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Top 10 IoT Governance Tools for Secure Device Management

Originally Published:
June 3, 2025
Last Updated:
June 4, 2025
8 min

Introduction

The Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial IoT (IoT) are reshaping industries—from smart manufacturing and connected hospitals to intelligent transportation and smart cities. IDC estimates over 41.6 billion IoT devices will be deployed by 2025. However, this surge presents serious challenges: unsecured endpoints, unmonitored devices, unpatched firmware, and shadow IT risks.

These devices often operate outside traditional IT oversight. Many lack endpoint agents, run legacy protocols or exist in remote, mission-critical environments—making them ideal targets for cyberattacks. Traditional IT security tools fall short here.

That’s where IoT governance tools come in. Purpose-built to address IoT’s unique footprint, these platforms help organizations discover, monitor, secure, and govern devices across IT, OT, and cloud domains.

This blog explores the top 10 IoT governance platforms in 2025, highlighting key capabilities like:

  • Real-time asset visibility
  • Zero Trust network segmentation
  • Policy-based access enforcement
  • Firmware and configuration monitoring
  • Threat detection for edge and embedded systems
  • Automated compliance mapping (NIST, HIPAA, IEC 62443)

Whether running a smart factory or securing medical devices, this guide will help you evaluate and choose the right governance tool.

What Is IoT Governance and Why It Matters?

IoT governance refers to the structured policies, controls, and processes applied to manage and secure IoT and IIoT devices throughout their lifecycle—from onboarding and configuration to usage, updates, and decommissioning.

Key Elements of IoT Governance:

  • Device Discovery & Classification: Automated, real-time detection of every connected endpoint across IT, OT, and cloud environments.
  • Access Control: Enforcing who or what can communicate with the device using MAC filtering, VLANs, or identity-based policies.
  • Behavioral Monitoring: Establishing baselines and detecting anomalous activity.
  • Risk Prioritization: Assessing vulnerabilities based on firmware, network behavior, and known exploits.
  • Compliance Alignment: Mapping devices and behaviors to standards like NIST IoT CSF, IEC 62443, HIPAA, and GDPR.
  • Lifecycle Management: Ensuring secure provisioning, maintenance, and decommissioning.

IoT governance isn’t just about security. It also enables:

  • Better asset utilization
  • Reduced compliance overhead
  • Smarter incident response
  • Support for Zero Trust and micro-segmentation

In short, governance is the connective tissue between device management, data security, and organizational trust.

Must-Have Features in an IoT Governance Tool

An effective IoT governance platform should deliver:

Feature Description
Real-Time Asset Inventory Discover and categorize all connected devices, including headless and legacy endpoints
Policy-Based Controls Define access based on device type, function, risk, or location
Anomaly Detection Spot abnormal behaviors using ML or rule-based analytics
Firmware & Configuration Monitoring Track patch levels, unauthorized changes, and vulnerabilities
Zero Trust Integration Enforce identity-aware, least-privilege access models
Legacy Protocol Support Understand traffic from Modbus, BACnet, and other non-TCP/IP protocols
Threat Intelligence Feeds Enrich detection with OT and IoT-specific IOCs and TTPs
SIEM & SOAR Integration Feed enriched data into security operations for faster response
Automated Compliance Reports Generate audit-ready documentation for regulators

Without these core features, organizations risk blind spots, operational downtime, and non-compliance.

Top 10 IoT Governance Tools for Secure Device Management (2025)

1. Armis

Overview: Armis provides agentless asset visibility and risk management for unmanaged and IoT devices. It identifies threats, tracks behavior anomalies, and maps device communications to ensure secure environments.

Pros:

  • Industry-leading coverage for medical and industrial devices.
  • Easy to deploy with passive monitoring.

Cons:

  • Premium cost for large environments.
  • Limited policy enforcement without integrations.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.3/5 (7 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.7/5 (25 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 1603748850, Picture

2. Nozomi Networks Guardian

Overview: Guardian by Nozomi Networks delivers in-depth OT and IoT systems monitoring using deep packet inspection and behavioral analytics.

Pros:

  • Purpose-built for industrial systems and protocols.
  • Rich forensic tools for incident analysis.

Cons:

  • Requires expert tuning for large installations.
  • The user interface can feel technical.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 5/5 (1 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.9/5 (126 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 770820684, Picture

3. Claroty xDome

Overview: Claroty’s xDome is a SaaS-based platform for unified governance across IT, OT, and IoT networks. It applies Zero Trust policies, segmentations, and compliance mapping.

Pros:

  • Rich visual interface and segmentation engine.
  • Substantial compliance and reporting capabilities.

