CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Forescout vs Network Critical

Forescout sells the Vistaro platform, which delivers Universal Zero Trust Network Access, OT security, and continuous exposure management. Network Critical sells modular TAP and Packet Broker solutions for network visibility. CISO Tribune files both under OT and ICS security. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

Change the companies

Up to four companies side by side.

  • Forescout
  • Network Critical
Forescout vs Network Critical: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
ForescoutForescout sells the Vistaro platform, which delivers Universal Zero Trust Network Access, OT security, and continuous exposure management.forescout.comNetwork CriticalNetwork Critical sells modular TAP and Packet Broker solutions for network visibility.networkcritical.com
What it sells
  • Forescout VistaroA platform that continuously discovers, assesses, controls, and governs every connected asset across IT, IoT, IoMT, and OT.
  • VistaroAI[1][5]An agentic AI suite that analyzes asset intelligence, exposure changes, threat context, and policy posture.
  • Forescout eyeFocusAn asset intelligence solution built on risk-based prioritization and persistent asset intelligence.
  • Forescout eyeSentryA cloud-native platform for Continuous Threat and Exposure Management.
  • Forescout SRAA controlled remote access layer for critical systems.
  • Network TAPs[1][3]A network TAP creates an exact copy of all data flowing between two points in a network.
  • Packet Brokers[1][7][8][13]Network packet brokers process inputs from multiple sources and deliver the right traffic to the right tools.
  • Hybrid TAP and Packet Broker[8]A hybrid test access point and packet broker combines the functions of a TAP and a packet broker in one package.
  • Bypass TAPs[9][10]A bypass TAP monitors security devices and reroutes network traffic around failing tools.
  • INVIKTUS[1][11][12]INVIKTUS is a zero-trust security solution.
  • Ethernet TAPs[6]Ethernet TAPs capture network traffic without impacting performance.
  • Passive Fiber TAPs[5]Passive fiber TAPs provide always-on monitoring, including when the power is out.
Categories
Headquarters
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Founded
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Ownership and funding
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
  • August 13, 2026Forescout and Crytica Security announced a partnership that combines rapid detection with asset intelligence to close visibility gaps.[2]
Not stated on its pages
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: listed, seen October 24, 2026[3]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
The pages also address public sector IT and security professionals. They describe healthcare organizations that give clinicians, caregivers, research organizations and contractors network access while using agentless medical devices. They name global manufacturers, energy providers, MoDs, and critical infrastructure operators as users of the platform. Deployment options cover on-premises installations, virtual machines and Docker-based containerized deployments.Network Critical provides bypass TAPs for data centres running inline IPS, firewalls and DDoS mitigation tools. Network Critical describes its data diodes as suitable for highly regulated sectors, such as military, ICS and SCADA infrastructure. Network Critical describes its environmentally protected OT devices as suited to manufacturing floors, utility substations and outdoor installations.
Last verified
November 9, 2026November 8, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Forescout and Network Critical are both filed under OT and ICS security.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Forescout's primary category is Network access control; Network Critical's is Network visibility and traffic brokering.
  • Forescout is also filed under IoT and medical device security. Network Critical is also filed under DDoS protection.
  • Forescout lists Forescout Vistaro, VistaroAI, Forescout eyeFocus, Forescout eyeSentry and Forescout SRA. Network Critical lists Network TAPs, Packet Brokers, Hybrid TAP and Packet Broker, Bypass TAPs, INVIKTUS and 2 more.

What it sells: Forescout

What Forescout Vistaro does
Forescout Vistaro delivers Universal Zero Trust Network Access, OT security, and continuous exposure management. It analyzes 800+ data points from activity logs, threat intelligence, compliance, identity management, SIEMs and more to orchestrate policy enforcement. It offers options for on-premises installations, virtual machines and Docker-based containerized deployments.
What VistaroAI does[1][5]
VistaroAI is an agentic AI suite purpose-built for cybersecurity. VistaroAI puts the right work in front of the right people, automatically.
What Forescout eyeFocus does
Forescout eyeFocus keeps contextualized asset data in a searchable 90-day persistent asset inventory. It calculates a multifactor risk score based on configuration, function and behavior. It correlates Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
What Forescout SRA does
Forescout SRA governs how users connect to critical systems, what they can reach, and what can happen during the session. Forescout SRA supports on-prem, cloud, and hybrid deployments with options for appliances, virtual machines, and containers on existing hardware.

