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# Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs FortiNAC Comparison - What are their main differences?

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Cisco Identity Services...FortiNAC[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**[

4.5/5(63)

](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-identity-services-engine-ise/reviews#reviews)

**FortiNAC** [

4.4/5(20)

](https://www.g2.com/products/fortinac/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**
No pricing available

**FortiNAC**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**
Not enough reviews yet

**FortiNAC**
Not enough reviews yet

Return on Investment

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**
Not enough reviews yet

**FortiNAC**
Not enough reviews yet

Perceived Cost

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**
$$$$$

**FortiNAC**
Not enough reviews yet

Average Discount

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**
Not enough reviews yet

**FortiNAC**
Not enough reviews yet

Pros & Cons

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**
Not enough data

**FortiNAC**
Not enough data

Integrations

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_33e164d73c37e0ec234a4b40d51f0507/cisco-catalyst-center.jpeg "Product Avatar Image")

Cisco Catalyst Center

](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-catalyst-center/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_e53c653801b737650057c3a3d6d19473/cisco-duo.png "Product Avatar Image")

Cisco Duo

](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-duo/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_41e58e0642c6443cb8450f1243ebcdab/cisco-secure-client.jpeg "Product Avatar Image")

Cisco Secure Client

](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-secure-client/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_2474c60ebbbbe943c2c262ededcc263c/microsoft-active-directory-certificate-services-ad-cs.png "Product Avatar Image")

Microsoft Active Directory...

](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-active-directory-certificate-services-ad-cs/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-identity-services-engine-ise/integrations)

**FortiNAC**
Not enough data

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**

9.3

9.332

**FortiNAC**

8.6

8.611

Ease of Use

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**

8.0

8.032

**FortiNAC**

8.3

8.311

Ease of Setup

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**

7.6

7.623

**FortiNAC**

7.5

7.56

Ease of Admin

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**

8.7

8.721

**FortiNAC**

8.6

8.66

Quality of Support

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**

9.0

9.032

**FortiNAC**

8.2

8.211

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**

9.3

9.320

**FortiNAC**

8.3

8.36

Product Direction (% positive)

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)**

8.1

8.131

**FortiNAC**

10.0

10.010

Features

Network Access Control (NAC)[Hide 23 FeaturesShow 23 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.7

32

8.6

7

Data

Data Protection

8.9(won by 0.1)

20

8.8

7

Remote Access

8.5

18

8.8(won by 0.3)

7

Network Access

9.1(won by 0.5)

22

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

8.6

7

Network

Security

9.3(won by 0.7)

23

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

8.6

7

Scaling

8.7

20

8.8(won by 0.1)

7

Audit

8.5(won by 0.4)

17

8.1

7

Logistics

Processes

8.7(won by 0.1)

18

8.6

7

Blockage

8.8(won by 0.5)

19

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

8.3

7

IoT

7.9

15

8.6(won by 0.7)

6

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Additional Functionality

Policy Creation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multiple Authentication Methods

Not enough data

Not enough data

Profiling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-Device Support

Not enough data

Not enough data

Remote Access/Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Asset Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Continuous Monitoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Network Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Intrusion Prevention System

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Show 2 feature categories with incomplete data

Network Security[Hide 40 FeaturesShow 40 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

Penetration Testing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts/Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Audit Trail

Not enough data

Not enough data

Anti Virus

Not enough data

Not enough data

Vulnerability Scanning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Remote Monitoring & Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

VPN

Not enough data

Not enough data

Behavior Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting/Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

SSL Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Patch Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Event Logs

Not enough data

Not enough data

Anomaly/Malware Detection

Not enough data

Not enough data

DNS Leak Protection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Server Monitoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Real-Time Monitoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Compliance Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Network Provisioning

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Email Alerts

Not enough data

Not enough data

Security Auditing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Intrusion Detection System

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Visualization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Two-Factor Authentication

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Firewalls

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Anti Spam

Not enough data

Not enough data

Threat Response

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Monitoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Risk Alerts

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Loss Prevention

Not enough data

Not enough data

Single Sign On

Not enough data

Not enough data

Intrusion Prevention System

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Login

Not enough data

Not enough data

Policy Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

IoT Security Solutions[Hide 12 FeaturesShow 12 Features](javascript:void(0);)

Not enough data

Not enough data

Connected Device Security

Vulnerability Assessment

Not enough data

Not enough data

Identity Lifecycle

Not enough data

Not enough data

Threat Protection

Not enough data

Not enough data

Behavior Analysis

Not enough data

Not enough data

Incident Response

Not enough data

Not enough data

IoT Network Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

OTA Updates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts & Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Platform

Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Hardware

Not enough data

Not enough data

Performance

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_7104539447b2423177c675ea25b47b31/cisco-identity-services-engine-ise.jpg "Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)")](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-identity-services-engine-ise/reviews)

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

11.5%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

38.5%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

50.0%

[![FortiNAC](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_bc2a1799b86d85110e1f2c4381c3181c/fortinac.png "FortiNAC")](https://www.g2.com/products/fortinac/reviews)

FortiNAC

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

10.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

55.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

35.0%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

11.5%

10.0%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

38.5%

55.0%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

50.0%

35.0%

Reviewers' Industry

[![Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_7104539447b2423177c675ea25b47b31/cisco-identity-services-engine-ise.jpg "Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)")](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-identity-services-engine-ise/reviews)
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

Computer & Network Security

13.5%

Information Technology and Services

11.5%

Computer Networking

7.7%

Hospital & Health Care

7.7%

Telecommunications

5.8%

Other

53.8%

[![FortiNAC](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_bc2a1799b86d85110e1f2c4381c3181c/fortinac.png "FortiNAC")](https://www.g2.com/products/fortinac/reviews)
FortiNAC

Computer & Network Security

25.0%

Insurance

10.0%

Information Services

10.0%

Computer Software

10.0%

Banking

10.0%

Other

35.0%

FAQs

## Cisco Identity Services... vs FortiNAC FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between Cisco Identity Services... vs FortiNAC?

Cisco Identity Services Engine stands out for its higher G2 rating and stronger support experience, while FortiNAC is noted for its ease of use and implementation simplicity.

| [Cisco Identity Services...](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-identity-services-engine-ise/reviews) | [FortiNAC](https://www.g2.com/products/fortinac/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.5/5 (52 reviews) | 4.4/5 (20 reviews) |
| Enterprise | Mid-Market |
| 7.5 | 7.5 |
| 9.3 | 8.2 |
| Centralized policy management and deep Cisco ecosystem integration | Ease of use, implementation simplicity, and strong device visibility |

### How do the pricing models of Cisco Identity Services... and FortiNAC compare?

Reviewers rate Cisco Identity Services Engine higher for price/cost satisfaction than FortiNAC.

- **Cisco Identity Services Engine:** In recent reviews, several reviewers mention high cost but also highlight robust features and value for large enterprises.
- **FortiNAC:** Recent reviews note that cost is a concern for smaller organizations or those on a tight budget, with licensing fees described as on the higher side compared to competitors.

### What are the best alternatives to Cisco Identity Services... and FortiNAC?

The top three alternatives to Cisco Identity Services Engine and FortiNAC are Forescout Platform, Ivanti Policy Secure, and Aruba ClearPass.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Cisco Identity Services...](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-identity-services-engine-ise/reviews) | 4.5/5 (52) | High cost, robust features for large enterprises | Centralized policy management and Cisco ecosystem integration |
| [FortiNAC](https://www.g2.com/products/fortinac/reviews) | 4.4/5 (20) | Cost concern for smaller organizations, licensing fees noted | Ease of use, implementation simplicity, strong device visibility |
| [Forescout Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/forescout-platform/reviews) | 4.5/5 (17) | — | Comprehensive device visibility and control |
| [Ivanti Policy Secure](https://www.g2.com/products/ivanti-policy-secure/reviews) | 4.4/5 (29) | — | Enterprise-grade access control and policy enforcement |

### Which Network Access Control (NAC) features should I prioritize when comparing Cisco Identity Services... and FortiNAC?

Buyers should prioritize centralized policy management, device visibility and profiling, ease of integration, scalability, and support experience when comparing Cisco Identity Services Engine and FortiNAC.

- **Centralized policy management:** Cisco Identity Services Engine is frequently cited for its centralized policy management and deep integration with the Cisco ecosystem.
- **Device visibility and profiling:** Both products are praised for device visibility, with FortiNAC noted for strong device visibility and compliance monitoring.
- **Ease of integration:** Cisco Identity Services Engine is highlighted for integration within Cisco environments, while FortiNAC is noted for extended third-party network control.
- **Scalability:** FortiNAC is described as scalable for both small and large enterprises, with reviewers noting its ability to handle diverse environments.
- **Support experience:** Cisco Identity Services Engine has a higher Quality of Support score (9.3 vs 8.2).

### What are the pros and cons of Cisco Identity Services... vs FortiNAC?

Cisco Identity Services Engine's headline strength is centralized policy management and Cisco ecosystem integration, while FortiNAC is strongest in ease of use and implementation simplicity.

