9 Best Cisco ISE Alternatives and Competitors in 2026

Alternative	Primary Offering	AI Capabilities	Best For	Ratings (G2 / Gartner)	Pricing
HPE Aruba ClearPass	Enterprise NAC, RADIUS, 802.1X, profiling	Analytics and automation through HPE ecosystem	Multi-vendor enterprise NAC	N/A / 4.6	Contact sales
Portnox Cloud	Cloud NAC, RADIUS, ZTNA, device posture	Risk analysis, automation, identity-security capabilities	Cloud-native NAC and zero-trust access	4.4 / 4.9	Contact sales
FortiNAC	NAC, device visibility, profiling, segmentation	Automation and security analytics through Fortinet ecosystem	Fortinet-centric and multi-vendor NAC	4.4 / 4.8	Contact sales
Forescout Platform	Asset visibility, NAC, segmentation, exposure management	Agentic AI through Vistaro	IT, IoT, OT, IoMT visibility and control	4.5 / 4.3	Contact sales
Ivanti Policy Secure	NAC, device profiling, posture, access policy	AI capabilities through Ivanti Neurons ecosystem	Endpoint-aware NAC and policy enforcement	4.4 / 4.4	Contact sales
OpenNAC Enterprise	NAC, authentication, profiling, compliance	Automation and analytics; limited native AI	Enterprise NAC and multi-vendor environments	N/A / N/A	Contact sales
PacketFence	Open-source NAC, RADIUS, 802.1X	Limited native AI	Self-hosted and open-source NAC	N/A / N/A	Free and open source
Juniper Mist Access Assurance	Cloud NAC, 802.1X, identity-based access	AI-driven access operations	Cloud-managed wired and wireless access	N/A / 5.0	Contact sales
FreeRADIUS	Open-source RADIUS server	No native AI	Custom RADIUS and 802.1X deployments	N/A / N/A	Free and open source

9 Best Cisco ISE Alternatives

The Cisco ISE alternatives below cover different approaches to network access control. Some are close to Cisco ISE because they provide enterprise NAC, RADIUS, and 802.1X, while others add cloud-native access control, asset visibility, AI capabilities, open-source deployment, or more specialized network-access functionality.

#1. HPE Aruba ClearPass

HPE Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager is an enterprise NAC platform for authentication, authorization, device profiling, posture assessment, guest access, onboarding, and policy enforcement. It supports wired, wireless, and VPN environments and is designed to work across multi-vendor infrastructure, making it one of the closest Cisco ISE alternatives for large organizations.

ClearPass can use user identity, device information, authentication state, and endpoint context when making network-access decisions. It supports 802.1X and RADIUS and provides capabilities for BYOD, guest access, profiling, and dynamic policy enforcement. This makes it suitable for organizations that need a full NAC platform rather than a standalone RADIUS server.

Its AI story is less focused on the core ClearPass product than some newer cloud-native platforms. HPE’s broader networking and security ecosystem provides analytics and automation capabilities, but organizations specifically looking for native generative or agentic AI should evaluate those capabilities separately.

Key Features

• Enterprise NAC: Provides centralized network access control for users and devices across enterprise wired, wireless, and VPN environments.
• RADIUS and 802.1X: Supports standards-based authentication and authorization for wired and wireless network access.
• Device Profiling: Identifies and classifies endpoints so administrators can apply policies according to device type and context.
• Posture Assessment: Uses endpoint security and compliance information through supported integrations when determining access.
• Guest Access: Provides guest registration, onboarding, and temporary access management.
• BYOD Onboarding: Supports controlled enrollment and policy management for personally owned devices.
• Dynamic Policy Enforcement: Applies network policies according to identity, device attributes, role, and other contextual information.
• Multi-Vendor Integration: Supports integration with network infrastructure and security systems from multiple vendors.

Also Read: Best HPE Aruba ClearPass Alternatives and Competitors in 2026

#2. Portnox Cloud

Portnox Cloud is a cloud-native network access control platform that combines RADIUS, NAC, device posture assessment, zero-trust access, and policy enforcement. It is particularly relevant for organizations looking to replace infrastructure-heavy NAC deployments with a SaaS model while retaining control over network authentication and endpoint access.

Portnox provides visibility into devices connecting to the network and can use identity, device posture, and risk signals when making access decisions. Its capabilities cover wired and wireless environments, VPN access, certificate-based authentication, segmentation, remediation, and broader zero-trust workflows.

