Network access control (NAC) solutions enforce security policy at the point of network access, ensuring that only authorized and compliant devices can connect to your network. This guide helps you evaluate and select the right NAC solution.
Deployment Models
NAC solutions can be deployed inline (all traffic passes through the NAC device) or out-of-band (the NAC system monitors network traffic but doesn't sit in the data path). Each model has trade-offs in terms of performance impact and flexibility.
Endpoint Assessment
A key NAC capability is assessing the security posture of connecting endpoints. This includes checking for up-to-date antivirus, current patches, and compliance with other security policies. Agents can be permanent, temporary (installed on connection), or agentless.
Guest Access Management
Most organizations need to provide network access to guests and contractors while keeping them isolated from sensitive internal resources. Evaluate how each NAC solution handles guest provisioning and quarantine.
Integration
NAC solutions should integrate with your existing directory services for authentication, your patch management system for endpoint assessment, and your SIEM for logging and alerting.