Network access control is an essential security measure utilised by organisations to prevent unauthorised individuals from accessing their resources. This procedure is especially important for larger entities like banks, universities,and schools, as they are more susceptible to security risks due to a higher volume of traffic from employees, visitors, customers, consultants, clients, partners, and others.
Network access control is a crucial measure employed to protect a private network and the sensitive data and resources associated with it. Typically, IT administrators formulate security protocols aiming to restrict the access and availability of network resources specifically for end-users’ devices.
Prominent organisations are adopting the Internet of Things (IoT) and the widespread use of personal devices (BYOD) to optimise user satisfaction while ensuring a controlled and secure network access for end-users. If you are interested in implementing network access control for your organization, check out the NAC provider.
Key Aspects of Network Access Control
Some elements of network access control include:
Security Check
Network access management typically involves creating a network policy that evaluates and verifies the login information of endpoint devices. The endpoint device, which can be the end-user.
Is evaluated to Ensure compliance with the security policy and to mitigate any potential threats.
Profiling
The network resources are safeguarded by scanning and profiling.
End-users and their respective device types to confirm that they do not pose any potential threats.
Centralised Control Access
The process of monitoring and verifying the identity of users and devices connected to the network has evolved. Instead of managing this task from various sources, a centralised security.
Management system equipped with a network access control (NAC) device now handles the monitoring and access authorisation for both Individual users and guests.
Bidirectional Integration
Through the utilisation of the open/RESTful API,
Network access control seamlessly incorporates additional network and security solutions into the existing security policy.
Profile Connectivity Views
The system monitors the devices used to connect to the organisation’s wired or wireless network. It collects information about the devices and their connection locations.
Which is then utilised to enhance network security in the future.
Device Registration
Organisations cannot feasibly authenticate and authorise every device connected to their network. Various end-user devices, including iOS and Android devices, Netbooks, and others, necessitate registration. The network infrastructure is designed to facilitate self-registration for each of these devices.
The Significance of Network Access Control
Improved Security
In order to enhance security measures,it is crucial to establish protocols that can authenticate both end-users and mobile devices. This authentication process will not only improve their visibility within the system but also facilitate effective monitoring and regulation of threats such as malware and unauthorised access. This can be efficiently achieved through a centralised management centre.
Saves Costs
In the context of larger organisations, their network resources frequently face the risk of being compromised by malware and unauthorised individuals. The consequences of Data loss can be severe, resulting in substantial financial losses for companies as well as damage to their reputation. To mitigate these risks and protect the interests of all stakeholders, it is essential to establish a robust network access control system that ensures a secure network environment.
Automation
In situations where network access control is not implemented, mobile devices and users have to undergo manual assessment and verification to ensure they comply with the security policy requirements. However, network access control simplifies this process by automating it, resulting in quicker processing times, especially when dealing with multiple endpoint devices attempting to connect to the network.
Enhanced IT Experiences
Network access control ensures the protection of network resources against unauthorised entry, which greatly enhances the end-users’ experience. It instils confidence in their ability to access an organisation’s NAC-enabled network, resulting in reduced workload for IT administrators.
Ease of Control
Network access control provides organisations with the ability to monitor and manage the devices and users that connect to their network. It allows them to set limits on the level of access each device or user can have, thus safeguarding their network resources from unauthorised individuals. This proactive approach helps prevent infiltration and protects the organisation’s network assets.
As a company expands, it inevitably becomes more vulnerable to security breaches targeting its network and other assets. This expansion entails a rise in the volume of endpoint devices attempting to connect to the company’s network, including those used by employees, business partners, visitors, and third-party suppliers. To mitigate any potential risks, network access control is implemented to bolster the organisation’s network security.
