Portnox vs Sophos Network Access Control comparison

Portnox Security and Sophos are both solutions in the Network Access Control (NAC) category. Portnox Security is ranked #6 with an average rating of 7.8, while Sophos is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.2. Portnox Security holds a 3.9% mindshare in NAC, compared to Sophos’s 1.7% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of Portnox Security users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of Sophos users who would recommend it.

Portnox

Read 22 Portnox reviews

1,582 Views
864 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Sophos Network Access Control

Read 21 Sophos Network Access Control reviews

1,048 Views
438 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Portnox

Sophos Network Access Control

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 15, 2025

Portnox and Sophos Network Access Control are both prominent solutions in the Network Access Control space. Portnox has an edge in pricing and customer support, while Sophos is preferred for its comprehensive security features.

Features: Portnox offers a straightforward cloud-based deployment with robust profiling, strong risk management, and easy integration with various vendor equipment. Sophos provides advanced threat detection, endpoint management, and comprehensive network security integration capabilities.

Room for Improvement: Portnox could improve its integration capabilities with certain security applications, offer more detailed analytics, and expand its agentless deployment options. Sophos may benefit from simplifying its complex initial setup, extending customization options for specific security policies, and refining its user interface for better accessibility.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Portnox's cloud-based deployment ensures ease of use, supported by responsive customer service. Sophos provides both on-premises and cloud solutions, typically requiring a more complex setup, but it offers extensive customer support for a seamless experience.

Pricing and ROI: Portnox is competitively priced with flexible plans that can improve ROI due to lower initial costs. In contrast, Sophos may demand a higher upfront investment but suggests increased value for organizations needing a comprehensive security solution.

To learn more, read our detailed Portnox vs. Sophos Network Access Control Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Portnox vs. Sophos Network Access Control

June 2025

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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

Portnox

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

6th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

ZTNA (11th), Passwordless Authentication (1st)

Sophos Network Access Control

Ranking in Network Access Control (NAC)

8th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Network Access Control (NAC) category, the mindshare of Portnox is 3.9%, up from 2.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos Network Access Control is 1.7%, up from 1.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Access Control (NAC)

Featured Reviews

Scott Kerr

President at TrackerSoft

It is seamless and integrates well with our Azure setup

We use devices like PLCs and controllers, and when we receive a request to allow one on the network, we bypass typical authentication, associate it with a group account, and push it to a firewalled VLAN. However, problems arise when the same MAC address is requested for a different project. Our current system only finds authenticated MAC addresses, making it difficult to troubleshoot when the same device is used for multiple purposes. 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.

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Vishal Deshwal

technical associate at seamlessinfotech.com

Technical support excels but hardware enhancements are needed for faster processing

The best features in Sophos Network Access Control are fewer than FortiNAC and Cisco ISE, but when discussing budget and customer support, different vendors have different perspectives. Cisco is better in support, FortiNAC is better in security, and different vendors maintain different perspectives. I utilized the device quarantine feature around eight months ago. It is specifically for when any malicious or harmful file comes to the system. Through NAC, we can put it in quarantine, and if anything comes or goes from this system, it will be monitored continuously. We can define these parameters as needed. The role-based access controls feature of Sophos Network Access Control allows persons at different positions in an organization to have different types of roles. We can give them full access as an administrator, provide some network access, or give users only read-only access. This depends on the user's requirements and the position they hold within the organization, allowing us to grant roles according to their post. The integration capabilities of Sophos Network Access Control are good, as it can easily integrate with other solutions and vendors.

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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

"The Vidahost feature is currently in action, and it appears to be providing valuable data insights."

"Portnox helped to free up staff time and resources for other IT security priorities and IT work."

"The cloud-based feature is very nice. We use Meraki for our switching, and it is simple to point all of our networks and offices to Portnox. It is pretty seamless."

"The Portnox dashboard is very easy to use, and the UI is simple."

"Previous to the deployment we didn't have complete visibility of all the endpoints, all the devices that are connected to the network. But with the deployment of portnox, we could see all the devices and where they're connecting. We can equally segregate and apply different rules, policies to each location that we didn't monitor specifically."

"It's easy to manage and troubleshoot thanks to the lightweight components."

"For the information security team, the security level was improved because it helped to manage and prevent rogue devices from connecting to the corporate network. The reporting was granular, and reports we scheduled for delivery on Portnox were useful during investigations and audits, especially in cases where the IP address changed."

"The product's initial setup phase was straightforward."

More Portnox pros

"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."

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

"Sophos Network Access Control has a useful interface, and I like its dashboard, which is very useful for us to check everything."

"The initial setup is very easy."

"Web protection, URL filtering, and application filtering are the most valuable features of Sophos Network Access Control."

"The pricing is very reasonable and you can negotiate on the price."

"Sophos has helped us to save time and money and to better manage web activities. It has also helped us to reduce misuse of the network and restrict hacking attempts."

More Sophos Network Access Control pros

Cons

"The integration between Portnox CORE and Portnox CLEAR can be better. These are two different systems, and there is no unique console for both devices. Portnox CORE is agentless, whereas Portnox CLEAR is not agentless."

"Their filtering system tends to lag quite a bit, so when I'm doing filtering at times, it doesn't filter the items properly."

"Portnox CORE can improve on support for unmanaged switches (or hubs) and other brands of network devices. These kinds of devices are still in use in organisations, especially SMEs who cannot afford to buy a managed switch."

"The support team is very limited. They don't have much support during Asia Pacific hours; the team sits in during the EMI and US hours."

