment while addressing compliance issues. However, improvements are necessary for better third-party integration, affordability, and more user-friendly documentation.

What are the solution's most important features?

Comprehensive Analytics: Provides in-depth network insights through real-time data.
Centralized Security: Unifies security management, offering enhanced protection.
Network Management: Simplifies device configuration and policy compliance.
Automation Capabilities: Reduces human error and facilitates efficient network operations.
AI-Driven Assurance: Delivers insights into network health for proactive management.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Increased Efficiency: Streamlines operations by reducing manual tasks.
Improved Security: Enhances protection through centralized policies.
Cost Effective: Simplifies management, potentially lowering operating costs.
Enhanced Visibility: Offers comprehensive data for better decision-making.

In industries like healthcare, finance, and education, Cisco DNA Center's advanced features facilitate the management of complex network infrastructures and aid in achieving compliance efficiently. Its ability to manage LANs and WLANs supports diverse networking environments including greenfield projects and SPN setups.

Cisco

The company provides a robust network assurance and verification platform to reduce business risk and improve network operations.

Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat, Cisco, Broadcom and others in Network Automation. Updated: January 2026.

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