Cisco Catalyst Center
6.2#5 in microsegmentation softwareWebAPILinuxmacOS
VisitCisco Catalyst Center vs NetBox
What both publish
| Fact | Cisco Catalyst Center | NetBox |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Cisco describes hardware and virtual appliance deployments, including current guides for VMware ESXi and Ubuntu KVM. | NetBox can be used as a fully hosted SaaS edition or deployed in the customer's own infrastructure; open source community use is also offered. |
| Founded | 1984 | 2015 |
| Integrations | Cisco documents integrations with ISE, ThousandEyes, Webex, Microsoft Teams, ServiceNow, Infoblox, and BlueCat, plus generic APIs for other ITSM and IPAM systems. | The integrations catalog lists connectors and plugins including Jira Assets, ServiceNow, Arista CloudVision, Proxmox, and SIEM event streams. |
| Purpose | Cisco Catalyst Center is a centralized network controller and management dashboard for enterprise network operations. | NetBox is a platform for understanding, operating, automating, and securing networks and infrastructure. |
| Security | Catalyst Center supports FIPS 140-2-compliant cryptography modules, and Cisco recommends deploying it behind a firewall on a private internal network. | NetBox Labs says it is SOC 2 Type II compliant and lists IP allow lists, mTLS, encrypted production data, and annual penetration tests among its security measures. |
Cisco Catalyst Center plans
- Cisco DNA AdvantagePriced on request
- Cisco DNA EssentialsPriced on request
NetBox plans
- NetBox Cloud Free PlanFree
- NetBox EnterprisePriced on request
- PremiumPriced on request
- ProfessionalPriced on request
- StarterPriced on request
Pick Cisco Catalyst Center if…
It suits enterprise network teams that need centralized operations, automation, and assurance across managed devices. Teams should be prepared for substantial virtual-appliance requirements and subscription-based licensing.
Pick NetBox if…
You want what its maker publishes above — check its page for the details.