Cons:

  • High price point.
  • Complex setup in hybrid environments.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.7/5 (6 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.8/5 (141 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 558552791, Picture

4. Forescout Continuum Platform

Overview: Forescout provides visibility and control of all devices in enterprise and industrial environments through policy-driven automation.

Pros:

  • Broad protocol support and agentless operation.
  • Tight integration with NAC and SIEM systems.

Cons:

  • Requires significant configuration.
  • Some users cite UI as unintuitive.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.5/5 (15 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.3/5 (271 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 1491492134, Picture

5. Microsoft Defender for IoT

Overview: Defender for IoT enables agentless asset tracking and threat detection for OT and IoT networks—particularly in Azure-based environments.

Pros:

  • Deep Azure and Sentinel integration.
  • Agentless, easy deployment.

Cons:

  • Not ideal for non-Azure ecosystems.
  • Limited protocol breadth.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.3/5 (103 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.2/5 (18 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 846242536, Picture

6. Cisco Cyber Vision

Overview: Cisco Cyber Vision embeds OT visibility into existing Cisco infrastructure, offering DPI, compliance insights, and network segmentation.

Pros:

  • Seamless with Cisco switches and routers.
  • Built-in DPI capabilities.

Cons:

  • Requires Cisco network stack.
  • Feature depth depends on the hardware version.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (4 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.9/5 (10 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 1888476594, Picture

7. Dragos Platform

Overview: Dragos focuses on critical infrastructure protection, offering OT threat detection, incident response, and risk-based visibility.

Pros:

  • Strong adversary detection models.
  • Excellent for critical energy and manufacturing environments.

Cons:

  • No visibility into SaaS ecosystems.
  • Requires trained analysts.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 3.8/5 (2 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.6/5 (25 reviews)

Screenshot:  

Picture 422249228, Picture

8. Palo Alto Networks IoT Security

Overview: PAN's IoT Security leverages machine learning for device profiling, micro-segmentation, and App-ID policy enforcement within PAN’s firewall ecosystem.

Pros:

  • Native integration with PAN firewalls and Prisma.
  • App-ID policy control for IoT flows.

Cons:

  • Locked to PAN infrastructure.
  • It may require additional licensing.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.3/5 (103 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.0/5 (4 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 1582123875, Picture

9. AWS IoT Device Defender

Overview: AWS Device Defender helps secure fleets connected to AWS IoT Core with behavior monitoring, audits, and secure tunneling.

Pros:

  • Scales seamlessly with AWS services.
  • Usage-based billing model.

Cons:

  • Limited functionality outside AWS.
  • No native deep protocol inspection.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (57 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.4/5 (150 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 665658026, Picture

10. Keysight IoT Security

Overview: Keysight IoT Security provides advanced device profiling, fuzz testing, and threat simulation to evaluate and secure IoT devices before deployment.

Pros:

  • In-depth pre-deployment testing and protocol fuzzing.
  • Simulated threat campaigns to identify vulnerabilities early.

Cons:

  • Primarily focused on pre-production security.
  • Requires technical expertise for full utilization.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (183 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 5/5 (6 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 956082981, Picture

Comparison Table

Tool Best For Agentless Discovery Network Segmentation Compliance Support
Armis Healthcare, Retail NIST, HIPAA
Nozomi Networks Guardian Industrial Networks IEC 62443
Claroty xDome Converged IT/OT/IoT NIST, ISA/IEC 62443
Forescout Hybrid Environments NIST, HIPAA
Microsoft Defender for IoT Azure OT/IoT Integration Partial NIST, Azure Policy
Cisco Cyber Vision Cisco-Powered Networks IEC 62443
Dragos Platform OT-Critical Infrastructure Partial NERC CIP, IEC 62443
Palo Alto IoT Security Enterprise IoT & PAN Users SOC 2, ISO 27001
AWS IoT Device Defender Cloud-Native Developers Partial AWS IoT Audit
Keysight IoT Security Pre-Deployment Security Testing N/A (Pre-deployment) N/A (Pre-deployment) Custom Testing Profiles

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Do I need a separate NAC solution for IoT devices?

Not always. Many IoT governance platforms offer native NAC capabilities or integrate with existing NAC systems like Cisco ISE or FortiNAC.

Q2: How is IoT governance different from IT asset management (ITAM)?

IoT governance focuses on headless, embedded, real-time operational systems with unique protocols and behaviors. ITAM typically deals with managed assets like laptops, desktops, and SaaS tools.

Q3: Can these tools ensure regulatory compliance?

