Network security has never been more important for the digital With the challenge of a world of ever-growing digital footprints and increasing cyber threats, securing the organization’s network is a major concern for most enterprises. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, IoT devices and remote work have effectively spread the traditional network perimeter into a million new potential attack vectors. That’s where Network Access Control (NAC) comes in as a key enabler to solid security. Indeed, a robust NAC cybersecurity architecture is not an expensive add-on but rather an imperative for organizations looking to safeguard sensitive information and critical infrastructure from unauthorized access.
NAC solutions allow an organization to view all devices as they connect to a network and apply security policy so that only trusted, known and compliant devices can access network resources. This gatekeeper role is the hallmark of the battle against malware and security breaches. One report published recently focuses on how the relevance of this technology is rising significantly and as a result, the worldwide NAC market will achieve sales worth $7.1 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during 2019-2030 of 19.3%. This growth highlights the growing acceptance among companies of how network access policies are critical to security today. This article will take a look at some of the leading NAC solutions in use today, including what they have to offer and how they can help organizations secure their information systems.
Core Features of a NAC that Serves its Function
Before getting into individual remedies, there is a certain amount of knowledge that must be acquired to have an effective NAC system. In itself, a NAC product should be very good in some essential domains. First and foremost is visibility. You’re not going to be able to defend what you can’t see. An efficient NAC solution needs to discover and profile all devices that are attempting to connect to the network, whether it’s a corporate laptop, a personal smartphone or an IoT sensor. This holistic visibility is what everything else NAC-related rests on.
The NAC solution should conduct a posture assessment after the discovery of the device. This includes verifying that the device conforms to the company’s security policies. That could be making sure you have the most recent antivirus software running and installed, it could be that your OS is patched up, or that there are no rogue applications anywhere. Endpoints that fail the test can be placed in a quarantined network segment for remediation, or denied any network access. This automated policy enforcement is a critical element of a proactive NAC cybersecurity posture, as it prevents non-compliant devices from introducing risks to the broader network.
Finally, a contemporary NAC solution must deliver dynamic and fine-grained access control.” This is much more complicated than just allow-or-deny. Depending on the role you are in, the device’s posture, time of day, and location, NAC may provide differentiated access privileges. For instance, an on-campus marketing staff member with a company-provisioned laptop may enjoy unrestricted access to network resources, while the very same person visiting from home using their personal tablet and local Wi-Fi service at the coffee shop in town might have email-only access and restricted access to a couple of cloud applications. This concept is the foundation of what’s called a zero-trust model in security.
Leading NAC Solutions for the Modern Enterprise
NAC product market is well established and there are multiple vendors in the mix with their own strengths. Which to buy will depend on an employer’s particular needs, what they already have built and then their security posture. Here’s a good rundown of some the best options that both receive high marks from top analysts and have strong reputations with users for being well-rounded solutions.
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)
Cisco is obviously more dominant as far as the networking guys are concerned and it has quite a penetration with its Identity Services Engine (ISE), which is a really good NAC solution. ISE uses network infrastructure for implementing security policies, which offers unparalled sophistication and monitoring. It is tightly integrated with the extensive range of Cisco switches, wireless controllers, and security appliances for a unified security solution.
Context-sensitive policy enforcement is one of ISE’s strengths. It accumulates a wealth of situational data like user ID, device type, location, and application being accessed to enable very granular access decisions. For instance, ISE is able to distinguish between a physician reading patient history from the hospital’s workstation and a guest accessing Wi-Fi in the hospital lobby -then apply very distinct security policies when they do. With its strong profiling capabilities, it can classify the broadest set of devices and systems, such as traditional IT assets through to specialized IoT and operational technology (OT) devices used in manufacturing or healthcare facilities. This makes it a favorable candidate for complex, non-homogeneous structures.
Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager
A product that is part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Aruba ClearPass is the second leading NAC solution that specializes in vendor-neutral support. As it plugs into Aruba’s own networking gear, ClearPass is also engineered to plug in with other third-party network, security and IT management systems. This flexibility is a significant advantage for customers who have mixed vendor environments because it enables them to centrifugate NAC policy across its entire infrastructure without being limited to a single hardware provider.
BYOD and Guest Access Information in ClearPass: ClearPass does a great job of simplifying BYOD and guest access workflows. It offers an easy self-service onboarding platform for users to safely onboard their personal devices and connect securely over the network, verifying compliance with corporate security policies. ClearPass also offers sophisticated reporting and analytics so IT can gain deep visibility into access events and trends. This information is critical for troubleshooting, forensic security analysis, and proving compliance with regulatory mandates such as HIPAA or PCI DSS.
Forescout Platform
Forescout offers an unusual agentless approach to NAC that differentiates it from most of the other players in the space. Unlike software agents, which must be present at endpoints, the Forescout Platform passively listens to network traffic and actively scans devices to identify, classify, and assess them. This agentless approach makes deployment and management much easier (particularly in large or complicated environments with lots of unmanaged devices like IoT and OT systems).
Its strength is really in device visibility and controlling devices. It can recognize and profile nearly any device that connects to the network, from old-fashioned computers to industrial control systems and medical devices. When a device is discovered, Forescout can then orchestrate any of a number of actions across many security and IT management tools to enforce policy. For example, if Forescout identifies an exposed IoT camera, it can dynamically author a firewall rule to segment that device, create a ticket in the IT service management solution, and initiate a vulnerability scan. This automatic response functionality is a strong weapon to keep threats under control in real-time.
Key Considerations for Implementation
Selecting a top-tier NAC solution is only the first step. A successful implementation requires careful planning and a phased approach. Organizations should consider the following best practices to maximize the value of their investment in a NAC cybersecurity platform:
- For starters, make NAC just watch things; get a feel for your style. Doing this thing lets you find out about all devices on a network…like, even without bothering people. Start here get you familiar with your network, maybe even see policy issues before you really get going.
- Instead of one-size-fits-all, try policies specific to each case. Create access policies that fit user roles, device types, and business needs. Good policy should mean security measures aren’t a drag on how business really works.
- Account for wrinkles: Old systems won’t always pass muster on security. Think about how you’ll manage exceptions, maybe by segmenting them inside the network under close watch.
- Tell folks about updates to keep things secure. For NAC success, tell employees that security is vital and offer simple device onboarding steps.
- NAC works best see if it’s hooked up with other security tools, like a team. For a truly holistic security posture, integrate your NAC with firewall, SIEM, and vulnerability tools so threat response becomes automated.
Final Analysis
As the attack surface continues to grow, Network Access Control has reliably become a cornerstone of enterprise security. The days of being unable to see every device, evaluate its security posture and apply granular access policies are behind us. Offerings from providers such as Cisco, Aruba and Forescout are delivering that strong functionality required to secure modern complex networks – whether it’s the corporate network, a data center or IoT and OT devices spreading like wildfire.
A NAC cybersecurity strategy is no small task, but the rewards are there for all to see. What’s more, it lessens the threat of security lapses, maintains compliance with those regulations, and gives you the visibility and control needed to manage an environment where network evolution is a constant. With a planned rollout approach, an organization can develop a completely customized security strategy that protects its most valuable data from the inside out.
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