Solution Comparison

The Modern NAC Alternative for Zero Trust Security

 

Connect asset identity, policy simulation and enforcement through supported network infrastructure. Elisity complements device admission controls by limiting what connected assets can reach.

NAC Controls Access.

Elisity Controls What Happens Next.

Admission controls and microsegmentation address different security needs. Elisity connects asset context, policy simulation and enforcement through supported infrastructure to help contain lateral movement.

Capability

Elisity identity-based microsegmentation

Traditional NAC
Deployment Time

Deployment plan depends on scope

Product and environment dependent
Downtime Required

Simulate changes before enforcement

Plan and validate access-control changes
What It Controls

Approved policy between assets

Admission plus product-specific policy integrations
Network Redesign

Confirm supported infrastructure and configuration

Product and infrastructure dependent
Agent Requirement

No Elisity software agent on protected assets

Authentication and profiling methods vary
IoT/OT Support

Network-based policy for supported deployments

Confirm support for each device and enforcement method
Zero Trust

Identity context and least-privilege policy

Capability depends on product and deployment

Deployment Time

Deployment plan depends on scope

Downtime Required

Simulate changes before enforcement

What It Controls

Approved policy between assets

Network Redesign

Confirm supported infrastructure and configuration

Agent Requirement

No Elisity software agent on protected assets

IoT/OT Support

Network-based policy for supported deployments

Zero Trust

Identity context and least-privilege policy

Deployment Time

Product and environment dependent

Downtime Required

Plan and validate access-control changes

What It Controls

Admission plus product-specific policy integrations

Network Redesign

Product and infrastructure dependent

Agent Requirement

Authentication and profiling methods vary

IoT/OT Support

Confirm support for each device and enforcement method

Zero Trust

Capability depends on product and deployment

Legacy NAC vs identity-based microsegmentation, compared
The two controls answer different questions. Compare the specific products, versions, enforcement integrations and device types in your environment; capabilities vary by implementation.
Dimension Legacy NAC Elisity identity-based microsegmentation
Deployment Deployment prerequisites
Assess authentication methods, supported infrastructure, integrations and rollout requirements for the selected product.		 Phased deployment
Confirm infrastructure compatibility, establish visibility, simulate policies and approve enforcement in phases.
Management Operational integration
Management capabilities and console integrations vary by product and deployment.		 Cloud Control Center
Manage Elisity visibility, policy and reporting centrally, using context from the network and connected security sources.
Device coverage Device support
Confirm supported authentication, profiling and access-control methods for managed, unmanaged, IoT and OT devices.		 Asset identity and context
Correlate network observations with connected identity, endpoint, CMDB, IoT and cloud sources. Review classifications and policy proposals.
Lateral movement Admission and segmentation
NAC products differ in their segmentation and enforcement integrations. Verify what controls traffic after a device is admitted.		 Least-privilege access
Enforce approved identity-based policy through supported infrastructure to help contain lateral movement.
Policy model Policy capabilities
Evaluate policy attributes, enforcement granularity, change validation and integration requirements for the specific product.		 Identity-based policy
Use IdentityGraph context to define Policy Groups. Simulate changes against observed traffic; administrators decide what moves to enforcement.
Operational cost Operating requirements
Estimate licensing, integration, deployment and ongoing support costs for the same scope.		 Policy operations
Use identity context and AI-assisted proposals to help teams manage policy. Staffing and deployment effort depend on scope and environment.

Elisity can complement existing device-admission controls with identity-based policy for communication between assets. Confirm compatibility, enforcement scope and operating responsibilities before deployment.

Why CISOs, SecOps, and Network Teams Are Moving Beyond NAC

The Problem

Legacy NAC projects drag on, demand hardware, VLAN changes, and on-site teams — causing costly delays and threat exposure in downtime.

The Elisity Advantage

Confirm network compatibility, establish visibility, simulate changes and approve enforcement in phases.

The Outcome

Faster rollouts, lower costs, and agile segmentation that delivers security without the complexity.

The Problem

Multiple consoles and tools create silos, blind spots, and wasted hours managing policies across systems.

The Elisity Advantage

Manage visibility, policy and reporting in Cloud Control Center. IdentityGraph combines network observations with connected identity and security sources.

The Outcome

Unified control, faster response, and simplified compliance with automated insights and reporting.

The Problem

NAC demands constant firefighting and creates a console sprawl nightmare — authentication issues, agent updates, endless change windows, and manual synchronization leaves gaps.

The Elisity Advantage

Amplify your existing FTEs with optimized and automated classification, policy simulation, and centralized management.

The Outcome

Free your team to focus on strategic Zero Trust initiatives, not troubleshooting.

The Problem

NAC checks credentials at the door but can’t stop what happens inside.