What it sells: Network Critical

What Network TAPs does[1][3]
A network TAP creates an exact copy of all data flowing between two points in a network. TAPs are used to monitor network traffic for performance, security, or compliance.
What Packet Brokers does[1][7][8][13]
Network packet brokers process inputs from multiple sources and deliver the right traffic to the right tools. SmartNA-PortPlus is a packet broker that aggregates low-speed links onto fewer high-speed tools.
What Hybrid TAP and Packet Broker does[8]
A hybrid test access point and packet broker combines the functions of a TAP and a packet broker in one package. Hybrid TAP and packet brokers offer traffic aggregation, load balancing and port mapping. They use interchangeable, hot-swappable TAP modules, including fail-safe copper.
What Bypass TAPs does[9][10]
A bypass TAP monitors security devices and reroutes network traffic around failing tools. Bypass TAPs send small test signals, known as heartbeats, to security appliances. SmartNA-XL bypass TAPs detect when inline security tools fail and redirect traffic in real-time.
What INVIKTUS does[1][11][12]
INVIKTUS is a zero-trust security solution. INVIKTUS network security is built on the zero-trust framework and analyzes and validates traffic.
What Ethernet TAPs does[6]
Ethernet TAPs capture network traffic without impacting performance. Ethernet TAPs can be deployed as standalone TAPs or within SmartNA chassis for advanced traffic management.

Questions about Forescout and Network Critical

What do Forescout and Network Critical sell?
Forescout sells Forescout Vistaro, VistaroAI, Forescout eyeFocus, Forescout eyeSentry and Forescout SRA. Network Critical sells Network TAPs, Packet Brokers, Hybrid TAP and Packet Broker, Bypass TAPs, INVIKTUS and 2 more.
Are Forescout and Network Critical in the same category?
They share OT and ICS security. Forescout's primary category is Network access control and Network Critical's is Network visibility and traffic brokering.
Who are Forescout and Network Critical sold to?
The pages also address public sector IT and security professionals. Network Critical provides bypass TAPs for data centres running inline IPS, firewalls and DDoS mitigation tools.
What have Forescout and Network Critical announced recently?
August 13, 2026: Forescout and Crytica Security announced a partnership that combines rapid detection with asset intelligence to close visibility gaps.

About Forescout

Forescout sells the Vistaro platform, which delivers Universal Zero Trust Network Access, OT security, and continuous exposure management. Forescout Vistaro continuously discovers, assesses, controls, and governs every connected asset across IT, IoT, IoMT, and OT. Forescout's platform includes skills-based agentic AI, generative AI, and ML, with human-in-the-loop control across discovery, analysis, and response. VistaroAI continuously analyzes asset intelligence, exposure changes, threat context, and policy posture, then puts the right work in front of the right people, automatically. Forescout integrates with hundreds of security and IT products.[1][4][6][7][10][13]

Forescout assigns devices to appropriate VLANs or applies access control lists based on predefined policies. Forescout's agentless controls enforce access policies without requiring software installations on devices. The Forescout Device Cloud has over 12 million device fingerprints and provides device classification.[6]

Forescout delivers adaptive Universal Zero Trust Network Access for IT, IoT, IoMT, and OT, on-premises and remote. Forescout Vistaro analyzes 800+ data points from activity logs, threat intelligence, compliance, identity management, SIEMs and more to orchestrate policy enforcement among PEPs. Forescout Vistaro lets users simulate segmentation designs using actual traffic flows and risk overlays to validate controls, fine-tune policies, and flag violations before enforcement. Forescout has contributed to NIST SP 1800-35 Zero Trust Architecture reference implementations.[7]

