Security teams evaluating connected device protection face a foundational choice: a unified platform that discovers devices and enforces segmentation natively, or a segmentation specialist that leans on external intelligence sources. ORDR and Elisity represent each approach. This comparison examines both platforms across device discovery, segmentation enforcement, deployment model, and integration ecosystem.
What you'll learn:
- How each platform discovers and profiles connected devices
- The enforcement difference between native behavioral AI and identity-based microsegmentation
- What each deployment looks like in practice
- Which platform fits which environment
Platform Architecture
ORDR is a connected-device security platform built around a three-product stack. AI Protect for Security handles device discovery and intelligence. AI Protect for Segmentation translates that intelligence into enforced policies. ORDR IQ, launched in November 2024, provides AI-powered orchestration through natural-language queries.
Elisity is an identity-based microsegmentation platform. Its architecture centers on four components: the Elisity Cloud Control Center (the management layer), Elisity IdentityGraph (device and identity aggregation), Elisity Dynamic Policy Engine (policy creation and enforcement), and Elisity Virtual Edge (lightweight software that runs on existing switches to enforce policies).
Category | ORDR | Elisity |
Primary Focus | Connected device intelligence and policy enforcement | Identity-based microsegmentation |
Discovery Method | Native passive AI with a 100M+ device training set | IdentityGraph that aggregates data from external sources |
Segmentation Capabilities | Built-in microsegmentation and enforcement | Built-in identity-based microsegmentation |
AI Maturity | 8+ years of development with patented AI technology | AI-enhanced through Elisity Intelligence |
Deployment Model | SaaS | SaaS (Cloud Control Center) |
Device Discovery
ORDR uses passive network traffic analysis to identify and profile every connected asset, IT, IoT, OT, and IoMT, without agents or active scanning. Its AI engine has been trained on 100 million+ real-world devices, enabling it to classify unknown devices by make, model, operating system, and behavioral patterns. Initial discovery is completed within 24–48 hours.
Elisity's IdentityGraph aggregates device identity and context from external sources rather than generating it natively.
It pulls telemetry from platforms such as:
- Armis, Claroty, Medigate, and Nozomi Networks (device intelligence)
- CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, and Tenable (security telemetry)
- Active Directory, Okta, and ServiceNow (identity and CMDB context)
Elisity also lists ORDR itself as a discovery and enrichment integration, meaning organizations can feed ORDR's device intelligence into Elisity's IdentityGraph via API.
Discovery Capability | ORDR | Elisity |
Native Passive Discovery | Yes | Partial, supplemented by external integrations |
AI Device Intelligence | 100M+ real-world devices in the training dataset | Aggregates intelligence from connected platforms |
Time to Full Visibility | Typically 24–48 hours | Hours to days, depending on integration availability |
Behavioral Profiling | Native behavioral analytics | Available through third-party integrations |
Medical Device (IoMT) Classification | Native classification trained on proprietary device protocols and languages | Available through Medigate, Armis, or similar integrations |
Agentless / No Active Scanning Required | Yes | Yes |
The core distinction: ORDR builds its device profile from behavioral observation. Elisity assembles its profile from what existing tools already know.
Segmentation Enforcement
ORDR includes segmentation as a native capability. AI Protect for Segmentation generates least-privilege policies from real observed device behavior, simulates them against live traffic before applying anything, then pushes validated policies directly to existing firewalls, NAC systems, and switches, with no additional vendor required. Organizations using ORDR report deploying segmentation policies in days to weeks, compared to the 12- to 24-month timelines common with traditional approaches.
Elisity enforces policies through its Virtual Edge, a lightweight container that runs on existing Cisco, Arista, or Juniper switches, or on Palo Alto Networks firewalls. The Dynamic Policy Engine generates policies based on identity and context aggregated by IdentityGraph, then Virtual Edge translates those policies into native switch controls. Elisity's platform includes a simulation layer before enforcement and claims per-site deployment in 3 to 4 hours once the platform is configured.
Both platforms support macro- and micro-segmentation. Neither requires replacing existing network infrastructure.
