

Portnox and Fortinet FortiNAC are strong contenders in the network access control domain. Portnox takes the lead with its simple deployment and cost-effectiveness, while FortiNAC stands out with its deep integration capabilities, especially with Fortinet's ecosystem, but is considered harder to navigate.
Features: Portnox emphasizes an agentless, scalable solution that provides comprehensive network visibility and security. It integrates well with Azure AD, Okta, and Google Workspace, offering passwordless authentication for enhanced security. FortiNAC excels in security capabilities and integrates deeply with the Fortinet family, managing diverse switches and offering robust automation and control features.
Room for Improvement: Portnox could improve in areas like response time and better integration for unmanaged devices and across vendor platforms. FortiNAC's interface poses a challenge due to its complexity; users would benefit from improvements in interface intuitiveness and integration with non-Fortinet products. Additionally, FortiNAC could enhance its support for wireless access point management and improve its overall user-friendliness.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Portnox is lauded for its user-friendly and straightforward deployment in cloud and hybrid environments, supported by excellent customer service. In contrast, FortiNAC requires more technical expertise and is primarily focused on on-premises support; it maintains good customer service but there's room for improvement in response times and technical training.
Pricing and ROI: Portnox offers a cost-effective, flexible pricing model that is customer-centric, emphasizing value through reduced maintenance costs, leading to higher ROI. Although FortiNAC is competitively priced, particularly against Cisco ISE, it carries a premium tag despite its robust features and integration within Fortinet’s suite, offering good value to those seeking thorough network control.
We have saved resources and time, and we have also secured our network, confirming we have a return on investment.
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.
They provide sessions to help with various questions.
They could do more to improve, not because of the product itself but because of the support they provide.
Fortinet FortiNAC's customer support is very good, as is typical from Fortinet.
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.
The pricing model makes it challenging as the cost is substantial due to the per-node licensing model.
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.
They ensure the backend can support it and do the provisioning while maintaining headroom and elasticity.
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.
Improvement in the interface design would make FortiNAC a better solution.
The graphical user interface (GUI) of Fortinet FortiNAC is very poor compared to competitors like Forcepoint and Cisco ISE.
Fortinet FortiNAC can be improved as the GUI is very poor compared to other competitors such as Cisco ISE.
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.
When I'm doing filtering at times, it doesn't filter the items properly.
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Fortinet FortiNAC is that, as is typical from Fortinet, all their products have a very good licensing model and competitive pricing.
Fortinet FortiNAC is relatively cheap compared to other solutions.
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.
I appreciate the feature where it can connect with different vendor equipment, regardless of the network devices from other vendors.
The best features Fortinet FortiNAC offers include great integration with other Fortinet products.
The main advantage of Fortinet FortiNAC is its integration with the entire Fortinet product portfolio.
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 (%) |
|---|---|
| Fortinet FortiNAC | 13.7% |
| Portnox | 6.9% |
| Other | 79.4% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 30 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 14 |
| Large Enterprise | 14 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 17 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 6 |
| Large Enterprise | 10 |
Fortinet FortiNAC is integral for enhancing network access control by providing security, visibility, and control over IoT devices. Known for its user-friendly interface and powerful automation, it streamlines network management and access control while supporting policy enforcement and guest management.
Fortinet FortiNAC offers robust security by integrating seamlessly with Fortinet products, enhancing compatibility with external vendors, and allowing users to manage wired and wireless networks efficiently. Known for its ability to prevent unauthorized connections, it enhances network visibility and control, particularly in managing Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and compliance. However, integration with non-Fortinet systems, better reporting capabilities, and intuitive interface improvements are areas for enhancement. Setup complexities, additional equipment needs for features like single sign-on, and improved support and documentation are noted challenges.
What are the key features of Fortinet FortiNAC?In education and healthcare, Fortinet FortiNAC is applied extensively to manage Wi-Fi access for non-domain devices, ensuring secure network access without traditional password-based systems. It integrates with Fortinet Security Fabric, offering endpoint profiling and posture assessments to ensure adherence to security standards. This implementation enhances BYOD management, allowing organizations to meet compliance and security requirements effectively across diverse environments.
Portnox provides advanced network visibility and proactive security without complexity, ensuring easy setup and scalability. Its agentless nature and intuitive design enable seamless device management and system integration, promoting efficient network operations and endpoint security.
Portnox is known for offering comprehensive network access control, providing firms with vital tools for managing authentication and securing endpoint devices. It's praised for ease of use in integrating with systems such as RADIUS servers and offering detailed analytical capabilities to ensure compliance and control unauthorized access. While users appreciate the intuitive interface and device management, improvements have been suggested in the areas of better GUI, integration with firewalls, and enhanced configuration methods. Portnox aids in handling dynamic VLAN assignments and securing access in both wired and wireless networks, proving particularly valuable for on-premises and remote environments.
What are the key features of Portnox?In industries where network security is paramount, such as finance and healthcare, Portnox is implemented to fortify access control and manage endpoint connections effectively. Its ability to secure both on-premises and remote environments makes it a versatile choice across sectors that require stringent access management, particularly where unauthorized device connections pose significant risks.
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