"It could be a little cheaper."

"Allowing for a search of MAC addresses in the interface, whether they are authenticated on the network or not, would be beneficial. Currently, it only finds authenticated MAC addresses, which complicates troubleshooting when the same MAC address is used for different requests."

"The solution did have some stability issues, however, all I had to do was restart it."

"The Wi-Fi integration could be done better from their end. If there is an improvement, it should be around having more functions on the integration with the Wi-Fi controller I used, which was a UniFi controller, also on-prem."

More Portnox cons

"Sophos Network Access Control needs improvement regarding its slow interface, loading time, and reporting."

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

"There is room for improvement in pricing."

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

"The solution could offer more useful documentation."

"What needs to be improved on is the fact that Sophos consumes a lot of processor resources and, once it starts scanning, the RAM utilization is very high."

"I would like more details on the incoming connection, like what is the download speed and how it fluctuates. If Sophos can give that information, it would be really good."

"The difficult thing was finding the metrics."

More Sophos Network Access Control cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The vendor price is fair."

"It's not cheap. It's not expensive. It's in the middle."

"It is not bad. It is a bit on the high side, but considering the cloud features and how much it costs to run the instance in the cloud, it is not unreasonable. We do have RADIUS servers for the US, Asia, and Europe."

"The licensing module should be reviewed to count the number of devices instead of port numbers of total switches. There is a case for this where not all ports for a switch are used by devices. Unused ports are calculated in the license, then the customer pays for license for those unused ports."

"Pricing is quite reasonable."

"We pay for port licensing and support on a yearly basis, and it's not cheap."

"The pricing is a bit high, possibly due to the cloud features and running instances across regions like the US, Asia, and Europe."

"The users are not very happy with the new licensing option where there is only a subscription license. There is no perpetual license."

More Portnox pricing and cost advice

"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."

"It is quite expensive."

"Sophos Network Access Control is an expensive solution."

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

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

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

15%

Computer Software Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Healthcare Company

Computer Software Company

14%

Government

Construction Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Portnox CORE?

It's easy to manage and troubleshoot thanks to the lightweight components.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Portnox CORE?

It's not cheap. It's not expensive. It's in the middle, so I'll probably give it a seven out of ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Portnox CORE?

We have been having some issues with it. That's why we're considering migrating to Portnox Clear due to some limitations with CORE. At the end of the day, Portnox Clear's capabilities are much more...

See all answers

What do you like most about Sophos Network Access Control?

Sophos Network Access Control has a useful interface, and I like its dashboard, which is very useful for us to check everything.

See all answers

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

I am not able to say much on the financial specifics as it pertains to the sales unit.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sophos Network Access Control?

Sophos Network Access Control could be improved by having an ASIC chip similar to FortiNAC, as this would provide better processing for big organizations. In larger organizations, we need higher sp...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Portnox

Compared 27% of the time

Aruba ClearPass vs Portnox

Compared 27% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Portnox

Compared 16% of the time

Forescout Platform vs Portnox

Compared 15% of the time

SecureW2 vs Portnox

Compared 7% of the time

More Portnox Competitors

Aruba ClearPass vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 34% of the time

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

Compared 26% of the time

Fortinet FortiNAC vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 20% of the time

Twingate vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 11% of the time

Forescout Platform vs Sophos Network Access Control

Compared 9% of the time

More Sophos Network Access Control Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Portnox

June 2025

Download Portnox product report

Buyer's Guide

Sophos Network Access Control

June 2025

Download Sophos Network Access Control product report

Also Known As

Access Layers Portnox, Portnox CLEAR

No data available

Interactive Demo

Portnox Security

Demo not available

Sophos

Overview

Portnox offers Network Access Control to manage user access based on policy, securing both wired and wireless networks while ensuring compliance. It supports endpoint security and prevents unauthorized access across industries such as banking, IT, and energy distribution.

Designed for both on-premises and cloud deployments through CORE and Clear versions, Portnox delivers a straightforward interface aiding in deployment. It integrates effectively with equipment from multiple vendors and security solutions, enhancing endpoint profiling and ensuring compliance. Portnox provides real-time alerts and network activity insights, bolstered by excellent technical support and scalability. It also automates monitoring, reducing the need for dedicated resources while offering a comprehensive view of network activities.

What are the essential features of Portnox?

Comprehensive Network Visibility: Delivers detailed insights into network activity.
Agentless Operation: Simplifies deployment without requiring additional software on endpoints.
Seamless Integration: Works well with diverse equipment and security systems.
Real-Time Alerts: Immediate notifications for unauthorized activities.
Scalability: Accommodates growing network needs without adding complexity.

What benefits should users focus on in Portnox reviews?

Ease of Deployment: Quick setup without complex processes.
Security Capabilities: Strong defense against unauthorized access and breaches.
Automatic Monitoring: Continuously observes network traffic, requiring fewer resources.
Intuitive Insights: Clear visualization of network operations aids decision-making.
Reliable Support: Access to helpful technical assistance when needed.

Across industries like banking and IT, organizations rely on Portnox for endpoint profiling and compliance, ensuring remote worker security. Electricity distributors leverage its robust features for managing secure network access. Improvements like better third-party integration, enhanced graphical interface, and expanded support are desired, along with licensing adjustment and expanded use of AI and behavioral analytics.

Portnox Security

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

Data Realty, Royal London, Wales Millennium Centre, McLaren Construction Group, EL AL Israeli Airlines,

Rushmoor Borough Council

Buyer's Guide

Portnox vs. Sophos Network Access Control

June 2025

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