- **Cisco Identity Services Engine strengths:** Centralized policy management, deep Cisco ecosystem integration, dynamic and context-aware access policies, robust profiling and posture assessment, and strong support experience.
- **Cisco Identity Services Engine trade-offs:** Complexity in configuration and policy design, high cost, interoperability challenges with non-Cisco devices, and a steep learning curve for new users.
- **FortiNAC strengths:** Ease of use, implementation simplicity, strong device visibility, scalable for small and large enterprises, and effective compliance monitoring.
- **FortiNAC trade-offs:** Cost concerns for smaller organizations, limited customization options, occasional interface complexities, and licensing fees noted as high compared to competitors.

### Is Cisco Identity Services... or FortiNAC better for small businesses?

FortiNAC is a better fit for small businesses, as it is most frequently reviewed by mid-market and small-business users and is praised for ease of use and implementation.

- **Cisco Identity Services Engine:** Largest segment is Enterprise, with reviewers noting complexity and higher cost as trade-offs for smaller organizations.
- **FortiNAC:** Largest segment is Mid-Market, with recent reviews highlighting suitability for both small and large enterprises and ease of implementation.

### Which Network Access Control (NAC) platform has better integrations?

Reviewers cite parity between Cisco Identity Services Engine and FortiNAC for integrations, with both products supporting integration in their respective ecosystems.

- **Cisco Identity Services Engine:** Recent reviews highlight integration with Cisco Firepower, Active Directory, and pxGrid context sharing.
- **FortiNAC:** Recent reviews mention extended third-party network control and agent/agentless support, but note limited third-party native integration and REST API access requiring higher-tier licenses.

### How do Cisco Identity Services... and FortiNAC compare on customer support?

Cisco Identity Services Engine outperforms FortiNAC on Quality of Support by a material margin (9.3 vs 8.2).

- **Cisco Identity Services Engine:** Reviewers consistently praise Cisco TAC and community support, describing support as active, helpful, and a key differentiator.
- **FortiNAC:** Reviewers describe support as good and responsive, but with occasional mentions of room for improvement and lower satisfaction compared to Cisco Identity Services Engine.

### Which is easier to implement, Cisco Identity Services... or FortiNAC?

Cisco Identity Services Engine and FortiNAC score equally on Ease of Setup (7.5 each), indicating parity in implementation difficulty.

- **Cisco Identity Services Engine:** Reviewers frequently mention a steep learning curve, complex configuration, and the need for careful planning and training during implementation.
- **FortiNAC:** Reviewers highlight ease of implementation, user-friendly setup, and suitability for both small and large environments, with some noting interface complexity as a minor challenge.

Alternatives

**Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) Alternatives**

 ![Ivanti Policy Secure](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/acee115d49f59f727a26dd6169ca64be/ivanti-policy-secure.svg "Ivanti Policy Secure")

[
Ivanti Policy Secure
](/products/ivanti-policy-secure/reviews)

 ![Forescout Platform](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/2f18e01f4f92af20c2a2b3eb8c877e9e/forescout-platform.svg "Forescout Platform")

[
Forescout Platform
](/products/forescout-platform/reviews)

 ![HPE Aruba Networking SSE](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_15e85acefdb9b7976b4dbca417d47a20/aruba-a-hewlett-packard-enterprise-company-hpe-aruba-networking-sse.jpg "HPE Aruba Networking SSE")

[
HPE Aruba Networking SSE
](/products/aruba-a-hewlett-packard-enterprise-company-hpe-aruba-networking-sse/reviews)

 ![Citrix Gateway](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/00f5d355e7a0a85e493ea7fb97e08298/citrix-gateway.svg "Citrix Gateway")

[
Citrix Gateway
](/products/citrix-gateway/reviews)

**FortiNAC Alternatives**

 ![Forescout Platform](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/2f18e01f4f92af20c2a2b3eb8c877e9e/forescout-platform.svg "Forescout Platform")

[
Forescout Platform
](/products/forescout-platform/reviews)

 ![HPE Aruba Networking SSE](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_15e85acefdb9b7976b4dbca417d47a20/aruba-a-hewlett-packard-enterprise-company-hpe-aruba-networking-sse.jpg "HPE Aruba Networking SSE")

[
HPE Aruba Networking SSE
](/products/aruba-a-hewlett-packard-enterprise-company-hpe-aruba-networking-sse/reviews)

 ![ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/2e500391e9bcc35588c7be8bc6b63bbc/threatlocker-zero-trust-platform.svg "ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform")

[
ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform
](/products/threatlocker-zero-trust-platform/reviews)

 ![Portnox](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1e6e08147fcfebfb05c3931e087e30d7/portnox.svg "Portnox")

[
Portnox
](/products/portnox/reviews)

## Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs FortiNAC

When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found FortiNAC easier to use. However, Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is easier to set up and administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) overall.

- Reviewers felt that Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) meets the needs of their business better than FortiNAC.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of FortiNAC over Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE).