ExtremeControl vs Sophos Network Access Control comparison

Extreme Networks and Sophos are both solutions in the Network Access Control (NAC) category. Extreme Networks is ranked #11 with an average rating of 7.7, while Sophos is ranked #9 with an average rating of 7.5. Extreme Networks holds a 2.1% mindshare in NAC, compared to Sophos’s 2.3% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of Extreme Networks users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Sophos users who would recommend it.

ExtremeControl

Read 8 ExtremeControl reviews

817 Views
817 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

Sophos Network Access Control

Read 24 Sophos Network Access Control reviews

1,172 Views
1,149 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

ExtremeControl

Sophos Network Access Control

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 5, 2024

Sophos Network Access Control and ExtremeControl are products focused on managing network access for improved security. ExtremeControl is the preferable option due to its extensive features and perceived long-term value.

Features: Sophos Network Access Control offers robust threat detection, seamless integration with existing network infrastructure, and effective risk assessment capabilities. ExtremeControl provides advanced visibility, comprehensive control over diverse network environments, and extensive third-party integration. ExtremeControl's advanced monitoring tools further enhance its network management capabilities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: ExtremeControl features a straightforward deployment model and efficient onboarding processes, making it suitable for organizations with limited IT resources. Its customer service is known for quick response times and comprehensive support. Sophos requires more in-depth configuration during deployment, potentially extending the setup timeline, though it does offer reliable deployment options.

Pricing and ROI: Sophos Network Access Control attracts budget-conscious buyers with its lower initial costs and competitive pricing strategy, providing a satisfactory ROI for those prioritizing budget control. ExtremeControl's higher upfront cost is justified by its advanced functionality and integration options, promising a favorable ROI over time.

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

Buyer's Guide

ExtremeControl vs. Sophos Network Access Control

February 2026

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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

ExtremeControl

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

11th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Sophos Network Access Control

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

9th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Network Access Control (NAC) category, the mindshare of ExtremeControl is 2.1%, up from 1.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos Network Access Control is 2.3%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Access Control (NAC) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Sophos Network Access Control	2.3%
ExtremeControl	2.1%
Other	95.6%

Network Access Control (NAC)

Featured Reviews

Jan Zontek

System Engineer at Poczta FM

Features support flexible integration and high compatibility with third-party equipment

I have a little experience with reporting and analytics tools for network visibility in ExtremeControl, but I am not a specialist. I'm not a big fan of this analytics feature because it is an in-built component, and customers usually don't use it frequently since they often don't measure it. It is not very popular among my customers right now. I would definitely recommend ExtremeControl to customers because we can support many features as they need, and we can provide a demo license for even 80 days for testing all required features, which is not a problem for us. On a scale of 1-10, I rate ExtremeControl a 10.

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HirenPatel2

Manager at rspl

Have faced delays in support despite strong multi-layer policy configuration

I have observed some disadvantages as we have experienced one particular problem. We were facing an issue of synchronization of the endpoint with our firewall with help on a cloud for heartbeat syncing. However, it was not syncing as per our requirement. The user has to connect our firewall with the help of VPN. We were supposed to assume a solution on a cloud, which has good synchronization on a cloud with Sophos Central. It will sync with our firewall as well with the help of Sophos Central. Endpoint and firewall synchronization is not as smooth as we are expecting from Sophos Network Access Control. We have to connect with VPN. We are expecting that if we have already installed an endpoint on our system and it is connected to the internet, then it must be synchronized on a cloud with Sophos Central. Through Sophos Central, it must connect with our firewall. If the endpoint is configured on Sophos Central and the firewall is also configured in Sophos Central, then there should be no need to connect to VPN.

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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

"On a scale of 1-10, I rate ExtremeControl a 10."

"There is information on migrating most of the cloud system's features."

"The solution is easy to use."

"Overall, I would rate ExtremeControl nine out of ten."

"I can know which end users are using which features."

"Integrating ExtremeControl with ExtremeConnect provides an additional layer of security and control over what devices are onboarding to the network, granting full visibility."

"The company also uses Cisco ISE in other places. I have been told that ExtremeControl is easier to use than ISE. The other reason we prefer ExtremeControl is stability. That's why they chose it for this big hospital in Oslo."

"It has effectively enhanced network security and integrated with other security tools to streamline operations."

"I am very satisfied with this solution overall. All of the features that we use have been working successfully."

"The most valuable features of Sophos Network Access Control are the quick response times to threats and reliable security."

"The wifi control is fantastic and makes it very easy to administer."

"The initial setup is very easy."

"I found all Sophos Network Access Control features valuable, but IP blocking is the most useful."

"The scalability of the system and the performance of the system and the solution's most valuable features."

"We have had interactions with the technical support team through the Xnet platform. It's good."

"The platform's most valuable features include robust reporting and analytics capabilities, which provide deep insights into our sales performance and customer behavior."

