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What Is Network Access Control (NAC)?
Network Access Control, or NAC, can be easily understood. Simply put, NAC provides you with the means of controlling access to resources on your network while making devices and users available to network managers, who are then empowered with security policies for all areas of a corporate network.
Network Access Control includes tools that grant network users access to specific resources on the network. By combining this capability with methods for threat response such as quarantining, restricted access and denial of access, Network Access Control becomes even more versatile and effective in protecting network users from security breaches.
For decades NAC security solutions have been implemented, such as IEEE 802.1X and WPA standards.
NAC goes further by offering tools relevant to distributed networks connected via IoT resources or Cloud resources, ensuring they remain protected at all times. NAC allows businesses to implement access policies with precision. Systems can track how users move around the network and what resources they access; malicious actors can be monitored for activity before any damage has been done - all this without any tradeoff in efficiency or convenience!
Existence is constantly shifting as new attack vectors emerge alarmingly rapidly, necessitating network managers to protect against known and emerging threats to ensure business continuity.
Nearly 45% of American employees work from home; remote employment has become routine. Nearly half of the business data will reside on cloud storage in 2025; approximately 27 billion IoT-connected endpoints will exist by then some of factors like.
- multi-factor authentication
- cyber threats
- unauthorized access
- regulatory compliance
- private gateways
- Additional info
Malicious actors have increasingly focused on breaching networks through unclear network perimeters. Cloud computing and remote offices further complicate this battleground; two decades ago, Network Access Control was considered the sole answer; today, however, it can no longer provide complete network protection in our borderless world.
What Is the Purpose of Network Access Control (NAC)?
A NAC increases overall network security through the visibility of physical endpoints and cloud storage domains.
Network managers create policies which block unauthorized users or devices while still permitting authorized ones access to relevant data or resources. Policies can be implemented centrally using a policy server and network components (switches, routers, firewalls, etc.).
Many commercial Network Access Control products utilize IEEE 802.1x for authentication and enforcement; their policy server and endpoint agents tend to be proprietary products.
Early Network Access Control solutions were focused mainly on managing and enforcing policy. Unfortunately, however, due to ineffective tools used for implementation, it almost became irrelevant as an idea.
Modern NAC has revolutionized network security by meeting today's challenges head-on, ushering in an entirely new era of NAC solutions. NAC solutions have evolved significantly and now support BYOD scenarios with advanced features like endpoint profiling and guest management capabilities - many products even cross traditional lines between NAC solutions and other types and are advertised or sold alongside more oversized items such as hardware products or security appliances.
Types Of Network Access Control
An assortment of NAC solutions on the market uses various digital technologies to manage networks. All solutions fall under two main categories of control, pre- and post-admission.
- Control pre-admit is used by most, if not all, NAC systems to pre-screen devices for access before authorizing them to access. Failure to conform with policy requirements could see them denied entry; preadmission systems ensure everything is handled before users gain entry; third-party authentication adds another level of protection - with pre-admit controls used as standard.
- Preadmission validation remains unchanged when applying post-admission applications and NAC policies post-allocating corporate resources to devices. Internal firewall policies and security guidelines help segregate networks, allowing only authenticated users access to data. After admissions, NAC will detect suspicious traffic coming from endpoints that attempt to violate privileges, using this as evidence against further access attempts; This allows NAC to deny entry quickly and effectively. It is vitally important that new policies can be written quickly to respond effectively when needed.
What Are The Main Benefits Of Network Access Control?
Network Visibility
Remote working, Bring Your Device (BYOD), third-party service providers, and IoT connectivity present network managers with unique challenges.
As devices and users increase, complete network visibility becomes impossible to achieve. However, the NAC app helps network managers overcome this hurdle by mapping networked devices and forcing protocols upon users.
Your network inventory and security status are obvious for easy management of potential security problems that might occur on it.
Improved Cybersecurity
Cyberattacks represent a real and increasing danger. Ransomware and DDoS attacks threaten corporate environments; hackers seek access to private data they sell on Dark Web for profit.