The Elisity Advantage

Identity-based policy helps contain lateral movement within the enforcement scope. Policy Groups follow the asset context and rules administrators define.

The Outcome

Address the 70% of breaches NAC ignores — and finally deliver on Zero Trust.

Speed to Value

The Problem

Legacy NAC projects drag on, demand hardware, VLAN changes, and on-site teams — causing costly delays and threat exposure in downtime.

The Elisity Advantage

Confirm network compatibility, establish visibility, simulate changes and approve enforcement in phases.

The Outcome

Faster rollouts, lower costs, and agile segmentation that delivers security without the complexity.

Unified Control

The Problem

Multiple consoles and tools create silos, blind spots, and wasted hours managing policies across systems.

The Elisity Advantage

Manage visibility, policy and reporting in Cloud Control Center. IdentityGraph combines network observations with connected identity and security sources.

The Outcome

Unified control, faster response, and simplified compliance with automated insights and reporting.

Operational Efficiency

The Problem

NAC demands constant firefighting and creates a console sprawl nightmare — authentication issues, agent updates, endless change windows, and manual synchronization leaves gaps.

The Elisity Advantage

Amplify your existing FTEs with optimized and automated classification, policy simulation, and centralized management.

The Outcome

Free your team to focus on strategic Zero Trust initiatives, not troubleshooting.

Least-privilege access

The Problem

NAC checks credentials at the door but can’t stop what happens inside.

The Elisity Advantage

Identity-based policy helps contain lateral movement within the enforcement scope. Policy Groups follow the asset context and rules administrators define.

The Outcome

Address the 70% of breaches NAC ignores — and finally deliver on Zero Trust.

Real Customers, Real Proof

“We made more progress in 2 days with Elisity than 2 years trying to implement NAC.”

Bryan Holmes
Director of IT Security, Andelyn Biosciences

"After two years of NAC failures, Elisity had us enforcing policy within weeks.”

Gene Therapy Manufacturer

What You Get With Elisity

See

Connect asset identity and context

Simulate

Review policy against observed traffic

Enforce

Approve least-privilege access

Measure

Track segmentation posture

From NAC Fatigue to Zero Trust Confidence

Elisity doesn't need to be a rip-and-replace. It complements NAC where it falls short.

Request a Demo
  • Keep NAC for authentication.
  • Use Elisity for continuous least privilege access policies to prevent lateral-movement.
  • Roll out in phases, using simulation and administrator review.

Network Asset Control FAQ

Want to understand how Elisity combines network observations with connected identity and security sources? Here are answers to common questions about asset visibility, classification, and what makes Elisity’s approach unique.

Microsegmentation vs NAC, what's the difference and do I need both?

NAC controls admission to the network; microsegmentation controls communication within the network. Some NAC products also provide segmentation capabilities through integrations and policy mechanisms. Evaluate the combination against your environment. Elisity can complement admission controls by enforcing identity-based policy through supported infrastructure.

What is the difference between NAC and microsegmentation?

NAC authenticates and admits devices. Microsegmentation restricts communication between assets after admission. Elisity helps teams build least-privilege policy from identity context, simulate its impact and enforce approved policy through supported network infrastructure.

Which NAC products does this compare against — Forescout, Cisco ISE, Aruba ClearPass?

Cisco ISE, HPE Aruba ClearPass, Forescout and other products offer different combinations of admission, visibility, policy and segmentation functions. Compare supported enforcement points, integrations, device coverage and operational requirements for the specific products and versions in scope. Elisity can complement existing admission controls.

How long does it take to deploy network access control compared to microsegmentation?

Deployment timing depends on scope, network compatibility, integrations and policy review. Start with visibility, review observed communication, simulate policies, then approve enforcement in phases.

Why do NAC projects fail or stall in enterprises?

Projects can stall when device authentication, infrastructure compatibility, integrations and operational ownership are not planned together. Assess the assets that cannot support an endpoint agent or supplicant, define admission and east-west policy goals separately, and test changes before expanding scope.

Can microsegmentation work with existing NAC solutions?

Yes. Elisity can complement existing NAC deployments by governing communication between assets through supported infrastructure. Confirm compatibility and configuration requirements for the specific network and NAC products in scope.

Should an organization replace NAC with microsegmentation?

NAC admission controls and microsegmentation serve different functions. Assess which capabilities your current products provide, where coverage is missing and which integrations are supported. Scope the combination around your assets and security objectives rather than treating the products as interchangeable.

How much does NAC cost compared to identity-based microsegmentation?

Compare licensing, infrastructure prerequisites, integrations, deployment services and ongoing operations for the same scope. Validate staffing and rollout assumptions against a pilot. Savings and time to value depend on the environment; there is no universal cost or staffing reduction.

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