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Forescout Platform pros and cons

Vendor: Forescout
4.2 out of 5
Badge Leader

Pros & Cons summary

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Forescout Platform excels in network access control, offering both 802.1x and non-802.1x capabilities, which provides flexibility in integration without requiring network upgrades.
The platform offers comprehensive device visibility, enabling tracking of connected devices and identifying vulnerabilities, which improves security posture and network management.
Granular control and automation allow for tailored policy enforcement, reducing manual intervention and enhancing efficiency and security.
Forescout Platform's agentless configuration facilitates integration with multiple vendor products, boosting its flexibility and ease of deployment.
Effective device fingerprinting and automated policy enforcement ensure compliance and actively manage network security, especially for devices lacking agents.

CONS

Forescout Platform has complex initial setup and deployment, requiring user training.
Third-party integration with Forescout Platform is limited and needs improvement.
High cost of licensing and pricing uncertainty are significant drawbacks of Forescout Platform.
Forescout Platform's technical support is slow and lacks adequate response quality.
Forescout Platform's integration with older network devices can result in compatibility issues.
 

Forescout Platform Pros review quotes

MV
IS-Operations Security Analyst at a energy/utilities company with 10,001+ employees
Feb 22, 2019
Emergency response, risk assessment information to get a view of the of the vulnerability.
it_user400680 - PeerSpot reviewer
VP IT Security at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees
Mar 6, 2016
The plugins are very robust -- the ability scanner, patch management system, and SQL integrator.
it_user376773 - PeerSpot reviewer
Global Network Security Specialist at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
Jun 12, 2017
The most valuable features of ForeScout is the fact that it can do network access control either with 802.1x or without 802.1x.
Learn what your peers think about Forescout Platform. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
MK
Head of Network and Communication Department at a program development consultancy with 10,001+ employees
Oct 16, 2018
Obtaining visibility into the network and connected devices is very simple with this tool. It takes me three minutes to do a base deployment when all the parameters are available.
RM
Network System Administrator at Compugraf
Feb 12, 2019
The visibility is the main benefit. We now know how many devices are connected, what the use for each device is and what kind of devices we have in our environment.
Anestis Mantzouranis - PeerSpot reviewer
Founder at EME Pty Ltd
Jul 11, 2019
The most valuable features are remote access and administration scripts.
RM
System Engineer at Maticmind S.p.A.
May 4, 2020
I have noticed that in the last year the license model has changed from licensing the whole appliance to licensing the number of devices. It's more simple for a large installation, or a user to have CounterACT as their peripheral site in the company. It's a good choice to have changed the license policy.
reviewer1259856 - PeerSpot reviewer
Director of Information Technology at a non-profit with 1,001-5,000 employees
Jan 6, 2020
The most valuable feature is the blocking of USB devices.
reviewer1155042 - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Information Security Officer at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Feb 20, 2020
The user interface is quite simple.
MS
Owner at Securnet
Mar 3, 2020
We think it's simple. We think it's very useful and we really like reports and everything.
 

Forescout Platform Cons review quotes

MV
IS-Operations Security Analyst at a energy/utilities company with 10,001+ employees
Feb 22, 2019
Search - needs boolean functionality (or pseudo operand now working).
it_user400680 - PeerSpot reviewer
VP IT Security at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees
Mar 6, 2016
The initial setup was complex.
it_user376773 - PeerSpot reviewer
Global Network Security Specialist at a pharma/biotech company with 10,001+ employees
Jun 12, 2017
Definitely, having more third-party integration would be an improvement.
Learn what your peers think about Forescout Platform. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
MK
Head of Network and Communication Department at a program development consultancy with 10,001+ employees
Oct 16, 2018
Multitenancy should be included in the next version so it could be used as a managed service provider.
RM
Network System Administrator at Compugraf
Feb 12, 2019
They should improve features related to IT security. ForeScout should analyze behavior to see if the behavior is malicious behavior and block this device. They should develop the ability to analyze the behavior of the device in my environment.
Anestis Mantzouranis - PeerSpot reviewer
Founder at EME Pty Ltd
Jul 11, 2019
We experienced some detection issues when checking compliance for the Sophos agent.
RM
System Engineer at Maticmind S.p.A.
May 4, 2020
For the user, the policy that they have implemented sometimes needs adjustments. Sometimes the features that the customer asks for aren't involved in the main installation, and I need to bolt an add-on in. However, I never know if this policy is the right one when I do this.
reviewer1259856 - PeerSpot reviewer
Director of Information Technology at a non-profit with 1,001-5,000 employees
Jan 6, 2020
The ability to block external devices in Mac is lacking and needs to be added.
reviewer1155042 - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Information Security Officer at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Feb 20, 2020
The solution does have a bit of complexity, and there's some complexity in the deployment. Users need to be trained before undertaking an initial setup.
MS
Owner at Securnet
Mar 3, 2020
The biggest disadvantage is the pricing.