NAC's cybersecurity solution mitigates such risks by rejecting unauthorized or suspicious actors while restricting which users can access your network.
Cyberattacks have become an increasing threat to corporate resources, from malware, DDoS attacks and ransomware attacks that target corporate systems to hacker attempts at selling sensitive data via the Dark Web marketplace.
NAC solutions help mitigate these threats by blocking suspicious actors or those acting without authorization and restricting which users gain network access through specific means.
Improved Network Performance
It can improve network traffic. Businesses often install multiple SSIDs as temporary workarounds to provide employees with access.
While basic functionality can still be accomplished without NAC support, each broadcast will consume bandwidth. Role-based control in a NAC allows all employees to use one SSID, effectively enforcing policies based on each employee's job title within the company and thus decreasing bandwidth consumption by multiple SSIDs.
Role-specific agreements regarding bandwidth can also be created to prioritize certain users over others; for instance, employees would take priority over guests, company apps might take precedence over Snapchat and Facebook, etc.
Compliance
Regulators have become more stringent regarding how businesses manage customer data, particularly payment information and personal details.
NAC stands out by maintaining maximum network device security - something our competitors struggle with demonstrating. This makes NAC an invaluable component in any organization's cybersecurity arsenal.
Incident Response
Most NAC systems employ a policy-driven approach that gives organizations the agility needed for rapid network response to cyber incidents requiring rapid action against ransomware or worm attacks, for instance.
By editing thousands of devices or endpoint policies quickly after detecting any new threat posed to an enterprise network by iterations of threat patterns that grow more lateral or vertical, an incident response team can rapidly contain any further growth of iteration patterns that threaten network integrity and quickly reduce network outages.
Protect Your Data
NAC solutions can protect sensitive company data by restricting employee access without consent, thus protecting against data breach risk and loss.
They prevent workers who require intranet access from viewing customer personal data unless required as part of their job function and are granted the necessary permission by management. A NAC reduces risks related to loss and breach.
Saving Time and Money
Businesses often rely on antivirus and firewall solutions for network security and separate access control systems to tackle it.
But using multiple solutions at once may lead to disorganization and high administrative costs; businesses could save money and time by switching to an NAC solution instead of multiple ones.
Implementing network access control allows organizations to increase network security and mitigate risk while restricting access only to authorized devices and users.
Network Access Control also has additional advantages over time: such as increased network visibility, strengthened cybersecurity practices and meeting security regulations more successfully.
Improved Network Visibility
Network managers face numerous difficulties as a result of remote work, BYOD, and IoT connectivity expanding across their organizations.
Monitoring users and devices becomes impossible with such connectivity - NAC solves this by mapping all devices connected to a network before creating policies explicitly tailored for every user.
A More Effective Way To Comply
Regulations have tightened their grip on how businesses protect client information, especially payment and personal details.
Security regulations play a pivotal role in building trust with clients while decreasing risks from data theft - something NAC is equipped to assist with by ensuring all endpoints on networks adhere to an industry gold standard for security.
Also Read: Internet of Things (IoT) Security
What Are Network Access Control (NAC) Solutions?
NAC solutions authorize which users and devices may connect to wireless and wired networks, with security teams designing protocols as the basis of authorization policies that apply when connecting requests come through.
Specialized software then applies these protocols each time a connection request comes through.
NAC systems utilize services provided by third parties when receiving access requests or setting user permissions, creating tunnels similar to traditional Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) when authenticating users.
NAC software can also help to control which resources corporate users can access, preventing users from breaching their permission.
Security policies may set different access levels depending on each person's role. The architecture offers various features designed to assist network administrators in threat management more efficiently.
Network Access Control Capabilities
NAC Enhances network accessibility for network managers. Security teams can map which devices connect and how the perimeter of their networks is defined; with this knowledge, they can better detect threats before any damage has been caused and implement preventative measures before any irreparable harm comes about.