The platform also has a broader identity-security direction that includes human and non-human identities. This gives Portnox relevance for organizations considering AI-agent security alongside traditional NAC.

Key Features

• Cloud NAC: Provides network access control through a cloud-native SaaS architecture.
• Cloud RADIUS: Supports managed RADIUS authentication for wired, wireless, and VPN environments.
• Device Posture: Evaluates endpoint security and compliance information when making access decisions.
• Device Visibility: Identifies devices connecting to the environment and provides context for access policies.
• Zero-Trust Access: Uses identity and device context to enforce access policies.
• Network Segmentation: Supports differentiated access according to identity, device, role, and security status.
• Automated Remediation: Can restrict or quarantine non-compliant devices based on configured policies.
• Identity Security: Extends access controls toward human and non-human identities, including broader machine and workload security requirements.

Also Read: Best Portnox Alternatives and Competitors for 2026

#3. FortiNAC

FortiNAC is Fortinet’s network access control platform for discovering, classifying, monitoring, and controlling devices connected to enterprise networks. It supports wired and wireless environments and can apply policies based on users, devices, roles, and security conditions.

As a Cisco ISE alternative, FortiNAC is particularly attractive to organizations already using Fortinet security infrastructure. It can provide device visibility, profiling, segmentation, access control, and automated response while integrating with other Fortinet products and third-party infrastructure.

FortiNAC is more focused on NAC and network security automation than on generative AI. Fortinet’s wider security ecosystem includes automation and analytics capabilities, but teams should distinguish those from native AI functionality inside the NAC product.

Key Features

• Network Access Control: Controls network access for users and devices across enterprise environments.
• Device Discovery: Identifies devices connecting to wired and wireless networks.
• Device Profiling: Classifies endpoints according to device type, characteristics, and network behavior.
• 802.1X and RADIUS: Supports standards-based network authentication and access control.
• Segmentation: Supports policies that restrict or separate devices according to identity, role, or security requirements.
• IoT Visibility: Provides visibility into connected IoT and unmanaged devices.
• Automated Response: Can trigger access restrictions and other responses when devices violate security policies.
• Fortinet Integration: Connects with the wider Fortinet security ecosystem for coordinated network-security controls.

Also Read: Best FortiNAC Alternatives and Competitors for 2026

#4. Forescout Platform

Forescout provides network and asset visibility, device classification, access control, segmentation, exposure management, and security controls across IT, IoT, OT, and IoMT environments. It is a strong Cisco ISE alternative when the organization wants NAC capabilities combined with broader visibility into managed and unmanaged assets.

Forescout differs from traditional NAC platforms by putting significant emphasis on continuous asset discovery and classification. It can identify devices that may not be managed through conventional endpoint-management tools and use that information for security and access decisions.

AI is a major differentiator in Forescout’s current platform direction. Forescout Vistaro uses skills-based agentic AI for visibility, risk prioritization, automated containment, and control. This makes Forescout particularly relevant for organizations evaluating AI-driven security operations rather than only traditional NAC automation.

Key Features

• Asset Discovery: Discovers connected assets across IT, IoT, OT, and IoMT environments.
• Device Classification: Identifies and categorizes managed, unmanaged, and specialized devices.
• Network Access Control: Uses device and security context to control network access.
• Exposure Management: Provides visibility into security exposure across connected assets.
• Network Segmentation: Supports controls for isolating assets and limiting lateral movement.
• Continuous Monitoring: Maintains visibility into devices and their security conditions.
• Automated Response: Can automate containment and control actions based on security conditions.
• Agentic AI: Forescout’s Vistaro platform uses agentic AI for risk prioritization, automation, containment, and control.

Also Read: Best Forescout Alternatives and Competitors for 2026

#5. Ivanti Policy Secure

Ivanti Policy Secure is a network access control platform that validates users and device security posture before granting network access. It provides device discovery, classification, monitoring, policy enforcement, automated remediation, guest access, and integrations with network and endpoint-management systems.

For organizations evaluating Cisco ISE alternatives, Ivanti Policy Secure is relevant when NAC needs to incorporate both identity and endpoint context. It can identify managed, unmanaged, and IoT devices and apply least-privilege access policies according to security conditions.

Ivanti’s wider Neurons platform has an explicit AI direction, although organizations should distinguish capabilities of the broader Ivanti ecosystem from capabilities delivered specifically by Policy Secure.

