

Portnox and ExtremeCloud IQ are both solutions in the network management and security sector. Portnox seems to have the upper hand in network security features, while ExtremeCloud IQ stands out in wireless management and deployment ease.
Features: Portnox provides agentless, scalable solutions with extensive network visibility, security, and integration capabilities with platforms like Azure AD. It simplifies management, ideal for network access control. ExtremeCloud IQ manages wireless environments effectively with cloud-hosted solutions and centralized management, supporting numerous locations and devices with automated provisioning and ease of deployment.
Room for Improvement: Portnox could enhance integration with third-party vendors, improve support during non-US hours, and adjust its pricing structure focused on usage. ExtremeCloud IQ may need to better handle large data volumes in real-time and improve its user interface for intuitiveness. Licensing options and cost-effectiveness are areas for potential enhancement for both products.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both Portnox and ExtremeCloud IQ offer cloud-based deployment models. Portnox is praised for easy integration and deployment without the need for extensive infrastructure, while ExtremeCloud IQ provides straightforward implementation, particularly in wireless environments. Users appreciate the customer support from both solutions, with Portnox noted for its responsiveness.
Pricing and ROI: Portnox offers flexible and cost-effective pricing, reducing administrative workloads through task automation. ExtremeCloud IQ is perceived as sometimes costly yet competitive against peers like Aruba and Cisco, offering comprehensive pricing. However, technical support and licensing may lead to higher costs, slightly affecting ROI.
I managed to support and deploy ExtremeCloud IQ and handle network management without requiring external staffing, thus saving on external hiring costs.
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.
By automating the device containment and remediation processes, we save countless hours weekly.
GTAC receives a score of ten out of ten.
I experienced effective help mainly remotely, though for some issues, a technical person had to assist on-site.
I am totally satisfied with the response time
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.
In terms of support, it is usually quite impressive. I usually get support in a matter of minutes or seconds, depending on the priority of the ticket.
We have never had any challenge based on a customer who has 1,000 devices versus a customer who has 30,000 devices; the feel is the same.
Its infrastructure scales automatically in the background, eliminating concerns about capacity or backend upgrades.
It has a centralized cloud-based architecture, so we do not have to worry about other considerations such as local infrastructure or purchasing additional equipment.
It requires some time to update, which affects real-time management.
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.
I needed deep details and more thorough resources.
This integration aids in resolving problems and issues found in the network and enhances support with the GTAC team of Extreme Networks.
They should enhance the response of the system part of location-based services, such as Extreme LPS or Extreme Location Essentials.
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 reach the technical support, they give solutions that do not help me much, so I try to search the internet for other users' experiences to find solutions.
I would definitely request a UI refresh that makes the dashboard more modern and surfaces critical logs so they are easier to access in a pinch.
The licensing was a challenge due to budget constraints, and I used ExtremeCloud IQ without a license for a period.
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.
For networking and access points, it acts as a controller in a cloud environment, eliminating the need for an appliance controller or wireless LAN controller, thus saving on investment and reducing TCO costs.
The automation and information provided by ExtremeCloud IQ, such as connection status and logs, were very beneficial.
I have a single license that includes everything: the support, the package of location-based solutions, the analytics, the AI features, everything with just one license.
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 possible to find the MAC address in the switch, but in Portnox, it is very useful to see the status of those ports, and that increases our security.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Portnox | 7.6% |
| ExtremeCloud IQ | 2.2% |
| Other | 90.2% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 46 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 14 |
| Large Enterprise | 24 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 19 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 9 |
| Large Enterprise | 15 |
ExtremeCloud IQ provides powerful cloud management with controller-less architecture, centralized administration, and seamless scalability, simplifying configuration and deployment while enhancing security and automation.
ExtremeCloud IQ is designed for managing wireless networks across diverse environments. It offers consolidated management for wireless LANs, access points, and switches, all integrated into a single dashboard. Known for intuitive automation and robust security features like integrated firewalls, it supports entities in educational sectors, large enterprises, manufacturing, and healthcare. Users benefit from detailed network insights while streamlined management and effective support contribute to efficiency. While offering advanced options such as Private Pre-shared Key and VLAN mapping, the system would benefit from improved configuration and stability, as well as enhanced device compatibility and reporting capabilities.
What are the standout features of ExtremeCloud IQ?In educational settings, ExtremeCloud IQ streamlines network management for schools and universities, allowing them to focus on educational excellence. Large enterprises benefit from its unified platform, managing multiple locations effectively, while manufacturing firms and healthcare facilities use its comprehensive tools to ensure reliable and secure connectivity across their networks.
Portnox NAC is a cloud-native network access control solution built for today's hybrid, distributed enterprises. Get real-time visibility into every device on your network, enforce risk-based access policies automatically, and maintain continuous compliance — all without deploying a single on-premises appliance.
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About Portnox Security
Portnox is a cloud-native enterprise access control provider that helps organizations secure every identity - human and non-human - across networks, applications, and infrastructure. As identities, devices, and workloads multiply across modern environments, Portnox enables continuous access verification based on identity context, device posture, and risk signals. Its unified platform brings together passwordless authentication, access control, continuous policy enforcement, and automated response through a single policy engine.
Portnox gives security and IT teams real-time visibility into everything connecting and the ability to quickly restrict, quarantine, or revoke non-compliant access. Today, Portnox actively manages more than one million devices worldwide, secures 40 million authentication sessions, and blocks over one million unauthorized access attempts every day. Learn more at portnox.com.
CAPABILITIES:
• Discover and assess users, devices, and identities connecting to corporate resources
• Unify continuous zero trust access control on networks, applications, and infrastructure
• Enforce identity- and context-aware access policies
• Enable secure remote work without complexity
• Deliver passwordless authentication, device posture checks, and continuous access enforcement
• Control administrative access to routers, switches, firewalls, and other network devices
• Improve audit readiness with visibility, access logs, and policy-based compliance controls
BUILT FOR:
Portnox is designed for distributed organizations that need to manage access across employees, contractors, service accounts, managed devices, unmanaged devices, IoT, network infrastructure, SaaS applications, private applications, and AI agents. The platform helps reduce reliance on on-premises appliances, legacy VPNs, and fragmented access tools by centralizing access policy enforcement from a single cloud-native policy engine.
INTEGRATIONS:
Portnox integrates with the tools you already use (including Azure AD / Entra ID, Okta) and works with your existing network appliances, (such as Meraki, Fortinet, and more), and many other identity and network infrastructure tools.
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