CISCO ISE vs ForeScout: Difference and Comparison

Forescout CounterAct is a network access control (NAC) device similar to Cisco ISE.

FS queries network components using SNMP as well as SSH to identify and characterize associated destinations.

FS can alter connection properties for such an associated endpoint, such as VLAN or after verification ACL, based on the set policies.

Key Takeaways

1. Cisco ISE provides network access control, policy enforcement, and guest services, while ForeScout focuses on real-time device visibility and automated security controls.
2. Cisco ISE uses the pxGrid framework to share contextual information with other security products, whereas ForeScout uses the ControlFabric platform for information sharing and orchestration.
3. ForeScout offers agentless deployment and can work with any vendor’s network equipment, while Cisco ISE is more tightly integrated with Cisco’s product ecosystem.

CISCO ISE vs ForeScout

Cisco ISE provides centralized visibility and control for network devices, users, and applications, with features such as device profiling, policy-based access control, and advanced threat detection. Forescout is a network visibility and access control platform that provides real-time visibility and risk assessment.

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a networking management solution that allows users to create and execute access control for endpoint devices linked to the firm’s networking equipment.

The goal is to make identity management easier across a wide range of devices and services.

Web client network access control technologies from ForeScout give customers comprehensive effects on network safety without interfering with later part performance.

ForeScout’s flagship solution blends NAC as well as signatureless antimalware in a specific network machine that investigates and designs encryption to all devices and interfaces effortlessly with any current IT architecture.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	CISCO ISE	ForeScout
Parent Company	Cisco Systems Inc. is the parent company of CISCO ISE with a variety of products in its range.	Whereas, ForeScout has a variety of flagship products under its name such as CounterACT.
Pros	In CISCO ISE, users can control high-level accessibility to communication systems. It enables flexible permissions, integration with LDAP clients, including, most significantly, auditing of what activities every user did.	On the other hand, ForeScout ensures that only authorized devices connect to the system.
Cons	The posture workflow is extremely complicated in CISCO ISE. Also, endpoint monitoring is not as precise as it should have been.	The drawback of ForeScout is that more teaching, as well as demos for the most recent FS versions, have been provided. GUI can also be rendered highly engaging and visually appealing.
Endpoint Visibility	In the case of CISCO ISE, users, as well as devices, are profiled, and permissions and access permissions are based primarily on that composition. It vastly enhances the customer experience because it is not dependent on the networking it is connected to, but rather on the system access it already has based on the device.	ForeScout has proper Endpoint Visibility.
Return On Investment	Cisco ISE is quite pricey, but users believe the time it spares their team is well justified. Users were able to slide this out to some of the teams, and that they can individually control their respective devices, which is quite handy.	ForeScout has simplified the identification of rogue connections. ForeScout has helped users gain a better knowledge of endpoint conformance.

What is Cisco ISE?

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a networking management solution that allows users to create and execute access control for endpoint devices linked to the firm’s networking equipment.

The goal is to make identity management easier across a wide range of devices and services.

ISE, in essence, assigns an identification to a gadget depending on the user, purpose, or other criteria to offer policy enforcement as well as security protocols even before the object is allowed to connect to the network. 

A terminal can be permitted onto the networks with a particular set of accessibility laws about the interfaces it is linked to, relying on the outcomes of several options, or it can be entirely blocked or given access controls depending on individual company norms.

ISE is a computer-controlled authorization engine that handles mundane day-to-day activities such as BYOD handset implementation, guest onboarding, switch port VLAN modifications for end-users, access list managerial staff, and several others, freeing up a network supervisor’s time to focus on the most important responsibilities (as well as cool projects!).

What is Forescout?

Web client network access control technologies from ForeScout give customers comprehensive effects on network safety without interfering with later part performance.

ForeScout’s flagship solution blends NAC as well as signatureless antimalware in a specific network machine that investigates and designs encryption to all devices and interfaces effortlessly with any current IT architecture.

ForeScout’s NAC is fully upfront, allowing organizations to adjust punishment to the severity of policy infractions, avoiding disturbances during device inspection.

To maintain access to corporate networks and services, protect against hackers as well as self-propagating ransomware, and assure continuity of operations, Fortune 1000 organizations and government agencies have installed ForeScout machines worldwide.

ForeScout’s offices are in Cupertino, California, but it also has a research and development centre in Tel Aviv, Israel. The organization has a worldwide service and marketing network.

Main Differences Between CISCO ISE and ForeScout

1. Cisco Systems Inc. is the parent company of CISCO ISE with a variety of products in its range. Whereas, ForeScout has a variety of flagship products under its name, such as CounterACT.
2. In CISCO ISE, users can control high-level accessibility to communication systems. It enables flexible permissions, integration with LDAP clients, and, most significantly, auditing of every user’s activities. On the other hand, ForeScout ensures that only authorized devices connect to the system.
3. The posture workflow is extremely complicated in CISCO ISE. Also, endpoint monitoring is not as precise as it should have been. The drawback of ForeScout is that more teaching and demos for the most recent FS versions have been provided. GUI can also be rendered highly engaging and visually appealing.
4. In the case of CISCO ISE, users and devices are profiled, and permissions and access permissions are based primarily on that composition. It vastly enhances the customer experience because it is not dependent on the networking it is connected to but rather on the system access it already has based on the device. Whereas, ForeScout has proper Endpoint Visibility.
5. Cisco ISE is quite pricey, but users believe the time it spares their team is well justified. Users were able to slide this out to some of the teams, and they could individually control their respective devices, which is quite handy. Whereas, ForeScout has simplified the identification of rogue connections. ForeScout has helped users gain a better knowledge of endpoint conformance.

References

1. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohammad-Alshammari-2/publication/336266496_Design_and_Learning_Effectiveness_Evaluation_of_Gamification_in_e-Learning_Systems/links/5daee953a6fdccc99d92b461/Design-and-Learning-Effectiveness-Evaluation-of-Gamification-in-e-Learning-Systems.pdf#page=381
2. https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/handle/2086/15669

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023