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  3. Cisco Identity Services Engine
Logo of Cisco Identity Services Engine

Cisco Identity Services Engine

byCisco Systems
in
4.5

Overview

Product Information on Cisco Identity Services Engine

Updated 13th October 2025

What is Cisco Identity Services Engine?

Cisco Identity Services Engine is a software that provides network access control and policy management for organizations. It enables centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting for users and devices connecting to the network. The software offers features such as device profiling, guest access management, and endpoint compliance assessment. Cisco Identity Services Engine integrates with network infrastructure to enforce security policies and segment network access based on user roles, device types, and compliance status. The software addresses business challenges related to secure network access, reducing the risk of unauthorized access, and supporting regulatory compliance requirements across wired, wireless, and VPN connections.

Cisco Identity Services Engine Pricing

Cisco Identity Services Engine software uses a licensing-based pricing model with options for both perpetual and subscription licenses. Pricing is structured based on the number of endpoints, selected feature tiers, and duration of use for subscription licenses. Additional licenses may be required for advanced capabilities or larger deployments.

Overall experience with Cisco Identity Services Engine

CUSTOMER SERVICE & SUPPORT ASSOCIATE
250M - 500M USD, Banking
FAVORABLE

“Strong Device Management But Integration Lags With Non-Cisco Network Environments”

4.0
Aug 31, 2025
Licensing is expensive and complicated compared to alternatives. Stability is strong for device administration but less reliable for network authentication. Integration works best with Cisco hardware; support for non-Cisco devices is lacking. Ideal for large organizations with Cisco infrastructure and advanced security needs
IT ASSOCIATE
<50M USD, IT Services
CRITICAL

“ISE Profiling Woes: Issues with User Connectivity Upon Changing Desks”

1.0
Apr 4, 2024
negative experience with ISE with profiling issues and connected but for some reason if users move desks then the port is closed and wifi may start acting up as well. we have even worked with vendors/support to address these issues and evennthey are stumped. ise has not been a good experience at all.

About Company

Company Description

Updated 8th February 2024

Cisco is a company that specializes in networking technologies, particularly Internet Protocol (IP)-based solutions. It was established in 1984 by a group of computer scientists from Stanford University. As of today, Cisco has a global workforce, continuing to innovate in various fields, notably in routing and switching. Adding to its core business, the company also delves into emerging technologies including home networking, IP telephony, optical networking, security features, storage area networking, and wireless technology. Moreover, Cisco extends its expertise to offer a sweeping range of services such as technical support and advanced services. The company sells its products and services on an enterprise level, to commercial businesses, service providers, and end-users.

Company Details

Updated 25th June 2024
Company type
Public
Year Founded
1984
Head office location
San Jose, United States
Number of employees
10001+
Annual Revenue
30B+ USD
Website
http://www.cisco.com

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Key Insights

A Snapshot of What Matters - Based on Validated User Reviews

Reviewer Insights for: Cisco Identity Services Engine
Deciding Factors: Cisco Identity Services Engine Vs. Market Average
Performance of Cisco Identity Services Engine Across Market Features

Cisco Identity Services Engine Likes & Dislikes

Like

Services Engine (ISE) is its ability to provide comprehensive network security through granular, identity-based access control. It gives IT teams excellent visibility into who and what devices are on the network, enhancing threat detection and containment. The centralized management console simplifies administration, making it easier to enforce consistent policies across wired, wireless, and VPN connections. ISE's integration with other security tools and its support for zero-trust strategies bolster overall security posture effectively.

Like

the security of not allowing a dangerous device to connect within the network

Like

That it leverages a lot of other products and solutions even from other vendors.

Dislike

The aspect I dislike most about Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is its complexity in deployment and management. The setup process can be very time-consuming and requires highly skilled IT staff, which can be a barrier for smaller organizations. The licensing model is often criticized for being expensive and confusing, adding to the total cost of ownership. Integration with non-Cisco devices and multi-vendor environments is sometimes problematic, leading to stability issues and troubleshooting difficulties.

Dislike

Being disconnected from the network on valid devices.

Dislike

It's really hard to upgrade a cluster.

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Peer Discussions

Cisco Identity Services Engine Reviews and Ratings

4.5

(490 Ratings)

Rating Distribution

5 Star
42%
4 Star
50%
3 Star
7%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Why ratings and reviews count differ?

Customer Experience

Evaluation & Contracting

4.3

Integration & Deployment

4.2

Service & Support

4.4

Product Capabilities

4.5

Filter Reviews
Sort By:
Most helpful
Last 12 Months
Star Rating
Reviewer Type
Reviewer's Company Size
Reviewer's Industry
Reviewer's Region
Reviewer's Job Function
  • CUSTOMER SERVICE & SUPPORT ASSOCIATE
    50M-1B USD
    Banking
    Review Source

    Strong Device Management But Integration Lags With Non-Cisco Network Environments

    4.0
    Aug 31, 2025
    Licensing is expensive and complicated compared to alternatives. Stability is strong for device administration but less reliable for network authentication. Integration works best with Cisco hardware; support for non-Cisco devices is lacking. Ideal for large organizations with Cisco infrastructure and advanced security needs
  • IT Associate
    1B-10B USD
    Banking
    Review Source

    ISE improved a lot but cluster upgrade it's still too hard. Review best practices adding OoB

    5.0
    Feb 10, 2026
    It's really great and has gotten better through the years in terms of linearity of the configuration.
  • It Manager
    50M-1B USD
    Banking
    Review Source

    Implementation of ISE Enhances Network Visibility and Automates Access Layer Operations

    5.0
    Feb 12, 2026
    After applying ISE, visibility has been improved, we are able to detect and respond to non compliant devices, we also reduced the manual work of VLAN assignment and almost most of the access layer operations have been automated.
  • IT Manager
    50M-1B USD
    Retail
    Review Source

    ISE - great and stable product for all AAA needs

    5.0
    Feb 10, 2026
    Very flexible RADIUS, TACACS, VPN, NAC which manages all central policies around AAA. Flexible in deployment, scalable and cloud/on-prem/hybrid ready.
  • Manager, It Security And Risk Management
    50M-1B USD
    Banking
    Review Source

    Large Bank Finds Product Effective for Security Team Structure and Visibility

    5.0
    Feb 12, 2026
    Overall the experience has been great. We are very satisfied with the product and it suits our needs entirely, considering we are a large bank, with clear definition of our Security Teams and their duties.
...
Showing Result 1-5 of 521

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