Forescout's exposure management continuously discovers, assesses, and prioritizes cyber risk across the entire connected asset estate, with automated compliance to NIST CSF, IEC 62443, and HIPAA. Forescout exposure management uses multi-factor scoring based on configuration, behavior, and threat intel, including KEVs, EPSS, and IoCs. Forescout eyeFocus is an asset intelligence solution that provides the foundation for understanding the security posture of an attack surface, through Agentic AI, risk-based prioritization, and persistent asset intelligence. Forescout eyeFocus keeps contextualized asset data in a searchable 90-day persistent asset inventory to track changes in configuration and risk posture over time. Forescout eyeFocus calculates a multifactor risk score based on configuration, function and behavior. Forescout eyeSentry is a cloud-native platform for Continuous Threat and Exposure Management.[8][9]

Forescout provides in-depth OT/ICS network visibility, real-time threat detection and cyber risk mitigation. Forescout supports passive discovery, active queries, direct infrastructure integration or APIs across IT, OT, IoT, IoMT, and BAS systems. Forescout detects and manages unpatched systems using a curated vulnerability database enriched with EPSS, CISA KEVs, and Vedere Labs threat intelligence. Forescout integrates over 180 data sources to bridge the divide between IT and OT. LAN CP maps network communication flows and detects anomalies such as undesired hosts, irregular communication patterns, and unexpected process commands. Vedere Labs uncovers emerging threats and feeds purpose-built intelligence directly into the Forescout platform.[6][10][11]

Forescout SRA is a controlled access layer that governs how users connect to critical systems, what they can reach, and what can happen during the session. Forescout SRA supports on-prem, cloud, and hybrid deployments with options for appliances, virtual machines, and containers on existing hardware. Forescout Vistaro combines a wide range of discovery techniques with cloud-powered intelligence for every medical device connected to a clinical network. Forescout Vistaro automates the discovery, assessment and control of every connected device, including vulnerable IoT assets that are increasingly exploited to gain network access. Forescout discovers and tracks which devices are not PQC compliant.[4][6][7][10][12]

Forescout Vistaro offers options for on-premises installations, virtual machines and Docker-based containerized deployments. Forescout sensors can be configured as active sensors that query network infrastructure. Global manufacturers, energy providers, MoDs, and critical infrastructure operators use the Forescout platform. Forescout states that its customer data includes more than 300 healthcare providers. Forescout's detection system is built on over 20 years of field experience and operates across IT, IoT, OT, BAS and IoMT environments.[6][7][8][10][11][12]

Forescout on the record

Sources

Forescout full record

  1. [1]PlatformForescout · forescout.com · published August 17, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Crytica Security and Forescout Announce Integration to Strengthen Cyber Resilience for Critical InfrastructureBusiness Wire · published August 13, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Forescout Platform Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 24, 2026 · Tier C
  4. [4]Forescout – Manage cyber risk and mitigate threats, continuously.Forescout · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]The Forescout Vistaro™ PlatformForescout · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Network Access Control Security Software SolutionsForescout · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Universal Zero Trust Network Access for Every Device, EverywhereForescout · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Exposure ManagementForescout · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Forescout eyeFocusForescout · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]OT Security Platform & Security Software ToolsForescout · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Cyber Threat Detection & Response Software SolutionsForescout · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Medical Device Cybersecurity Software PlatformForescout · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Network Security Software Tools & SolutionsForescout · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A

Network Critical full record

  1. [1]networkcritical.comNetwork Critical · networkcritical.com · undated page, accessed November 8, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Stars group case studyNetwork Critical · networkcritical.com · undated page, accessed November 8, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Aviation Case Study | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Network TAPs | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Passive Fiber TAPs | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Ethernet TAPs | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Network Visibility Solutions | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Hybrid TAP and Packet Broker | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Bypass TAPs for Inline Data Centre Security | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Network Bypass TAPs | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Healthcare Case Study | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]OT Network Monitoring Solutions | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Data Diodes | Network CriticalNetwork Critical · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A

Spot a factual error? Request a correction.