What's the best way to control network access for your organization?

1 Types of NAC

There are different ways to classify NAC solutions, but one common distinction is between agent-based and agentless NAC. Agent-based NAC requires installing a software agent on each device that wants to access the network, while agentless NAC does not. Agent-based NAC can provide more granular and continuous control over devices, but it also requires more management and compatibility issues. Agentless NAC can be easier to deploy and scale, but it may not be able to detect or remediate some types of threats or vulnerabilities.

2 Benefits of NAC

NAC can offer several benefits for your organization, such as improving security by preventing unauthorized or compromised devices from accessing your network and enforcing security policies and compliance standards. It can also enhance visibility by helping you monitor and audit your network devices, users, and activities. Additionally, NAC can support mobility and the growing trend of mobile and remote work, as well as bring your own device (BYOD) policies, allowing employees and guests to access your network from different devices and locations while still maintaining control and security.

3 Drawbacks of NAC

NAC can have some drawbacks for your organization which include increasing complexity, raising costs, and creating risks. Integrating NAC with other systems and tools, such as IAM, firewalls, or switches, can add another layer of complexity to your network architecture and administration. Investing in hardware, software, or cloud services, as well as training and maintenance can incur significant costs for your organization. Additionally, false positives, false negatives, or human errors may arise from NAC which can create risks for your organization. This could lead to blocking or allowing devices that should not be, or missing some devices that are not detected or reported by NAC. Furthermore, mistakes in configuring or updating your NAC policies or settings may occur.

4 Best practices for NAC

To make the most of NAC for your organization, you should follow some best practices. This starts with defining your goals and requirements, such as network size, complexity, and diversity, as well as security objectives, compliance obligations, and user expectations. Then you should choose a NAC solution that matches your budget and resources. Compare different types and vendors of NAC solutions, and evaluate their features, functionality, and compatibility. Test and pilot the solution before deploying it across your network. Additionally, implement your NAC solution in a phased and systematic manner, while monitoring its performance and impact. Communicate and educate users about the benefits and expectations of NAC, provide them with support and feedback, review and update policies regularly, and respond to any incidents or issues promptly.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?