Yes. Most leading platforms support automated mapping to standards like NIST CSF, HIPAA, IEC 62443, and PCI-DSS and generate reports for audits.

Q4: What’s the best way to start IoT governance in a large organization?

Start with a passive discovery tool to build visibility. Then, prioritize segmentation and high-risk policy enforcement. Gradually layer in anomaly detection and compliance workflows.

Q5: Can these tools detect threats like botnets or ransomware?

Yes. Many platforms use threat intelligence feeds, behavioral analytics, and anomaly detection to identify command-and-control traffic, lateral movement, or abnormal device actions.

Conclusion

The proliferation of IoT and IoT devices introduces unprecedented complexity and risk to enterprise networks. Without structured governance, these devices become blind spots—leaving organizations vulnerable to cyberattacks, data breaches, and regulatory failures.

The top 10 tools explored in this guide empower organizations to:

  • Discover every connected device
  • Enforce policy-based access and segmentation
  • Detect and respond to threats in real-time
  • Automate compliance reporting

From industrial automation and healthcare to utilities and smart cities, IoT governance is no longer optional—it’s essential.

IoT governance doesn’t end at the device layer. Many critical workflows run through SaaS platforms, from telemetry ingestion to device provisioning dashboards. That’s where CloudNuro.ai steps in.

CloudNuro.ai helps enterprises govern the SaaS and cloud systems connected to IoT infrastructure by providing the following:

License Visibility: Track usage and prevent waste in SaaS tools tied to device operations (like IoT dashboards, analytics platforms, or alerting systems).
Access Governance: Identify shadow users, overprivileged accounts, and dormant credentials with access to IoT data flows.
SaaS Risk Reduction: Flag SaaS platforms that interact with sensitive device telemetry without policy oversight.
Automation Hooks: Feed insights into your provisioning workflows or compliance dashboards.

While Armis, Nozomi, and Keysight secure the things, CloudNuro.ai secures and accesses the apps.

🎯 Ready to unify device and SaaS governance for a stronger Zero Trust posture?
Book a free assessment with CloudNuro.ai to uncover blind spots, optimize costs, and automate governance.

Table of Content

Start saving with CloudNuro

Request a no cost, no obligation free assessment —just 15 minutes to savings!

Get Started

Table of Content

Introduction

The Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial IoT (IoT) are reshaping industries—from smart manufacturing and connected hospitals to intelligent transportation and smart cities. IDC estimates over 41.6 billion IoT devices will be deployed by 2025. However, this surge presents serious challenges: unsecured endpoints, unmonitored devices, unpatched firmware, and shadow IT risks.

These devices often operate outside traditional IT oversight. Many lack endpoint agents, run legacy protocols or exist in remote, mission-critical environments—making them ideal targets for cyberattacks. Traditional IT security tools fall short here.

That’s where IoT governance tools come in. Purpose-built to address IoT’s unique footprint, these platforms help organizations discover, monitor, secure, and govern devices across IT, OT, and cloud domains.

This blog explores the top 10 IoT governance platforms in 2025, highlighting key capabilities like:

  • Real-time asset visibility
  • Zero Trust network segmentation
  • Policy-based access enforcement
  • Firmware and configuration monitoring
  • Threat detection for edge and embedded systems
  • Automated compliance mapping (NIST, HIPAA, IEC 62443)

Whether running a smart factory or securing medical devices, this guide will help you evaluate and choose the right governance tool.

What Is IoT Governance and Why It Matters?

IoT governance refers to the structured policies, controls, and processes applied to manage and secure IoT and IIoT devices throughout their lifecycle—from onboarding and configuration to usage, updates, and decommissioning.

Key Elements of IoT Governance:

  • Device Discovery & Classification: Automated, real-time detection of every connected endpoint across IT, OT, and cloud environments.
  • Access Control: Enforcing who or what can communicate with the device using MAC filtering, VLANs, or identity-based policies.
  • Behavioral Monitoring: Establishing baselines and detecting anomalous activity.
  • Risk Prioritization: Assessing vulnerabilities based on firmware, network behavior, and known exploits.
  • Compliance Alignment: Mapping devices and behaviors to standards like NIST IoT CSF, IEC 62443, HIPAA, and GDPR.
  • Lifecycle Management: Ensuring secure provisioning, maintenance, and decommissioning.

IoT governance isn’t just about security. It also enables:

  • Better asset utilization
  • Reduced compliance overhead
  • Smarter incident response
  • Support for Zero Trust and micro-segmentation

In short, governance is the connective tissue between device management, data security, and organizational trust.

