Cisco Security

ModernISE Platform and ModernISE Expert Comparison

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) delivers powerful context-aware access control, network segmentation, and Zero ...

Feb 10, 2026

Cisco Security Cisco ISE ModernISE

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) delivers powerful context-aware access control, network segmentation, and Zero Trust enforcement, however, many organizations struggle to realize its full value due to the operational complexity of Deploying, Maintaining, and Optimizing ISE over time.

To address these challenges, ModernCyber offers two purpose-built solutions designed to accelerate time to value and simplify ISE operations: ModernISE Expert and ModernISE Platform.

While both help organizations get more from Cisco ISE, they are built for very different operational models. Let’s break down the differences.

ModernISE Platform: Cloud-Delivered ISE as a Service

ModernISE Platform is a fully managed, cloud-delivered Cisco ISE service. ModernCyber operates the infrastructure, handles lifecycle management, and assumes the ongoing operational responsibility—so your team doesn’t have to. ModernISE Platform is best for organizations that want to eliminate the burden of managing ISE infrastructure entirely and adopt Cisco ISE in a scalable, cloud-native model.

Core Benefits:

Rapid, Zero-Touch deployment and onboarding
Globally scalable architecture with SLA-backed availability
Automated lifecycle management, including updates, certificates, patches, and health monitoring
No on-premises NAC infrastructure to deploy or maintain

For Organizations:

Who are deploying Cisco ISE for the first time, or are looking to migrate existing infrastructure to the cloud and offload management
Prefer a fully managed, cloud-delivered ISE solution
Want to accelerate Zero Trust adoption without infrastructure and operational complexity

ModernISE Platform is well-suited for organizations looking to adopt ISE-as-a-Service, reduce hardware and maintenance costs, support global deployments, or operate with lean security teams.

ModernISE Expert: On-Demand Cisco ISE Expertise

ModernISE Expert is for Organizations with an existing Cisco ISE deployment that need deep technical expertise and operational support—but don’t have dedicated in-house ISE specialists.

What Is ModernISE Expert?

ModernISE Expert is a subscription-based service that provides on-demand access to ModernCyber’s Cisco Security engineers. The service is designed to help you operate, optimize, and maintain your ISE environment with confidence.

Core Benefits:

Access to Engineers with deep expertise of Cisco ISE without hiring full-time employees
Ongoing lifecycle management, including Upgrades, Patches, Certificates, and Health Assessments
Consulting and advisory support for configuration, architecture, and troubleshooting (available at higher service tiers)
Knowledge transfer to strengthen internal teams and reduce long-term operational risk

For Organizations:

That already have a Cisco ISE deployment in place
Whose teams lack the deep ISE expertise or the engineering cycles to manage it effectively
With a desire to retain their existing infrastructure while improving security posture, reliability, and operational maturity

ModernISE Expert is ideal for organizations of all sizes and industries that want to maintain control of their ISE deployment while relying on trusted experts to keep it running optimally.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	ModernISE Expert	ModernISE Platform
Deployment Model	Support for existing ISE deployments	Fully managed, cloud-hosted ISE deployment
Operational Ownership	You retain infrastructure control	ModernCyber manages infrastructure
Ideal For	Teams needing expert backup	Teams wanting turnkey NAC
ISE Enablement and Optimization	Incremental through advisory and support	Built into the delivery model

Summary

Choose ModernISE Expert if you want to keep your existing Cisco ISE deployment while strengthening operational excellence, reducing risk, and filling internal skill gaps with expert support.

Choose ModernISE Platform if you want cloud-delivered ISE and to fully offload infrastructure, lifecycle management, and day-to-day operational complexity.

Both solutions help organizations unlock Cisco ISE’s powerful NAC and Zero Trust capabilities—the right choice depends on how much control, responsibility, and internal engineering effort your organization wants to retain.

Ready to Simplify and Modernize Your ISE Deployment?

Explore our supporting blog posts, request a quote, or schedule a briefing with the ModernCyber team today.