Key Features

• Network Access Control: Provides centralized NAC for users and devices across enterprise networks.
• Device Discovery: Detects devices connecting to the network, including unmanaged and IoT endpoints.
• Device Classification: Categorizes endpoints to support appropriate access policies.
• Posture Assessment: Evaluates device security posture as part of network-access decisions.
• Least-Privilege Access: Applies granular policies to restrict users and devices to the access they require.
• Automated Remediation: Can respond to non-compliant devices according to configured policies.
• Guest Management: Supports guest access and temporary network-access workflows.
• Security Integrations: Integrates with switching, wireless, firewall, SIEM, and endpoint-management technologies.

#6. OpenNAC Enterprise

OpenNAC Enterprise is a network access control platform designed to provide centralized visibility, authentication, policy enforcement, and automated response across enterprise networks. It supports user and device authentication and can use endpoint information when applying access policies.

OpenNAC is a useful Cisco ISE alternative for organizations looking for a multi-vendor NAC platform with strong emphasis on visibility, compliance, and policy enforcement. It can integrate with authentication systems, network infrastructure, and security technologies to create contextual access decisions across wired and wireless environments.

Its AI capabilities are less prominent than platforms such as Forescout Vistaro or Juniper Mist. OpenNAC’s main value remains NAC, automation, endpoint visibility, and policy enforcement, so organizations requiring advanced AI-driven security operations should evaluate complementary tools alongside the platform.

Key Features

• Enterprise NAC: Provides centralized control over user and device access to enterprise networks.
• Authentication: Supports identity-based authentication for network-access decisions.
• Device Visibility: Provides information about endpoints connecting to the network.
• Device Profiling: Uses endpoint characteristics to classify devices and support policy decisions.
• Policy Enforcement: Applies network-access policies according to identity, device, and compliance conditions.
• Compliance Assessment: Helps evaluate endpoint and network-access requirements.
• Automated Response: Supports automated actions when devices or users fail configured policies.
• Multi-Vendor Support: Designed to integrate with heterogeneous network and security environments.

#7. PacketFence

PacketFence is an open-source network access control platform that provides RADIUS, 802.1X, device registration, profiling, guest access, BYOD onboarding, and network enforcement. It gives organizations an alternative to commercial NAC platforms when self-hosting and infrastructure control are important.

PacketFence can be used across wired and wireless environments and can integrate with directories, network devices, authentication services, and endpoint information. This makes it more than a basic RADIUS server and gives organizations a broader NAC foundation without proprietary licensing.

The main trade-off is operational responsibility. Teams must deploy, configure, maintain, secure, monitor, and update the platform themselves. PacketFence also has limited native AI capabilities, so organizations looking for AI-based risk analysis, behavioral detection, or AI-assisted security operations will likely need additional technologies.

Key Features

• Open-Source NAC: Provides a self-hosted network access control platform without proprietary NAC licensing.
• RADIUS: Provides RADIUS authentication for supported network-access environments.
• 802.1X: Supports standards-based authentication for wired and wireless networks.
• Device Profiling: Identifies and classifies devices connecting to the network.
• Guest Access: Provides guest registration and temporary network-access workflows.
• BYOD: Supports onboarding and management of personally owned devices.
• Network Enforcement: Supports VLAN assignment, isolation, access restrictions, and other enforcement mechanisms.
• Endpoint Visibility: Provides administrators with information about devices and their network-access status.

Also Read: Best PacketFence Alternatives and Competitors in 2026

#8. Juniper Mist Access Assurance

Juniper Mist Access Assurance is a cloud-based network access control service designed to provide identity-based access for users and devices across enterprise wired and wireless environments. It combines authentication and policy enforcement with the cloud-native architecture of the Mist platform.

As a Cisco ISE alternative, Mist Access Assurance is particularly relevant for organizations that want to move NAC toward a cloud-managed operating model. It can support 802.1X, identity-based policies, device posture evaluation, and access enforcement while reducing the infrastructure required for traditional NAC deployments.

AI is one of its more important differentiators. Gartner describes Mist Access Assurance as using AI to automate access enforcement and streamline policy management. Its broader Mist platform also uses AI-driven insights and automation for network operations.

Key Features

• Cloud NAC: Delivers network access control through a cloud-managed architecture.
• 802.1X Authentication: Supports identity-based authentication for enterprise wired and wireless access.
• Identity-Based Policies: Applies access rules according to user and device identity.
• Device Posture: Can use device posture information when determining network-access decisions.
• Access Enforcement: Applies configured access policies to control network connectivity.
• AI-Assisted Operations: Uses AI within the Mist architecture to simplify policy and access operations.
• Cloud Management: Reduces the infrastructure required to operate traditional on-premises NAC components.
• Zero-Trust Alignment: Supports identity- and posture-based access decisions consistent with zero-trust network principles.