Must-Have Features in an IoT Governance Tool

An effective IoT governance platform should deliver:

Feature Description
Real-Time Asset Inventory Discover and categorize all connected devices, including headless and legacy endpoints
Policy-Based Controls Define access based on device type, function, risk, or location
Anomaly Detection Spot abnormal behaviors using ML or rule-based analytics
Firmware & Configuration Monitoring Track patch levels, unauthorized changes, and vulnerabilities
Zero Trust Integration Enforce identity-aware, least-privilege access models
Legacy Protocol Support Understand traffic from Modbus, BACnet, and other non-TCP/IP protocols
Threat Intelligence Feeds Enrich detection with OT and IoT-specific IOCs and TTPs
SIEM & SOAR Integration Feed enriched data into security operations for faster response
Automated Compliance Reports Generate audit-ready documentation for regulators

Without these core features, organizations risk blind spots, operational downtime, and non-compliance.

Top 10 IoT Governance Tools for Secure Device Management (2025)

1. Armis

Overview: Armis provides agentless asset visibility and risk management for unmanaged and IoT devices. It identifies threats, tracks behavior anomalies, and maps device communications to ensure secure environments.

Pros:

  • Industry-leading coverage for medical and industrial devices.
  • Easy to deploy with passive monitoring.

Cons:

  • Premium cost for large environments.
  • Limited policy enforcement without integrations.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.3/5 (7 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.7/5 (25 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 1603748850, Picture

2. Nozomi Networks Guardian

Overview: Guardian by Nozomi Networks delivers in-depth OT and IoT systems monitoring using deep packet inspection and behavioral analytics.

Pros:

  • Purpose-built for industrial systems and protocols.
  • Rich forensic tools for incident analysis.

Cons:

  • Requires expert tuning for large installations.
  • The user interface can feel technical.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 5/5 (1 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.9/5 (126 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 770820684, Picture

3. Claroty xDome

Overview: Claroty’s xDome is a SaaS-based platform for unified governance across IT, OT, and IoT networks. It applies Zero Trust policies, segmentations, and compliance mapping.

Pros:

  • Rich visual interface and segmentation engine.
  • Substantial compliance and reporting capabilities.

Cons:

  • High price point.
  • Complex setup in hybrid environments.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.7/5 (6 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.8/5 (141 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 558552791, Picture

4. Forescout Continuum Platform

Overview: Forescout provides visibility and control of all devices in enterprise and industrial environments through policy-driven automation.

Pros:

  • Broad protocol support and agentless operation.
  • Tight integration with NAC and SIEM systems.

Cons:

  • Requires significant configuration.
  • Some users cite UI as unintuitive.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.5/5 (15 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.3/5 (271 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 1491492134, Picture

5. Microsoft Defender for IoT

Overview: Defender for IoT enables agentless asset tracking and threat detection for OT and IoT networks—particularly in Azure-based environments.

Pros:

  • Deep Azure and Sentinel integration.
  • Agentless, easy deployment.

Cons:

  • Not ideal for non-Azure ecosystems.
  • Limited protocol breadth.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.3/5 (103 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.2/5 (18 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 846242536, Picture

6. Cisco Cyber Vision

Overview: Cisco Cyber Vision embeds OT visibility into existing Cisco infrastructure, offering DPI, compliance insights, and network segmentation.

Pros:

  • Seamless with Cisco switches and routers.
  • Built-in DPI capabilities.

Cons:

  • Requires Cisco network stack.
  • Feature depth depends on the hardware version.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (4 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.9/5 (10 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 1888476594, Picture

7. Dragos Platform

Overview: Dragos focuses on critical infrastructure protection, offering OT threat detection, incident response, and risk-based visibility.

Pros:

  • Strong adversary detection models.
  • Excellent for critical energy and manufacturing environments.

Cons:

  • No visibility into SaaS ecosystems.
  • Requires trained analysts.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 3.8/5 (2 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.6/5 (25 reviews)

Screenshot:  

Picture 422249228, Picture

8. Palo Alto Networks IoT Security

Overview: PAN's IoT Security leverages machine learning for device profiling, micro-segmentation, and App-ID policy enforcement within PAN’s firewall ecosystem.

Pros:

  • Native integration with PAN firewalls and Prisma.
  • App-ID policy control for IoT flows.

Cons:

  • Locked to PAN infrastructure.
  • It may require additional licensing.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.3/5 (103 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.0/5 (4 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 1582123875, Picture

9. AWS IoT Device Defender

Overview: AWS Device Defender helps secure fleets connected to AWS IoT Core with behavior monitoring, audits, and secure tunneling.