Enforcement Capability | ORDR | Elisity |
Macro-Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
Micro-Segmentation | Device-level, least-privilege policies | Identity-based, least-privilege policies |
Policy Intelligence Source | Native behavioral AI | Intelligence aggregated from external integrations |
Pre-Enforcement Simulation | Yes | Yes |
Enforcement Infrastructure | Firewalls, NAC platforms, and network switches | Cisco, Arista, and Juniper switches; Palo Alto firewalls |
Deployment Speed | Days to weeks | Approximately 3–4 hours per site after initial platform setup |
ORDR enforces from a single source of truth it owns. Elisity enforces intelligence it assembles from third parties, meaning enforcement accuracy depends on the quality and completeness of connected data sources.
Deployment Model
ORDR deploys passively. It monitors network traffic without touching devices, installing agents, or changing network architecture. After the 24- 48-hour discovery window, teams establish behavioral baselines, generate AI-driven segmentation policies, validate those policies in simulation, and enforce them through existing firewalls and NAC.
Elisity deploys by installing Virtual Edge software on existing switches. Virtual Edge Nodes report to the Elisity Cloud Control Center, which manages policies centrally. Setup requires connecting existing switching infrastructure and identity sources before segmentation policies activate.
Deployment Factor | ORDR | Elisity |
Architecture Changes Required | No | No |
Endpoint Agents Required | No | No |
Software on Network Devices | No | Yes, Virtual Edge software deployed on switches |
Initial Visibility Timeline | 24–48 hours | Hours to days, depending on integrations |
Time to Segmentation Enforcement | Days to weeks | Approximately 3–4 hours per site after setup |
Cloud Management Platform | SaaS | SaaS (Cloud Control Center) |
Integration Ecosystem
ORDR integrates with 130+ security, IT, and network platforms. Integrations serve both intelligence enrichment and enforcement; ORDR pushes validated policies out and receives context in.
Elisity's integrations serve two distinct purposes. Discovery and enrichment integrations feed device intelligence into IdentityGraph. Enforcement integrations define which switching infrastructure Elisity uses to apply policies.
Integration Category | ORDR | Elisity |
Firewalls | Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, Check Point | Palo Alto Networks |
Network Access Control (NAC) | Cisco ISE, Aruba ClearPass, Forescout | Via switch-based enforcement |
SIEM / SOAR | Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, IBM QRadar, Cortex XSOAR | Not publicly listed |
Device Intelligence Sources | Native AI-driven device intelligence; no external dependency | Armis, Claroty, ORDR, Nozomi, Medigate |
Endpoint Security | CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, SentinelOne | CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender |
Identity Platforms | Microsoft Entra ID, Okta | Active Directory, Okta, ServiceNow |
IT Service Management (ITSM) | ServiceNow, Jira, BMC Remedy | ServiceNow |
CMMS / Clinical Systems | Epic, Cerner, GE Centricity | Not publicly listed |
Total Integrations | 130+ | Not publicly specified |
Which Platform Fits Your Environment
Choose ORDR When… | Choose Elisity When… |
You need native device discovery without relying on external tools. | You already use Armis or Claroty and need an enforcement layer. |
Behavioral AI profiling is critical for healthcare, manufacturing, or OT environments. | Your primary challenge is segmentation enforcement rather than device discovery. |
You want a single platform that spans discovery, visibility, and enforcement. | Your environment is built primarily on Cisco, Arista, or Juniper switching infrastructure. |
Integration with CMMS, clinical, or healthcare systems is required. | Identity-based policies tied to Active Directory fit your security architecture. |
Downtime is unacceptable and policy validation must occur within the same platform before enforcement. | Rapid deployment and fast time-to-enforcement are top priorities. |
Both platforms take an agentless approach, work with existing infrastructure, and support Zero Trust segmentation goals. The decision comes down to where you start.
Armis and Claroty partner with Elisity for segmentation, which means Elisity customers often need a separate visibility platform to drive IdentityGraph. ORDR combines discovery and enforcement in one system, removing that dependency entirely.
See how ORDR handles discovery and enforcement on a single platform. Schedule a demo or explore the ORDR IQ Sandbox to test capabilities before speaking with anyone.