Network access control (NAC) solutions protect organizations from unauthorized access to data and resources. They prevent unauthorized devices from joining networks and define user and device access policies. These are some reasons you need to protect your network with NAC.
IoT devices are inherently untrustworthy
With the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices, visibility into your network has never been more critical. Knowing what devices are on your network will help you prepare for attacks. It would be best to use secure hardware and keep cybersecurity vulnerabilities in mind throughout development. For example, you can mitigate the risk of a car key hack by placing the FOB in a metal box away from hallways and windows.
Organizations should consider implementing network access control solutions to secure IoT devices and networks. Unfortunately, traditional network access control methods rely on an outdated trust model. As your network edges expand, you will need network access control solutions to ensure your entire infrastructure’s security. With network security solutions designed with zero trust in mind, you can ensure the safety of your network.
Network access control solutions should identify the devices connecting to your network and provide a baseline for monitoring and tracking them. Network segments can also be created to identify any suspicious activity. Security gateways are another way to ensure the security of your IoT devices. They act as an intermediary between the IoT devices and your network and have more memory and processing power than IoT devices. They should also enforce the least-privileged access principle, ensuring that only the devices need access to perform their function.
It prevents unauthorized devices from joining your network
Network access control (NAC) is essential to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to your network. Unauthorized devices can be anything from employees bringing them to devices not registered under a BYOD policy. Even IT teams may forget about a device running after testing, so NAC helps them identify and prevent it from connecting to the network. The emergence of the IoT and BYOD has shifted the requirements for NAC. Instead of relying on manual authentication, NAC automates these processes. Furthermore, NAC helps IT administrators determine if special compliance rules apply to a particular device.
NAC is beneficial for organizations deploying Internet of Things devices. Since IoT devices are not typically protected by antivirus or host intrusion prevention software, they can become a dangerous target for attackers. NAC can help mitigate the risks posed by IoT devices by allowing administrators to implement different access policies for different categories of devices. It can also help organizations manage IoT device access policies for contractors, consultants, partners, and non-employees.
It allows you to define policies for granting access to users
Network access control solutions enable you to define policies for granting access to different users, devices, and systems on your network. These policies determine who can access network resources and prevent unauthorized access. You can also define policies based on the purpose for which the network is used. This means you can decide who can access information and what they can do with it.
The first step in implementing network access control is to define user identities. This can be done through a directory system, which can classify users and groups by their roles. Permissions are the next step, and this process involves categorizing users and groups by the level of access they need to perform their job duties. Finally, you should only grant users access to the network resources they need.
Another critical step in implementing an effective network access control solution is identifying the users and devices that can be trusted. For example, employees often use their widgets to access network resources but are not registered under their BYOD policy. This creates a problem for the IT team, as employees may leave these devices running after testing. Network access control solutions can help you protect your network by identifying these unauthorized devices and limiting their access privileges.
It can be used during incident response
Network access control solutions can protect your network from security breaches by automatically disabling unauthorized devices and quarantining them. These solutions can also monitor device behavior and apply security analytics and machine learning. Whether tackling an ongoing data breach or containing a ransomware outbreak, network access control solutions can help you minimize the damage and reduce risk. When used with automated detection, these solutions allow you to respond immediately to security threats and minimize any impact on your business. Network access control solutions give network administrators complete visibility into connected devices and the ability to profile them to improve security policies. These solutions also enhance incident response by limiting access to corporate resources to authorized users.
