Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs NetMon comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Cisco and Exabeam are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Cisco is ranked #32 with an average rating of 8.5, while Exabeam is ranked #45 with an average rating of 8.0. Cisco holds a 0.9% mindshare in NMS, compared to Exabeam’s 0.8% mindshare. Additionally, 88% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Exabeam users who would recommend it.

Cisco Secure Network Analytics

Read 62 Cisco Secure Network Analytics reviews

11,603 Views
4,873 Comparison Views

88% willing to recommend

NetMon

Read 12 NetMon reviews

4,855 Views
3,933 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Cisco Secure Network Analytics

NetMon

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 1, 2026

Cisco Secure Network Analytics and NetMon are both network monitoring solutions, competing in the IT security and analytics category. Cisco Secure Network Analytics is perceived to have an edge due to its comprehensive features and user satisfaction

Features: Cisco Secure Network Analytics offers comprehensive network visibility, advanced threat detection, and the ability to integrate with Cisco's security suite. It stands out with features like network maps, server response times, and NetFlow data, enhancing threat analysis and packet inspection. NetMon excels in traffic analysis, offering a bundled solution with detailed summary reports and real-time traffic insights, but it lacks the application-level insights provided by Cisco.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Secure Network Analytics could improve integration in non-internet-connected environments and refine its reporting interface. Enhancements in device discovery and AI capabilities would also be beneficial. NetMon could benefit from more seamless third-party integrations, better setup documentation, and streamlined initial deployment processes.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both solutions provide on-premises deployment. Cisco Secure Network Analytics is predominantly on-premise and is praised for its support structure, though there's room for improvement in the Asia-Pacific region. NetMon has good technical support, but users report challenges with integration and expanded network capabilities.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Secure Network Analytics is considered expensive, with a pricing model based on network flows, but offers a positive ROI due to enhanced security and incident response. NetMon offers moderate pricing, but some users feel its cost isn't matched by performance benefits, indicating a need for more competitive pricing.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs. NetMon Report (Updated: November 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs. NetMon

November 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 920,769 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 Secure Network Analytics

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

32nd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) (5th), Network Detection and Response (NDR) (7th), Cisco Security Portfolio (7th)

NetMon

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

45th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) (12th)

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Cisco Secure Network Analytics is 0.9%, down from 1.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of NetMon is 0.8%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Cisco Secure Network Analytics	0.9%
NetMon	0.8%
Other	98.3%

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

Muhammad Harun-Owr-Roshid

CEO at BRIGHT-i SYSTEMS LIMITED

Have streamlined network visibility and troubleshooting while seeing benefits from AI integration

In terms of improvements for Cisco Secure Network Analytics, from the implementation point of view, now that AI is in use, some other features need to be upgraded considering AI solutions. Proper management of the database is also important; it should be centralized for easier data collection from a single database. When precise manual analysis is needed, it's sometimes difficult, so having a centralized database will allow network admins to find actual scenarios more effectively, especially since some information may not be visible on the GUI. Cisco should upgrade their hardware part to run the database, because sometimes it cannot handle the load while all features are running in the network. The database management should indeed be centralized because while AI runs behind the systems, central management is essential. For example, in a network with 100 Cisco switches, a few routers, firewalls, and access points, all data generated should be preserved in a central database. This approach simplifies management and analysis for troubleshooting, as GUI interfaces may not always provide visible information. Centralizing the database will allow for better understanding of which information is preserved for each specific device.

Read full review

SumitRangari

Pan India IT Infrastructure Management / End-user Services at Tata Group

Has supported real-time event detection and reporting accuracy while database integration has required extra effort

Sometimes it may be difficult to incorporate new additional databases in NetMon, and we faced some challenges at that time. However, currently, it is not giving many challenges.It is difficult to integrate NetMon with other databases. We can customize NetMon's monitoring views, but it is done by the team who handles it, as it is outsourced.

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

"This solution gives our customers better visibility."

"Ease of deployment, once you get your ducks in a row."

"It provides good visibility to the customers. People are still evaluating it, but it provides visibility and helps them to take action to remediate and mitigate the issues that are highlighted on the dashboard. It has good integration with the Cisco switching platform."

"This solution allows us to be more agile when it comes to troubleshooting our NetFlow and our network systems."

"The network visibility feature opens up a whole new pane of glass that didn't exist before, so when you talk about being able to look into your network and understand what's there for security events, impostering, and everything that Stealthwatch can bring to the table, there's nothing else that a typical customer's going to have installed today that will give them any of that information."

"The solution has increased our threat detection rate. Cisco Stealthwatch has not reduced our incident response times. It has not reduced the amount of time it takes us to detect immediate threats. It has reduced false positives."

"The search options on Cisco Stealthwatch are the most valuable. You can get very granular with it, down to the kilobits or the seconds if you want. The product supports any time frame that you need, so that is nice."

"The most valuable feature about this solution is that it gives me insight of my network."