Instant User Profiling
Our NAC Portal software immediately verifies credentials when users request remote access and can identify devices or individuals which appear unfamiliar by matching this data against centrally stored resources.
Guest Networking Management
Network Access Control Solutions also allow companies to welcome guests securely. Guest admission allows companies to work with contractors and partners while mitigating potential security threats.
Access Control
NAC allows corporate networks to determine what users can and cannot do when given access. Unauthorized individuals cannot access sensitive resources like client databases, and malware will have difficulty moving throughout the network.
Network Management
NAC can aid network administrators with network management tasks, including resource allocation and load balancing.
Regular protocol checks are encouraged by keeping admission policies current; security teams then revisit their access strategies as a result of these requirements.
Network Access Control Cases
Network Access Control can be applied in many situations; here are just a few famous examples:
Guest and Partner Access
Companies must often grant network access to third parties such as partners, vendors and guests. NAC solutions enable this access while protecting network segmentation; non-employees may register through a captive portal or receive throttled Internet-only access to prevent internal access.
NAC BYOD
Organizations now must address both managed devices and mobile devices within their infrastructures. BYOD doesn't mean compromising security when implemented using an effective network access control solution - choose only patched, secured devices to enter.
When restricting unmanaged devices to guest virtual local networks (VLAN) or network segments. Or mandate personal devices be registered into mobile device management systems.
NAC for IoT
NAC Solutions for IoT Network Access control can simplify tasks while increasing security.
Printers, VoIP phones, and IoT-based devices often belong in their network slice (this is particularly relevant with IP phones where QOS settings may be adjusted to ensure call quality); NAC can automate the steering of these IoT devices into VLANs appropriately without manual provisioning them - thanks to its extensive profiling capability - helping reduce shadow IT/rogue access point issues as well as eliminating shadow IT in general.
NAC Incident Response
The NAC can be an invaluable asset when responding to incidents. Policy changes made quickly can halt an active ransomware attack or data breach, and many implementations offer visibility of network traffic that would not otherwise exist, providing key details about any incident under investigation.
Other vendors provide solutions that go far beyond traditional NAC technologies, with sophisticated solutions capable of detecting abnormal traffic faster and acting quicker than an analyst, thanks to artificial intelligence features and user behavior analytics that detect behavioral deviations within large data sets.
What Makes UP an NAC Solution?
Network Access Control (NAC) solutions rely on policies defined and managed from one central server and enforced across network elements using special servers devoted to authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA).
Many commercial NAC products employ the IEEE 802.1x authentication protocol with its respective enforcers while offering proprietary software as the policy server or endpoint agent software solution.
Early NAC solutions focused mainly on policy management and enforcement; modern versions go further, often adding features like endpoint profiling, guest management, BYOD support, and visibility analytics capabilities.
Some products even combine NAC products into larger security packages as part of their offering.
What Is The Most Common And Helpful Network Access Control Solution?
NAC comes in many shapes and forms, and endless ways of customizing them to your specifications exist. To simplify matters further, NAC can be divided into two primary types.
Preadmission
NAC systems with preadmission capabilities authenticate and assess users before permitting access to corporate networks.
Before their access is granted, everything takes place - the system stores user credentials in secure databases while access protocols establish requirements before devices gain entry; MFA solutions may also be employed alongside third-party authentication solutions.
Post-Admission
NAC post-admission differs significantly, though pre admission authorization can still be utilized here. Instead, post-admission security infrastructure of the network monitors what users can access once granted access to corporate resources through security protocols and internal firewalls that isolate each network resource while restricting users to only those resources within their privilege set - post-admission NAC will shut down endpoints that try to violate such privileges.
What Are The Advantages of Implementing a Network Access Control Solution?
Network perimeters continue to expand and fluctuate, especially as more mobile devices connect from different locations - leading to increasingly unpredictable edges as more mobile devices connect from disparate points - thus expanding threat surfaces, which presents businesses with increasing risks from data theft or cyber-attacks.
Implementing an Access Control Solution could offer tremendous advantages when used correctly and protect businesses against these attacks as a preventative measure.
