Cisco ISE: Enterprise NAC Guide

Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) is Cisco's NAC (Network Access Control) solution. It authenticates users and devices via 802.1X, MAB, and WebAuth, applies dynamic security policies, and integrates Cisco TrustSec for segmentation. It competes with Aruba ClearPass and FortiNAC. Complete 2026 guide.

Components

• PAN (Policy Administration Node): central management and GUI
• MNT (Monitoring Node): logs and reports
• PSN (Policy Service Node): RADIUS and policy evaluation
• Distributed deployment: 1 primary PAN + 1 secondary PAN + 2-5 MNTs + 5-40 PSNs

Features

• 802.1X: strong authentication using EAP-TLS, PEAP, and EAP-FAST
• MAB: MAC-based fallback for printers and cameras
• WebAuth: captive portal for guests
• Profiling: device fingerprinting using DHCP, HTTP UA, SNMP, and Nmap
• Posture: endpoint compliance checks for antivirus protection and patches
• Customizable guest portal
• BYOD enrollment + MDM integration

Deployment

• Standalone: PAN+MNT+PSN on a single node (lab/SMB)
• 2-node distributed deployment: 2× PAN (HA)
• Large deployment: 2× PAN + 2× MNT + 5-40× PSN (10,000+ endpoints)

Licenses

• ISE Essentials: 802.1X, guest access, and basic profiling — €1,200 excl. VAT/1,000 endpoints/year
• ISE Advantage: + Posture, BYOD, and MDM integration — €2,400 excl. VAT/1,000 endpoints/year
• ISE Premier: + TrustSec and Rapid Threat Containment — €3,600 excl. VAT/1,000 endpoints/year
• Device Admin (TACACS+): separate license — €4,900 excl. VAT per appliance

Hardware appliances

• SNS-3615: 8,000 concurrent sessions — €7,900 excl. VAT
• SNS-3655: 20,000 sessions — €18,500 excl. VAT
• SNS-3695: 50,000 sessions — €32,000 excl. VAT
• ISE VM: runs on VMware/Hyper-V/KVM — same licensing

Cisco integrations

• Catalyst + ISE: 802.1X + TrustSec SGT for microsegmentation
• FMC (Firepower): dynamic identity-based policies
• DNA Center: SD-Access orchestration with ISE as the policy engine
• StealthWatch: correlation of ISE identity data with NetFlow

Comparison

• Aruba ClearPass: equivalent features, 20% less expensive, and multi-vendor support (Cisco, HPE, and Juniper supported)
• FortiNAC: Fortinet Security Fabric integration, with less advanced profiling capabilities
• Meraki Systems Manager + ISE Cloud: cloud-first option (no on-premises deployment)

Order from OPTINOC

Cisco ISE SNS hardware or VM + licenses. Turnkey distributed deployment. TrustSec/DNA Center integration. Request a quote for NAC covering 500-10,000 endpoints, delivered within 48 hours.