#9. FreeRADIUS

FreeRADIUS is an open-source RADIUS server used for authentication, authorization, and accounting across Wi-Fi, wired networks, VPNs, ISPs, and other environments. It is not a feature-for-feature replacement for Cisco ISE, but it is a strong alternative when the primary requirement is RADIUS and 802.1X rather than a complete enterprise NAC platform.

FreeRADIUS gives technical teams substantial control over authentication methods, identity integrations, databases, certificates, policies, and accounting. It can integrate with LDAP, Active Directory, SQL databases, and certificate-based authentication and can be customized extensively.

The trade-off is that FreeRADIUS does not provide the centralized NAC experience of Cisco ISE. It does not natively provide the same device profiling, posture assessment, guest management, visual administration, or AI-driven security capabilities. Organizations therefore need to combine it with other technologies if those functions are required.

Key Features

• Open-Source RADIUS: Provides a flexible RADIUS implementation that organizations can deploy and operate themselves.
• 802.1X: Supports standards-based authentication for wired and wireless networks.
• EAP Support: Supports multiple EAP authentication methods for different enterprise requirements.
• LDAP Integration: Can integrate authentication with LDAP directories.
• Active Directory Integration: Can be configured with Microsoft directory environments.
• SQL Integration: Supports database-backed authentication and accounting.
• Certificate Authentication: Supports certificate-based authentication through suitable EAP and PKI configurations.
• Extensible Architecture: Provides modules and configuration options for building customized authentication and authorization workflows.

How to Choose the Right Cisco ISE Alternative?

Choosing among Cisco ISE alternatives depends on whether your main requirement is enterprise NAC, cloud-managed access control, RADIUS, 802.1X, device profiling, posture assessment, segmentation, or a self-hosted deployment. Compare these factors before selecting a replacement:

• Primary use case: Determine whether you need complete NAC, RADIUS authentication, wired and wireless 802.1X, VPN access, device profiling, guest access, segmentation, or a combination of these capabilities.
• RADIUS capabilities: Check support for RADIUS authentication, accounting, EAP methods, RadSec, policy controls, and the network infrastructure already deployed in your organization.
• 802.1X support: Verify support for the EAP methods, certificates, identity sources, switches, access points, and wireless controllers used in your environment.
• Device profiling: Evaluate how accurately the platform identifies and classifies laptops, mobile devices, printers, IoT equipment, cameras, industrial devices, and unmanaged endpoints.
• Posture assessment: Check whether the platform can evaluate endpoint compliance, operating-system status, encryption, security software, MDM/UEM information, or other device conditions before granting access.
• Network enforcement: Compare VLAN assignment, ACLs, segmentation, isolation, quarantine, role-based access, and automated enforcement capabilities.
• Guest access: If visitor access matters, evaluate guest registration, captive portals, sponsorship, temporary credentials, onboarding, and guest policy controls.
• BYOD: Check whether the platform can securely onboard personally owned devices and apply appropriate policies without giving them the same access as managed corporate endpoints.
• Identity integrations: Verify compatibility with Microsoft Entra ID, Active Directory, LDAP, Okta, Google Workspace, Intune, certificates, and other identity systems already used by your organization.
• Network integrations: Review support for switches, wireless controllers, firewalls, VPN platforms, endpoint-management systems, EDR products, SIEM platforms, and other security infrastructure.
• Segmentation: Determine whether the platform can enforce network segmentation directly or integrate with the network technologies you use for segmentation.
• AI capabilities: Look for actual AI or machine-learning functions such as behavioral analysis, risk prioritization, AI-assisted administration, automated recommendations, agentic workflows, or AI-driven security response. Do not classify ordinary policy automation as AI.
• AI-agent security: If your organization is deploying AI agents or other non-human identities, check whether the platform can identify, authenticate, govern, monitor, and restrict those identities. Traditional NAC products may have limited native capabilities here.
• Asset visibility: If unmanaged, IoT, OT, or IoMT devices are important to your environment, compare how deeply each alternative discovers, classifies, monitors, and controls those assets.
• Deployment model: Compare appliance-based, virtual, on-premises, cloud-managed, SaaS, and hybrid deployment models according to your infrastructure and security requirements.
• Multi-vendor support: If you operate Cisco, Aruba, Juniper, Fortinet, Extreme, or other networking equipment together, verify that the alternative provides the required integrations and enforcement methods across the entire environment.
• Open-source requirements: If you want maximum infrastructure control or need to avoid proprietary NAC licensing, compare PacketFence and FreeRADIUS with commercial platforms.
• Scalability: Consider the number of users, devices, switches, access points, locations, authentication requests, policies, and integrations the platform must support.
• Administration: Compare the effort required to build policies, maintain profiles, troubleshoot authentication, manage certificates, monitor devices, perform upgrades, and respond to access problems.
• Pricing and total cost: Compare licensing or subscription costs with implementation, infrastructure, support, maintenance, professional services, and additional products required for missing capabilities.
• Migration effort: Determine how existing RADIUS configurations, certificates, policies, profiles, network integrations, guest workflows, and access rules can be migrated without disrupting network connectivity.