Pros:

  • Scales seamlessly with AWS services.
  • Usage-based billing model.

Cons:

  • Limited functionality outside AWS.
  • No native deep protocol inspection.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (57 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 4.4/5 (150 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 665658026, Picture

10. Keysight IoT Security

Overview: Keysight IoT Security provides advanced device profiling, fuzz testing, and threat simulation to evaluate and secure IoT devices before deployment.

Pros:

  • In-depth pre-deployment testing and protocol fuzzing.
  • Simulated threat campaigns to identify vulnerabilities early.

Cons:

  • Primarily focused on pre-production security.
  • Requires technical expertise for full utilization.

User Ratings:

  • G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (183 reviews)
  • Gartner Peer Insights: 5/5 (6 reviews)

Screenshot:

Picture 956082981, Picture

Comparison Table

Tool Best For Agentless Discovery Network Segmentation Compliance Support
Armis Healthcare, Retail NIST, HIPAA
Nozomi Networks Guardian Industrial Networks IEC 62443
Claroty xDome Converged IT/OT/IoT NIST, ISA/IEC 62443
Forescout Hybrid Environments NIST, HIPAA
Microsoft Defender for IoT Azure OT/IoT Integration Partial NIST, Azure Policy
Cisco Cyber Vision Cisco-Powered Networks IEC 62443
Dragos Platform OT-Critical Infrastructure Partial NERC CIP, IEC 62443
Palo Alto IoT Security Enterprise IoT & PAN Users SOC 2, ISO 27001
AWS IoT Device Defender Cloud-Native Developers Partial AWS IoT Audit
Keysight IoT Security Pre-Deployment Security Testing N/A (Pre-deployment) N/A (Pre-deployment) Custom Testing Profiles

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Do I need a separate NAC solution for IoT devices?

Not always. Many IoT governance platforms offer native NAC capabilities or integrate with existing NAC systems like Cisco ISE or FortiNAC.

Q2: How is IoT governance different from IT asset management (ITAM)?

IoT governance focuses on headless, embedded, real-time operational systems with unique protocols and behaviors. ITAM typically deals with managed assets like laptops, desktops, and SaaS tools.

Q3: Can these tools ensure regulatory compliance?

Yes. Most leading platforms support automated mapping to standards like NIST CSF, HIPAA, IEC 62443, and PCI-DSS and generate reports for audits.

Q4: What’s the best way to start IoT governance in a large organization?

Start with a passive discovery tool to build visibility. Then, prioritize segmentation and high-risk policy enforcement. Gradually layer in anomaly detection and compliance workflows.

Q5: Can these tools detect threats like botnets or ransomware?

Yes. Many platforms use threat intelligence feeds, behavioral analytics, and anomaly detection to identify command-and-control traffic, lateral movement, or abnormal device actions.

Conclusion

The proliferation of IoT and IoT devices introduces unprecedented complexity and risk to enterprise networks. Without structured governance, these devices become blind spots—leaving organizations vulnerable to cyberattacks, data breaches, and regulatory failures.

The top 10 tools explored in this guide empower organizations to:

  • Discover every connected device
  • Enforce policy-based access and segmentation
  • Detect and respond to threats in real-time
  • Automate compliance reporting

From industrial automation and healthcare to utilities and smart cities, IoT governance is no longer optional—it’s essential.

IoT governance doesn’t end at the device layer. Many critical workflows run through SaaS platforms, from telemetry ingestion to device provisioning dashboards. That’s where CloudNuro.ai steps in.

CloudNuro.ai helps enterprises govern the SaaS and cloud systems connected to IoT infrastructure by providing the following:

License Visibility: Track usage and prevent waste in SaaS tools tied to device operations (like IoT dashboards, analytics platforms, or alerting systems).
Access Governance: Identify shadow users, overprivileged accounts, and dormant credentials with access to IoT data flows.
SaaS Risk Reduction: Flag SaaS platforms that interact with sensitive device telemetry without policy oversight.
Automation Hooks: Feed insights into your provisioning workflows or compliance dashboards.

While Armis, Nozomi, and Keysight secure the things, CloudNuro.ai secures and accesses the apps.

🎯 Ready to unify device and SaaS governance for a stronger Zero Trust posture?
Book a free assessment with CloudNuro.ai to uncover blind spots, optimize costs, and automate governance.

Start saving with CloudNuro

Request a no cost, no obligation free assessment —just 15 minutes to savings!

Get Started

Save 20% of your SaaS spends with CloudNuro.ai

Recognized Leader in SaaS Management Platforms by Info-Tech SoftwareReviews

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