Network Access Control has become an essential requirement. Data on individuals and corporations alike has never been so pivotal, yet the internet's connectivity makes networks vulnerable to attack, leaving managers struggling with increasingly complicated compliance regulations.
NAC simplifies compliance while protecting sensitive data and providing network access for those who need it.
The Application Of NAC Solutions
Network access control should not be purchased quickly; it needs planning, implementation, and fine-tuning before being purchased and implemented successfully.
Here are five steps that may prove helpful as you begin this journey towards implementing NAC solutions in your network.
Collect Data
To effectively limit user access, you will first need a comprehensive understanding of their use. What devices are they connecting to, and does their level of access serve any business purposes? When collecting this information, don't overlook servers, IoT devices, smartphones, or printers.
Identity Management: Stay Updated
Organizations that intend to add authentication components to their NAC policies must stay abreast of identity management updates to stay ahead.
Otherwise, their expensive new system could turn out more than it's worth when new employees cannot log into HR databases due to incompatible Active Directory servers syncing with HR databases; or when former employees that left six months ago remain de-provisioned through NAC systems without de-provisioning being de-provisioned in time.
Access Levels and Permissions Can Be Deliberated
You decide how best to utilize NAC capabilities. In an ideal world, this would include adhering strictly to "least privilege" principles by restricting each user access only to resources they require for their jobs - but most large networks cannot segment enough for that level of control to work smoothly; role-based access controls provide a good compromise between security and convenience.
Assess Your Set-up
Most NACs allow users to measure and assess policies before enforcing them - an essential step to identify potential issues before they become severe and require large support requests.
You should always test new or changed NAC policies before and after changes are implemented or altered.
Listen and Tune
Network access control solutions require ongoing assessment and adjustment as business changes change, threats emerge, or threats diminish over time.
Therefore, before embarking on any NAC journey, ensure your organization has sufficient resources for continuously optimizing the solution you choose.
Implementation of NAC Solutions
How should businesses install Network Access Control (NAC) solutions?
Methods vary based on network size, admission or post-admission method used, hybrid security choice etc. Most NAC solutions typically follow similar basic steps.
- Initial steps taken by security teams should include recording all devices connected to their networks and mapping out where these are physically situated on a map, thoroughly examining IoT devices such as connected laptops or employee-owned gadgets at network edges and conducting comprehensive reviews of employee devices and IoT.
- Security teams must now formulate a Network Access Control List. This listing should provide details regarding all authorized users and their level of access. Start by recording each identity on a central database - a network directory is ideal.
- Decide how you will grant access to users. It may be easier and faster if permissions were assigned based on roles rather than individuals; applying this approach saves time. When possible, utilize the principle of minimum privilege (PYOP); PYOP means giving enough freedom so the user can access only what is essential and restricting other unwanted features or functions.
- Install the necessary technology to implement your Access Control List and test your access portal to ensure only authorized users have access.
- Develop and maintain systems for updating the NAC system when required, depending on network configuration changes and the evolution of Access Control Lists. As network environments change, so will App updates needed to keep antivirus, encryption, and access control technologies up-to-date.
Follow these steps to establish secure network access systems for business. While DIY may sometimes work, NAC service providers possess the expertise and technologies to provide customized network security solutions that best suit their customers.
A provides a complete suite of solutions designed to implement Zero Trust Principles into network security measures, with our NAC products serving as an intermediary between availability and security, protecting essential resources against cyber-attacks while enabling productive users.
These tailored solutions can accommodate any network architecture as they incorporate cutting-edge authentication and encryption processes. Contact our team of specialists now. They're here to assist with achieving strict network security while simplifying access for critical users.
Last Thoughts
Access control should only be considered part of an overall security strategy, not its sole solution. Network access limitations are essential, but good data protection remains.
With its comprehensive capabilities in risk identification, management, and process efficiencies offered by Risk and Compliance Platform - Risk and Compliance Platform makes managing risks simple!