Conclusion

Cisco ISE remains a comprehensive enterprise NAC platform, particularly for organizations that need centralized authentication, device profiling, posture assessment, guest access, policy enforcement, and integration with complex network environments. However, the right replacement depends heavily on which parts of the Cisco ISE architecture an organization actually needs.

HPE Aruba ClearPass is one of the closest enterprise alternatives, particularly for multi-vendor NAC deployments. Portnox Cloud is a strong choice for organizations looking for cloud-native NAC and zero-trust access without the same infrastructure requirements as traditional NAC deployments. FortiNAC is particularly relevant for organizations already invested in the Fortinet ecosystem, while Forescout stands out when asset visibility across IT, IoT, OT, and IoMT is a major requirement.

Ivanti Policy Secure and OpenNAC Enterprise provide additional enterprise NAC options, while Juniper Mist Access Assurance is worth considering for organizations moving toward cloud-managed network access and AI-assisted operations. PacketFence and FreeRADIUS provide open-source alternatives for organizations willing to take on more operational responsibility in exchange for greater infrastructure control.

AI should also be considered when evaluating modern Cisco ISE alternatives, but it should not be treated as a checkbox. Forescout has a clear agentic-AI direction, Juniper Mist uses AI within its cloud-managed access architecture, and other vendors provide analytics or automation through broader security ecosystems. Organizations should identify the specific AI outcome they need, such as risk prioritization, behavioral analysis, automated response, AI-agent security, or administrative assistance.

Before replacing Cisco ISE, compare the actual requirements of your network rather than choosing an alternative based only on RADIUS or 802.1X support. Device profiling, posture assessment, segmentation, guest access, identity integrations, multi-vendor support, deployment model, AI capabilities, scalability, operational workload, and total cost can all materially affect which Cisco ISE alternative is the right fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the best Cisco ISE alternatives in 2026?

The leading Cisco ISE alternatives include HPE Aruba ClearPass, Portnox Cloud, FortiNAC, Forescout, Ivanti Policy Secure, OpenNAC Enterprise, PacketFence, Juniper Mist Access Assurance, and FreeRADIUS. The best option depends on whether you need enterprise NAC, cloud NAC, broader asset visibility, or self-hosted RADIUS.

2. What is the best Cisco ISE alternative for enterprise NAC?

HPE Aruba ClearPass, FortiNAC, Forescout, Ivanti Policy Secure, and Portnox are strong enterprise NAC alternatives. ClearPass is particularly relevant for multi-vendor environments, while Forescout is attractive when asset visibility across IT, IoT, OT, and IoMT is important.

3. Is Portnox a good Cisco ISE alternative?

Yes. Portnox Cloud is particularly relevant for organizations that want cloud-native NAC, RADIUS, device posture assessment, zero-trust access, and policy enforcement without maintaining the same type of NAC infrastructure required by traditional deployments.

4. Is HPE Aruba ClearPass better than Cisco ISE?

Neither is universally better. Both provide enterprise NAC, RADIUS, 802.1X, profiling, guest access, and policy enforcement. ClearPass can be particularly attractive for multi-vendor environments, while Cisco ISE can be a strong fit for organizations deeply invested in Cisco networking and security infrastructure.

5. Is FortiNAC a Cisco ISE alternative?

Yes. FortiNAC provides network access control, device discovery, profiling, segmentation, and automated response. It can be especially attractive for organizations already using Fortinet security products.

