"They're treating the symptom but not the disease. Users want open solutions that support Linux clients and wireless and any kind of switch or router," he said.

The integration between Microsoft and Cisco, while good for those companies, will hinder open standards efforts like the Trusted Computing Group's Trusted Network Connect (TNC) standard, Oltsik said.

"I wish I had the money [Cisco and Microsoft] spent on this to get nothing," he said. "This is a big step back for client security."