More Sophos Network Access Control pros

Cons

"The installation is easy, it can take between five minutes to four hours depending on the complexity of the environment. The speed of the installation could improve for more complex environments."

"One improvement could be better clarification, namely that the system only works optimally with all components purchased together."

"In terms of cost, I believe ExtremeControl is reasonably priced for big enterprises, but for smaller ones, they need to consider that the price for less than 1,000 users is important, as this is the minimum number of users required for a license. Below this number, we are not competitive with other vendors."

"I'd like to have access to more information on the traffic passing through."

"The initial setup was not easy. It requires an experienced person to deploy ExtremeControl, and deployment can take from days to weeks depending on the complexity of the network."

"There isn't enough development for the on-premises controller."

"I would rate their technical support five out of ten. They have strict upgrade policies."

"I would like to see mobile administration capabilities in the next release so that we can administer the device from a mobile device."

"Users are not controlled by role-based access; it's basically device-based control. The definition of role-based control is a little vague here because on the cloud level, it regulates access rather than tasks."

"The solution could increase the integration with other platforms or other systems. This would be very useful."

"Sophos Network Access Control requires a lot of resources to work, which is an area for improvement. Pricing could also be improved because it's costly."

"An area that could be improved is the information about licensing, which is fairly confusing at present."

"Sophos Network Access Control could be improved by having an ASIC chip similar to FortiNAC, as this would provide better processing for big organizations."

"The interface on the cloud could be a bit better - just to give more performance on it."

"In order to provide better management, it would be ideal with they offered better plugins for their firewall."

More Sophos Network Access Control cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"ExtremeControl can be expensive compared to other options in the market."

"It is quite expensive."

"Sophos Network Access Control is very cheap compared to other solutions like Cisco, Barracuda, and Palo Alto."

"Sophos Network Access Control is costly but has a similar price range as CrowdStrike and Check Point. The product can get more market share if Sophos can play around with Sophos Network Access Control pricing and improve it."

"I rate the price of Sophos Network Access Control a five out of ten."

"Sophos Network Access Control is an expensive solution."

"It provides a moderate pricing option for all of its features and benefits."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Healthcare Company

11%

Government

10%

Educational Organization

University

Government

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	3

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	16
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	3

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about ExtremeControl?

It has effectively enhanced network security and integrated with other security tools to streamline operations.

See all answers

What needs improvement with ExtremeControl?

Regarding improvements for ExtremeControl, I think it is good as it is; however, some other products can support features like certificate management, which ExtremeControl currently lacks. Adding c...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for ExtremeControl?

The main use cases for ExtremeControl among my customers are to authenticate the users here for the end systems in their companies and to manage authentication, authorization, and systems, and they...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sophos Network Access Control?

The pricing of Sophos Network Access Control is good, but it is somewhat high.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sophos Network Access Control?

In my opinion, one feature that should be added is the ability to trace emails from individuals who change their IP address or send misbehaving emails from alternative networks. If someone sends a ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Sophos Network Access Control?

Sophos Network Access Control serves primary use cases for both networking purposes and security purposes.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 38% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs ExtremeControl

Compared 25% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs ExtremeControl

Compared 10% of the time

Forescout Platform vs ExtremeControl

Compared 9% of the time

Ruckus Cloudpath vs ExtremeControl

Compared 7% of the time

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Aruba ClearPass vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 27% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 18% of the time

Portnox vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 13% of the time

Twingate vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 12% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 10% of the time

More Sophos Network Access Control Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Network Access Control (NAC)

January 2026

Download ExtremeControl product report

Buyer's Guide

Sophos Network Access Control

January 2026

Download Sophos Network Access Control product report

Also Known As

Extreme Access Control, Enterasys NAC

No data available

Overview

ExtremeControl lets you manage secure and automated access for both, BYOD and IoT devices from one convenient dashboard. It makes it easy to roll out granular policies across your wired and wireless networks to meet industry and company compliance obligations. Identity based network access control keeps unauthorized people and devices from accessing your network.

Extreme Networks

Sophos NAC Provides comprehensive, easy-to-deploy network access control that protects enterprise networks from the threats posed by non-compliant, compromised, or misconfigured endpoint computers. The software solution is vendor-neutral and works with existing network infrastructure and security applications. Computers are permitted or denied access to the network, based on a centrally defined, policy-driven assessment - and isolated, quarantined for remediation, automatically remediated, or sent alerts. Administrators can define and manage policies uniquely for managed and guest computers, including checking their security status and ensuring that no unwanted applications are run.

Sophos

Sample Customers

Street Crane, Robert Bosch, Molex Chengdu, Weir Valves & Controls UK, Renault, AESSEAL, Ducati, Alexander Dennis, UK Ministry of Defence, Manz

Rushmoor Borough Council

Buyer's Guide

ExtremeControl vs. Sophos Network Access Control

February 2026

Free Report: ExtremeControl vs. Sophos Network Access Control

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