Armour Communications Desktop vs Pulse Secure (Ivanti): Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)

Armour Communications Desktop

Startups and SMBs that need licensed endpoint encryption without infrastructure overhead should evaluate Armour Communications Desktop for its Windows 10 native deployment and trial-first purchasing model. The vendor's NIST CSF 2.0 coverage in Identity Management and Access Control reflects a deliberate focus on authentication enforcement rather than detection or response capabilities. Skip this if you're managing heterogeneous OS environments or expect deep integration with your existing EDR stack; this is a purpose-built communications client, not a platform play.

Pulse Secure (Ivanti)

Mid-market and enterprise security teams needing to enforce zero trust access across hybrid infrastructure will get the most from Pulse Secure Connect Secure VPN paired with its Network Access Control layer; the combination gives you identity-driven access decisions before traffic hits your network, which is where most breach containment actually happens. The platform covers all six NIST CSF 2.0 Protect and Identify functions, reflecting genuine breadth across authentication, asset visibility, and continuous monitoring. Skip this if your priority is endpoint detection and response or if you're building around a single cloud provider's native security services; Pulse Secure assumes you're managing heterogeneous on-premises and cloud infrastructure with users who need frictionless access but can't be trusted implicitly.