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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

it_user150882 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Access Control Security at a government with 10,001+ employees
Sep 7, 2014
Without access specific numbers, we now have the ability to instantly shut down internal malicious hosts or traffic, refuse or restrict access to non-compliant hosts, discover risks on the network we didn't know were there, and automate the remediation of a multitude of security risks.
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_user342609 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network and Security Engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Nov 18, 2015
We are provided with real-time visibility and control of devices accessing our network.
Learn what your peers think about Forescout Platform. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2026.
884,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user345513 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Security Engineer with 51-200 employees
Jan 26, 2016
The main feature, the NAC engine, is very flexible since ForeScout CounterACT doesn’t need the use of 802.1x and can work with almost all switch vendors.
it_user347157 - PeerSpot reviewer
Security Analyst at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees
Nov 27, 2015
This product provided a really good effect in terms of network access control.
it_user102570 - PeerSpot reviewer
Pre-Sales Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Feb 16, 2016
ForeScout CounterACT is like a Pandora's box, which contains a lot of functionalities that can be used to improve the customer's daily operation tasks and reduces manual workforce.
it_user381450 - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Security Architect at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Feb 3, 2016
Customer service is above average and technical support is above average.
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_user400728 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Administrator at a logistics company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Mar 6, 2016
Absolutely go for it.
it_user400743 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Security Manager at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Mar 7, 2016
The network access control is a valuable feature for us, as it provides endpoint visibility of our network and controls who can access network resources, which is really powerful.
 

Forescout Platform Cons review quotes

it_user150882 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Access Control Security at a government with 10,001+ employees
Sep 7, 2014
Sometimes the switch management interface doesn't display accurate information which relates to false positives on individual switch access errors.
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_user342609 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network and Security Engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Nov 18, 2015
It is quite expensive, but there are specs for small companies as well.
Learn what your peers think about Forescout Platform. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2026.
884,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user345513 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Security Engineer with 51-200 employees
Jan 26, 2016
Maybe the licensing and cost can be improved.
it_user347157 - PeerSpot reviewer
Security Analyst at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees
Nov 27, 2015
Detection and control of Dual-Homed devices needs to be improved, as the product sometimes gives false positives.
it_user102570 - PeerSpot reviewer
Pre-Sales Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Feb 16, 2016
There are few issues with CounterACT that need more attention, mainly its ability to process and perform discovery faster.
it_user381450 - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Security Architect at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Feb 3, 2016
The patch management ability of the solution needs to be re-examined.
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_user400728 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Administrator at a logistics company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Mar 6, 2016
From the wireless standpoint, I would say that the reliability was somewhat poor, but CounterACT worked with us over a couple month period and did push out a patch.
it_user400743 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network Security Manager at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Mar 7, 2016
The integration with Sync can be improved. We would like to see better integration with some other popular vendors.