Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs. Fortinet FortiExtender

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cisco Secure Network Analytics
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
Cisco Stealthwatch is a network behavior analysis product based on technology acquired by Cisco with its Lancope acquisition in 2015.N/A
Fortinet FortiExtender
Score 7.1 out of 10
N/A
FortiExtender is the wireless WAN offering from Fortinet.N/A
Pricing
Cisco Secure Network AnalyticsFortinet FortiExtender
Editions & Modules
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Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Cisco Secure Network AnalyticsFortinet FortiExtender
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Cisco Secure Network AnalyticsFortinet FortiExtender
Considered Both Products
Cisco Secure Network Analytics
Chose Cisco Secure Network Analytics
I wasn't involved in the decision-making when it happened. It was a couple of years ago, but I can't think of the vendor's name. They used to be here at Cisco Live. But it was another NetFlow vendor, but they were strictly NetFlow and all they did was just a net flow and the …
Chose Cisco Secure Network Analytics
After integrating and developing a lot of security features in MF NNM, we were not able to meet the requirements from the customer. After the alternative research, we got to know about this Cisco Secure Network Analytics tool and after implementing the same, we finally were …
Chose Cisco Secure Network Analytics
While other platforms such as Nagios and Solarwinds NTA provide visibility of the traffic, it either (*) does not provide API/programmatic way to pull the data to other platforms or (*) does not interface with secondary security systems to report on malicious traffic activity. …
Chose Cisco Secure Network Analytics
In order for Armis to truly provide value, it will require spans and taps at every location. This is not feasible in most places since not all sides have the infrastructure to support this and now you are required to support an additional appliance at every site. Stealthwatch …
Chose Cisco Secure Network Analytics
Wireshark is a good option in a lower budget, but Wireshark also has lesser security as compared to Cisco which compelled us to look for something else in [the] same price but with more better features.
Chose Cisco Secure Network Analytics
We use this in concert with Stealthwatch to help cut through the noise and get quicker drilldown times.
Chose Cisco Secure Network Analytics
In addition [to] Cisco SteathWatch, we highly evaluated Cisco AnyConnect and Cisco Advanced Malware Protection for Endpoints (Cisco APM4E). Often [these] solutions complement each other and improve network security level. Each of them separate[ly] [are] handy products for …
Chose Cisco Secure Network Analytics
Cisco has advantages in terms of the following:
1. Encrypted Traffic Analytics provides visibility and control to traffic without the need to decrypt it.
2. Threat detection that collects proxy records and associates them with flow records, delivering the user application, and …
Chose Cisco Secure Network Analytics
I haven't used any other products like StealthWatch in the past.
Chose Cisco Secure Network Analytics
NTOP is the only thing out there, in my opinion, that provides similar type of visibility. But StealthWatch is the product all vendors should strive to emulate. It is easy to install; it is easy to configure; it works as advertised (and then some). I do recommend the …
Chose Cisco Secure Network Analytics
Cisco Secure Network Analytics is in a class of its own and some of these products come close but are not in the same class. The other products I tested take a lot more of them to get the same results you would from the Enterprise class of Cisco products. I have been very happy …
Fortinet FortiExtender
Chose Fortinet FortiExtender
Both the Fortinet FortiExtender and the Fortinet FortiGate products are great because they provide the agency with secure technology and allow for good network speed and security. Fortinet FortiExtender and Fortinet FortiGate are both costly and a better lower cost solution …
Chose Fortinet FortiExtender
In client network we had fortigate firewall already which gives defacto selection for forti extender. meraki needs meraki firewall to implement MG device which increased the cost of project and complexity of implementation and project duration. also clients needs special …
Chose Fortinet FortiExtender
FortiGate helped me to manage the firewall and fix it while easily managing the user. With FortiExtender, it is now easy to manage the connectivity, with minimizing downtime and maximizing the overall efficiency and connectivity of the member. The seamless integration, failover …
Chose Fortinet FortiExtender
Cisco 5520 Wireless Controller and Palo Alto Networks Prisma SD-WAN (CloudGenix)
Chose Fortinet FortiExtender
We ultimately decided on Fortinet FortiExtender because of our existing firewall and the connection between the two. We do use Ubiquity access points as well, but for fail over we use the Fortinet Fortiextender.
Chose Fortinet FortiExtender
By looking at the market of similar devices, we quickly recognized that Fortinet FortiExtenders are very reasonably priced; however, they provide top-level functionality that even some of the competitors don't have.
Best Alternatives
Cisco Secure Network AnalyticsFortinet FortiExtender
Small Businesses

