# Agilicus vs Phoenix Contact mGuard

# **Identity-Aware Access**
**vs. Network Extension**

Phoenix Contact mGuard creates an industrial VPN. Agilicus AnyX replaces the need for one.

Discover why Layer 7 precision beats Layer 3 connectivity for modern security.

[TRY NOW](/l/no-cost-trial/)

[BOOK A MEETING](https://www.agilicus.com/book-calendar-meeting/)

## The Fundamental Difference

The choice between Agilicus and Phoenix Contact mGuard is a choice between Universal Application Access and Hardware-Bound Network Connectivity.

![icon-authentication](https://www.agilicus.com/www/d82985c0-authentication.svg)    

### Agilicus AnyX (Layer 7)

Understands Application layer like HTTP, VNC, SSH. Can block password stuffing, restrict specific URLs, and protect individual files. Users never touch the network.

![icon-server](https://www.agilicus.com/www/fc8d0a94-icon-server.svg.svg)    

### Phoenix Contact mGuard (IPsec VPN)

Creates an overlay IPsec VPN joining all sites. Maximises lateral movement risk, requires custom hardware, and requires enabling UDP 500, 4500 ports on your firewall.

#### Security Model Comparison

**Agilicus User**

HTTPS Only

→

App
Only

**mGuard User**

Full Network Pipe

→

Network
Adjacency

\*With mGuard, if a user device is compromised, the attacker has network-level visibility of all joined sites. With Agilicus, they see nothing but the specific web app authorised.

## Why Modern Teams Choose Agilicus

Compare capabilities side-by-side.

Feature

**Agilicus AnyX**

**Phoenix Contact mGuard**

#### **Granular Authorisation**

How specific can access rules be?

Per URL & File

Layer 7 Precision

None

No fine-grained authorisation (e.g. no read-only VNC)

#### **Client Requirement**

What does the user need to install?

![Green Check](https://www.agilicus.com/www/2cd3dab3-green_check.svg)    **None (Browser Only)**

![](https://www.agilicus.com/www/32a940fb-download-agilicus-blue.svg)    Custom Hardware & Client required

#### **Identity Providers**

Can you use Google, Microsoft, Okta etc simultaneously?

**Multiple Concurrent**

Mix Okta, Google, Microsoft, etc

Custom Identity System

No per-user sign-in

#### **Layer 3 Adjacency**

Can users ping devices on the network?

**No (Zero Trust)**

Prevent lateral movement

Yes (IPsec VPN)

Joins all sites, maximising lateral movement risk

#### **Threat Protection**

Does it inspect traffic content?

**Identity-Aware Web Application Firewall**

Handle cross-site scripting, content vulnerabilities

Encrypted Tunnel

Opaque to traffic content, requires UDP 500/4500 ports

#### **Overlapping IPs**

Handle duplicate subnets on local and remote site(s)?

**Native Support**

No conflict, operates at layer 7

Complex

Requires NAT+port-forward, or, re-subnetting

#### **Vendor Agnostic**

Does the system work with different equipment vendors?

**Yes**

Yes. Any PLC, HMI, Historian, SCADA platform. Any vendor.

Complex

No.

Phoenix Contact specific.

![icon-world](https://www.agilicus.com/www/9b679333-icon-world.svg.svg)    

#### **Clientless Universal Access**

Stop managing VPN clients. Agilicus AnyX works on any device with a browser—desktop, tablet, or phone.

- Ideal for contractors & BYOD
- No MDM required
- Zero friction onboarding

![icon-padlock](https://www.agilicus.com/www/c1324345-icon-padlock.svg.svg)    

#### **Granular Authorisation**

Don't just grant network access. Control exactly *what* users can do inside the application.

- Restrict specific URLs
- Control file share access
- Stop password stuffing attacks

![icon-global-network](https://www.agilicus.com/www/965b276e-icon-global-network.svg.svg)    

#### **Network Simplification**

Solve the hardest networking problems without re-architecting your infrastructure.

- Outbound-only (Starlink/CGNAT)
- Overlapping IP support
- Multi-IdP Single Sign-On

## **Ready to move beyond the VPN?**

Experience the security of an Identity-Aware Proxy, Zero Trust, Zero Compromises. No Clients to manage, no lateral movement to fear.

[CONTACT ME](/contact-us/)

[BOOK A MEETING](https://www.agilicus.com/book-calendar-meeting/)