Cisco Catalyst Center vs NACIO
Cisco Catalyst Center
cisco.com
NACIO
nac-io.comSide by side
| Figure | Cisco Catalyst Center | NACIO |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 0 |
| Spec score · Network Access Control Software | 7.8 (#10) | 7.1 (#17) |
| Deployment | Cisco describes hardware and virtual appliance deployments, including current guides for VMware ESXi and Ubuntu KVM. | NACIO can be self-hosted on the customer’s infrastructure or used as a cloud-hosted service. |
| Security | Catalyst Center supports FIPS 140-2-compliant cryptography modules, and Cisco recommends deploying it behind a firewall on a private internal network. | The site says remote agents connect over encrypted tunnels and remote probes need no VPN or open firewall ports. |
| Support | Cisco says Catalyst and Cisco DNA software subscriptions include embedded software support and downloads; opening a support case requires a Cisco Service Contract. | Early access includes dedicated onboarding support and a direct line to the engineering team. |
Plans
Cisco Catalyst Center
- Cisco DNA AdvantagePriced on request
- Cisco DNA EssentialsPriced on request
In their own words
Cisco Catalyst Center
Cisco Catalyst Center has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
NACIO
NACIO is network access control software for 802.1X RADIUS authentication, device profiling, compliance enforcement, and captive portals. It supports wired, wireless, and VPN access control and is currently in pre-release, with early access available by request. NACIO can be self-hosted on customer infrastructure or used as a cloud-hosted service. Its built-in RADIUS supports EAP-TLS, PEAP-MSCHAPv2, EAP-TTLS, EAP-FAST, and CHAP. Identity sources include Active Directory, Azure AD/Entra ID, Okta, Google Workspace, SAML 2.0, LDAP/LDAPS, RADIUS proxy, and a local user database. Windows and macOS agents check patch level, antivirus, disk encryption, firewall status, and custom rules before access. NACIO also provides an internal certificate authority, endpoint profiling from DHCP, HTTP user-agent data and network behavior, and guest portals with sponsor approval, verification, social login, and time limits. Licensing uses perpetual per-device licenses tied to a major version, with optional upgrades. Pricing is available on request.