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Medium-sized Companies
InsightIDR
InsightIDR
Score 9.5 out of 10
HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WAN
HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WAN
Score 10.0 out of 10
Enterprises
InsightIDR
InsightIDR
Score 9.5 out of 10

No answers on this topic

All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Cisco Secure Network AnalyticsFortinet FortiExtender
Likelihood to Recommend
7.6
(0 ratings)
8.8
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
7.3
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Availability
7.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
7.9
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
8.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
8.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Cisco Secure Network AnalyticsFortinet FortiExtender
Likelihood to Recommend
Cisco
Secure Network Analytics is a compulsion to any organization looking to secure their network in silence with a complete record and analysis of the threats. All the critical information of the client is also preserved for instance and assistance for future needs. Cyber-attacks can’t even think to roam about your
network in any case.
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Fortinet itself is a well know name in managing the firewall and security. With FortiExtender they gave an excellent solution for increasing the connectivity within the organization and helps to manage it with the cloud-based system. The implementation helped to achieve lower latency and higher efficiency for the users in the organization.
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Pros
  • It's really good at mapping out like what applications are, like who's talking to what. To see if someone thinks that a particular application is only being used a certain way and we can validate what's talking to that system with the tool.
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  • It has provided us ease of integrating it with other devices most specifically Forti devices
  • It is quite stable and is much secure.
  • It provides us with comprehensive support in backup connectivity.
  • It has excellent coverage and it is something most essential for us.
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Cons
  • Tool is little hard to configure so need to be light to save resource consumption.
  • Features are so in-depth that integrated guidance should be available to help the users on how to use.
  • Graphical view can be improved to make it more convenient to understand the data representation.
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  • When there is a problem, the errors provided in the GUI are unhelpful. In order to have a chance of solving most issues I've come across, you need to be comfortable with the CLI.
  • Most products in the FortiGate product line do not offer POE power support. The Extender requires POE and has no internal battery. This requires a switch or injector between the extender and the firewall. In the event of a power outage, you lose the extender if you don't have it plugged into an adequate battery. As it's installation can be in a different location then the Fortigate, this can be a hassle.
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Likelihood to Renew
Cisco Secure Network Analytics is a fantastic tool, but does require some setup and upkeep which may turn off smaller IT Security teams. However, once all the flows are set up and the product is functioning with the proper rules, the insight into your network is fantastic. For us, the product has a significant ROI and will be a product we keep up on.
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Usability
Strong and complete tool which gives comprehensive methods to discover cyber security incidents and prevent data leakage. In case of common use of Cisco StealthWatch and Cisco ISE, you will receive [the] ability [to] not just discover cyber security incidents but also dynamically respond to them. This makes StealthWatch one of most valuable products through[out] [the] whole Cisco Security product portfolio.
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Reliability and Availability
We haven't had too many issues with the uptime and availability of CSNA, but the application does have a lot of dependancies and we have seen issues after an upgrade that caused an outage for several hours.
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Support Rating
Overall winner because it exceeds our expectations by answering all our requirements and at the same time empowers our operations thru other built-in capabilities it has. Visibility is a key to security operations and Cisco StealthWatch really gives us a magnifying glass to check all logs in the network for threat intelligence and threat hunting.
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No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
Implementation of the product can be tedious, especially fine tuning its rules to customize it to your environment. However, after that is done, CSNA is a very useful and flexible product that would enhance the security posture of any corporate network.
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Alternatives Considered
While other platforms such as Nagios and Solarwinds NTA provide visibility of the traffic, it either (*) does not provide API/programmatic way to pull the data to other platforms or (*) does not interface with secondary security systems to report on malicious traffic activity. Ultimately, these platforms accomplish the visibility, but do little else in the overall IT/security ecosystem of product, making them "dead end" data flow products where data goes in but does not share elsewhere.
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Both the Fortinet FortiExtender and the Fortinet FortiGate products are great because they provide the agency with secure technology and allow for good network speed and security. Fortinet FortiExtender and Fortinet FortiGate are both costly and a better lower cost solution would be better suited if the budget restrictions of your agency are very important for you.
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Return on Investment
  • Once tuned and baselines established, it is far easier to identify issues on a network
  • Management is able to look at the dashboard and fairly quickly get an update on the status of how the network is performing and what threats may be out there
  • Reports can be scheduled to send on a regular basis to all involved with management of the infrastructure and the security team
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  • We no longer fear if the fiber cable network gets collapsed as it is a great backup for us.
  • The critical processes of our company work without any pause.
  • The kind of secure network we are enjoying has paid us off.
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ScreenShots