Cisco Identity Services Engine vs CyberArk: What are the differences?

Introduction

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and CyberArk are two different cybersecurity solutions that serve different purposes in an organization's infrastructure. While Cisco ISE focuses on providing secure network access and identity management, CyberArk is a privileged access management (PAM) solution that focuses on securing privileged accounts and credentials. This article will highlight the key differences between Cisco ISE and CyberArk.

1. Architecture: Cisco ISE is a network access control and identity management solution that operates as a centralized platform. It acts as a policy enforcement point, ensuring that only authorized and compliant devices gain access to the network. On the other hand, CyberArk is a privileged access management solution that focuses on securing and managing privileged accounts, credentials, and secrets across the organization. It provides a vault where sensitive information is stored, and it leverages various components for privileged account management.

2. Functionality: Cisco ISE primarily focuses on network access control and identity management. It provides authentication and authorization services, enforces security policies, and offers features like guest networking and device profiling. CyberArk, on the other hand, focuses on privileged access management. It provides capabilities like password management, session management, and monitoring of privileged accounts, along with secure remote access and credential rotation.

3. Scope: Cisco ISE mainly deals with providing secure network access and managing identities for devices and users on the network. It ensures that devices and users comply with security policies and have the necessary credentials to access the network. CyberArk, on the other hand, focuses on securing high-level privileged accounts and credentials that have extensive access and control over critical systems. It aims to protect these privileged accounts from unauthorized access and misuse.

4. Integration: Cisco ISE can integrate with other security solutions like firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and endpoint security tools to enhance network security and visibility. It can also integrate with identity providers and directory services for user management. CyberArk, on the other hand, can integrate with various security solutions, including identity and access management (IAM) systems, security information and event management (SIEM) tools, and privileged session management tools, to provide a comprehensive privileged access management solution.

5. Target Audience: Cisco ISE is primarily targeted towards organizations that need to manage network access and enforce security policies for devices and users. It is commonly used in medium to large enterprises where network security is a critical concern. CyberArk, on the other hand, is targeted towards organizations that have a need for privileged access management. It is commonly used in industries with highly sensitive data and strict compliance requirements, such as financial institutions, healthcare organizations, and government agencies.

6. Deployment Model: Cisco ISE can be deployed as an on-premises solution or as a virtual appliance. It offers flexibility in terms of deployment options, allowing organizations to choose the model that best suits their infrastructure and requirements. CyberArk also provides both on-premises and cloud-based deployment options. This flexibility enables organizations to choose the deployment model that aligns with their security policy and infrastructure.

In summary, Cisco ISE and CyberArk are cybersecurity solutions that serve different purposes. Cisco ISE focuses on network access control and identity management, while CyberArk focuses on privileged access management. They differ in terms of architecture, functionality, scope, integration capabilities, target audience, and deployment models.