More Cisco Secure Network Analytics pros

"It has a very strong artificial intelligence engine."

"The most valuable feature is the log, which can be analyzed by our SIEM solution."

"Compared to many other products in the market, I think LogRhythm has the highest cost to performance ratio in terms of its value."

"The protocols with which you see the traffic for a particular website that a client has in their environment, for example, are valuable. We can monitor whether the traffic is up to the mark or whether they need to add more bandwidth. Also, we can see if we're able to get real-time environment data as well. The customization dashboard is really good. LogRhythm NetMon has its own in-built dashboards which are helpful in guiding customization."

"But just having it there, it's incredibly smart, incredibly easy to use, and the breadth of information we get off it is really good for investigations for us."

"NetMon's best feature is traffic analysis."

"It is a stable solution...It is a scalable solution."

"In general, this is a good product."

More NetMon pros

Cons

"At my company, we might not be using it enough with other applications that we have that can integrate with it."

"Their response capability and the ability to push out responses along with changes in the network is important. This is something lacking, they don't have a lot of that, it's a passive tool."

"We haven't seen ROI."

"I would like to see a hybrid solution that can work without being connected directly to the internet for those destinations."

"The expensive nature of the tool is an area of concern where improvements are required."

"We are continuing down the road of ACI and ISE with Cisco, so we would like to see the continuation of Stealthwatch integrating into ISE for exchange of information, and also, more into the ACI environment too."

"Cisco Stealthwatch is scalable with money. It's expensive."

"I would like to see it better organized when I'm looking at it, so I would prefer it to be more clean and structured, making it easier to use."

More Cisco Secure Network Analytics cons

"Previously, it was typically every Monday that I was coming in - it would die over the weekend - and I would spend a day cleaning up databases."

"Sometimes it may be difficult to incorporate new additional databases in NetMon, and we faced some challenges at that time."

"Their technical support isn't so great."

"The platform's integration features often need to be improved."

"The main concern is that LogRhythm has not improved NetMon but instead introduced a separate product, which many customers, including us, would prefer to be integrated into a single platform for easier management."

"One thing that surprised me was the current version of LogRhythm does not natively support Windows 2016."

"Could use a topology diagram which would help get an exact visual."

"There is an issue with tunneling in relation to how the connectivity is established between the end devices and where NetMon is installed. On the console, I often observe that there's a difference of a few seconds or maybe a minute, and this lag time should not be there."

More NetMon cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"On a yearly basis, licensing is somewhere around $30,000."

"Our fees are approximately $3,000 USD."

"The tool is not cheaply priced."

"NetFlow is very expensive."

"It has a subscription model. There is yearly support, and there is also three-year support. It depends on what the customers want."

"This is an expensive product. We have quit paying for support because we don't want to have to upgrade it and keep paying for it."

"The solution is expensive. It costs several hundred thousand dollars per year (depending on how many flows you are collecting)."

"Today, we are part of the big Cisco ELA, and it is a la carte. We can get orders for whatever we want. At the end of the day, we have to pay for it in one big expense, but that is fine. We are okay with that."

More Cisco Secure Network Analytics pricing and cost advice

"The price of this solution is too high, so it should be made more practical and more valuable for the customer."

"NetMon's licensing costs about $85k per year, with some extra costs for support."

"LogRhythm's licensing part is something that depends on the license you want since they offer it on a perpetual and subscription basis."

"The product is expensive for smaller companies."

"Pricing is okay. There were some competitors that were extremely expensive and there were some which were really inexpensive but LogRhythm stayed in the middle of them."

"I don't have visibility into the pricing of LogRhythm NetMon as it's handled through our commercial partnerships."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Monitoring Software solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

920,769 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Construction Company

Outsourcing Company

Financial Services Firm

12%

Construction Company

10%

Transportation Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	12
Midsize Enterprise	7
Large Enterprise	52

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	2
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	7

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Stealthwatch?

Regarding cost, for the Bangladesh context, Cisco Secure Network Analytics is a little bit high-priced because we are a developing country, making it tough to manage affordable solutions. However, ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco Stealthwatch?

Several features often look very promising during evaluation or implementation but end up being used only lightly in day-to-day operations. Advanced reporting and scheduled compliance reports look ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Cisco Stealthwatch?

My main use case for Cisco Secure Network Analytics has been network visibility and anomaly-based threat detection within the enterprise environment. In security operations and VAPT-related activit...

See all answers

What needs improvement with LogRhythm NetMon?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for LogRhythm NetMon?

We have outsourced our SIEM solutions at the moment, and we are using it.We have been using LogRhythm in our organization as a SaaS offering. We have outsourced it as part of the actual scope where...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering LogRhythm NetMon?

We use AWS as our cloud provider in a private cloud environment.It completely depends upon when incidents happen. To find the root cause analysis, we need to first gather the logs from the team. It...