6. Is Forescout a replacement for Cisco ISE?

Forescout can replace or complement many NAC functions, particularly device discovery, classification, access control, segmentation, and security response. Its broader asset visibility across IT, IoT, OT, and IoMT makes it somewhat different from a traditional NAC platform.

7. Which Cisco ISE alternative has the strongest AI capabilities?

Forescout currently has one of the clearest AI directions among the alternatives covered here. Its Vistaro platform uses agentic AI for risk prioritization, containment, and control. Juniper Mist Access Assurance also uses AI within its cloud-native access architecture.

8. What is the best open-source Cisco ISE alternative?

PacketFence is the stronger open-source option when you need broader NAC capabilities, including RADIUS, 802.1X, device profiling, guest access, and network enforcement. FreeRADIUS is better when your main requirement is a customizable RADIUS server rather than a complete NAC platform.

9. Can FreeRADIUS replace Cisco ISE?

FreeRADIUS can replace the RADIUS and authentication portion of a Cisco ISE deployment, but it is not a complete feature-for-feature replacement. Device profiling, posture assessment, guest management, visual policy administration, and broader NAC functionality generally require additional technologies.

10. Does PacketFence support 802.1X?

Yes. PacketFence supports 802.1X and RADIUS and provides additional NAC functionality for device registration, profiling, guest access, BYOD, and network enforcement.

11. Which Cisco ISE alternatives support certificate-based authentication?

HPE Aruba ClearPass, Portnox, FortiNAC, Forescout, Ivanti Policy Secure, OpenNAC, PacketFence, Juniper Mist Access Assurance, and FreeRADIUS can support certificate-based network authentication in appropriate configurations. The supported EAP methods, certificate workflows, and PKI integrations differ between platforms.

12. Which Cisco ISE alternatives support device profiling?

HPE Aruba ClearPass, FortiNAC, Forescout, Ivanti Policy Secure, OpenNAC, PacketFence, and Portnox provide device visibility or profiling capabilities. The depth of classification varies, particularly for IoT, OT, IoMT, and unmanaged devices.

13. Which Cisco ISE alternative is best for cloud NAC?

Portnox Cloud and Juniper Mist Access Assurance are strong choices for organizations prioritizing cloud-managed NAC. Both provide cloud-based access-control capabilities while reducing the infrastructure burden associated with traditional NAC deployments.

14. Which Cisco ISE alternative is best for multi-vendor networks?

HPE Aruba ClearPass, Forescout, FortiNAC, Ivanti Policy Secure, and OpenNAC are strong candidates for multi-vendor environments. ClearPass in particular is designed to work across heterogeneous networking infrastructure.

15. Do Cisco ISE alternatives support guest Wi-Fi?

Yes. ClearPass, FortiNAC, Forescout, Ivanti Policy Secure, OpenNAC, PacketFence, and other enterprise NAC platforms provide guest-access capabilities, although the exact onboarding, captive-portal, sponsorship, and policy features vary.

16. What should I consider when choosing a Cisco ISE competitor?

Compare NAC coverage, RADIUS, 802.1X, EAP methods, device profiling, posture assessment, segmentation, guest access, BYOD, identity integrations, network integrations, AI capabilities, deployment model, scalability, administration, pricing, and migration requirements.

17. Is Cisco ISE still relevant in 2026?

Yes. Cisco ISE remains a major enterprise NAC platform and continues to be relevant for organizations with complex network-access, authentication, profiling, and segmentation requirements. The growing number of cloud-native and AI-enabled alternatives simply gives organizations more deployment and architecture choices.

18. Can Cisco ISE alternatives secure IoT devices?

Yes. Several alternatives provide capabilities for discovering, classifying, monitoring, and controlling IoT devices. FortiNAC, Forescout, ClearPass, Ivanti Policy Secure, and PacketFence can be considered when IoT visibility and network-access control are important requirements.

19. Which Cisco ISE alternative is best for self-hosted NAC?

PacketFence is a strong option for self-hosted NAC, while FreeRADIUS is appropriate for organizations that mainly need self-hosted RADIUS and 802.1X. Both require substantially more operational involvement than cloud-managed alternatives.

20. Do Cisco ISE alternatives support AI-agent security?

Capabilities vary considerably. Portnox has expanded into human and non-human identity security, while Forescout has an agentic-AI direction through its Vistaro platform. Traditional NAC products such as FreeRADIUS and PacketFence do not provide comparable native AI-agent security functionality, so additional controls may be required.