Cisco Catalyst Center vs Portnox NAC
Cisco Catalyst Center
cisco.comPortnox NAC
portnox.comSide by side
| Figure | Cisco Catalyst Center | Portnox NAC |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Network Provisioning Software | 7.8 (#6) | 7.5 (#8) |
| Spec score · Network Access Control Software | 7.8 (#10) | 7.4 (#15) |
| Founded | 1984 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | San Jose, California, United States | Austin, Texas, United States |
| Integrations | Cisco documents integrations with ISE, ThousandEyes, Webex, Microsoft Teams, ServiceNow, Infoblox, and BlueCat, plus generic APIs for other ITSM and IPAM systems. | The integrations page lists Active Directory, Entra ID, Intune, Jamf, CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Okta, and a REST API among supported integrations. |
| Purpose | Cisco Catalyst Center is a centralized network controller and management dashboard for enterprise network operations. | Portnox NAC is a cloud delivered network access control service for hybrid and distributed networks, with real time device visibility, risk based access controls, and automated compliance enforcement. |
| Security | Catalyst Center supports FIPS 140-2-compliant cryptography modules, and Cisco recommends deploying it behind a firewall on a private internal network. | Portnox states that its data centers have completed a SOC 2 Type II audit and are SSAE16 accredited. |
| Support | Cisco says Catalyst and Cisco DNA software subscriptions include embedded software support and downloads; opening a support case requires a Cisco Service Contract. | Portnox advertises global support availability 24x7x365, with regional network professional coverage during local business hours. |
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.
Portnox NAC
Portnox NAC is a cloud-delivered network access control service for hybrid and distributed networks. It provides device visibility, risk-based access controls, and automated compliance enforcement across wired, wireless, and VPN connections. Administrators can define policies by role, location, device type, and network layer. Authentication options include 802.1X, MAC Authentication Bypass, and passwordless certificates; Portnox can act as a certificate authority or integrate with a third party. The service continuously assesses endpoint risk and can use agentless assessment integrations such as Microsoft Intune. Noncompliant devices can be quarantined or moved to a remediation VLAN, with automated policies able to return endpoints to compliance. Portnox lists integrations including Active Directory, Entra ID, Intune, Jamf, CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Okta, and a REST API. The service supports RDP, SSH, VNC, and Telnet, along with SIEM log export and session recording. Portnox says its controls can help organizations address HIPAA, GLBA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. A 30-day trial is advertised, but no plan price is listed; subscription terms are 12, 24, or 36 months.