See all answers

Comparisons

Darktrace vs Cisco Secure Network Analytics

Compared 6% of the time

NETSCOUT Network & Application Observability vs Cisco Secure Network Analytics

Compared 5% of the time

Vectra AI vs Cisco Secure Network Analytics

Compared 4% of the time

NetWitness Platform vs Cisco Secure Network Analytics

Compared 3% of the time

SolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer vs Cisco Secure Network Analytics

Compared 2% of the time

More Cisco Secure Network Analytics Competitors

NETSCOUT Network & Application Observability vs NetMon

Compared 5% of the time

Ixia CloudLens vs NetMon

Compared 5% of the time

SolarWinds NPM vs NetMon

Compared 5% of the time

CrowdStrike Falcon vs NetMon

Compared 4% of the time

ObserverLIVE vs NetMon

Compared 4% of the time

More NetMon Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Secure Network Analytics

October 2026

Download Cisco Secure Network Analytics product report

Buyer's Guide

NetMon

October 2026

Download NetMon product report

Also Known As

Cisco Stealthwatch, Cisco Stealthwatch Enterprise, Lancope StealthWatch

LogRhythm Network Monitor

Overview

Cisco Secure Network Analytics enhances network security through integrated threat detection and detailed traffic visibility, optimizing performance with AI analytics and strong platform integrations.

Cisco Secure Network Analytics offers deep visibility into network traffic, with tools like network maps and server response times. Its AI-driven analytics help detect threats, focusing on east-west traffic. Integration with platforms such as pxGrid and ISE complements its capabilities. Reporting and telemetry help in identifying bandwidth issues, yet improvements are desired in AI for better data organization. Installation complexity and false positives present challenges, and managing network loads effectively is a recognized need.

What are the key features of Cisco Secure Network Analytics?

Deep Visibility: Provides comprehensive insights into network traffic and server behavior.
Network Maps: Enhances understanding of traffic flow and infrastructure layout.
AI Analytics: Uses AI for superior threat detection and anomaly recognition.
Integration: Compatible with platforms like pxGrid and ISE for enhanced security management.
Telemetry: Delivers detailed bandwidth usage and traffic analysis reports.

How does Cisco Secure Network Analytics provide value?

Enhanced Security: Elevates threat detection and response capabilities.
Traffic Insights: Identifies encrypted and anomalous network behaviors.
Compliance Support: Assists in meeting industry standards for data protection.
Endpoint Protection: Guards network endpoints against potential threats.

Industries such as banking, defense, and police rely on Cisco Secure Network Analytics for securing networks against threats. Its capability to provide insights into encrypted traffic and facilitate device auditing makes it a sought-after choice for those requiring extensive network visibility. Users appreciate its application for threat prevention and response in demanding sectors.

Cisco

NetMon offers significant capabilities in log aggregation, traffic analysis, and real-time network insights. Its ease of use accommodates both entry-level and advanced functionalities, enhancing network visibility and threat detection.

NetMon provides seamless analytics with its real-time dashboards and advanced AI integration. The platform is designed for comprehensive monitoring and detailed analysis, making it indispensable for identifying network traffic, origins, destinations, and facilitating threat detection through lateral traffic visibility. Despite its powerful analytics and customization features, improvements in product integration, customer support, and pricing could increase its competitive edge. Connectivity, topology visualization, and server performance are areas noted for enhancement. Integration with protocols like Gflow and Netflow might alleviate agent-based restriction challenges. NetMon sends correlated data to LogRhythm SIEM for enhanced threat analysis and is used for tasks like traffic analysis and DPA.

What are NetMon's key features?

Log Aggregation: Seamless collection of diverse network logs for analysis.
Traffic Analysis: Detailed inspection of network traffic for identifying irregular patterns.
AI Integration: Advanced analytics powered by robust AI capabilities.
Customizable Dashboards: Real-time insights tailored to user requirements.
Correlation Engine: In-depth correlation of network activity for comprehensive reports.
Deep Packet Analytics: Thorough examination of data packets for granular insights.

What benefits and ROI can users expect?

Enhanced Threat Detection: Significant improvements in identifying lateral threats.
Comprehensive Insights: Complete visibility into network and user activities.
Efficient Monitoring: Real-time analytics streamline network monitoring processes.
Compliance Support: Strong integration supports adherence to compliance standards.

NetMon is widely adopted in industries requiring detailed traffic monitoring and security, such as finance and healthcare. Its capabilities in traffic type identification and correlated analysis make it essential for environments where detecting irregular patterns is critical. It's utilized for network security through comprehensive analysis and integration with SIEM systems.

Exabeam

Sample Customers

Edge Web Hosting, Telenor Norway, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Webster Financial Corporation, Westinghouse Electric, VMware, TIAA-CREF

Sera-Brynn

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs. NetMon

November 2026

Free Report: Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs. NetMon

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs. NetMon and other solutions. Updated: November 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

920,769 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs. NetMon report.

See our list of best Network Monitoring Software vendors.

We monitor all Network Monitoring Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.