What NAC users want

Security: Network Access Control Network World's Security: Network Access Control Newsletter, 10/23/07 What NAC users want By Tim Greene About half of NAC users want the technology for controlling user access to networks, while only a third want it to address network-security compliance, according to a survey sponsored by NAC vendor Nevis Networks. According to results from 450 users, 53% want NAC to control remote-user access, and 48% each want it to control access by managed and unmanaged users, the survey says. Of the group, 33% say they want NAC to address network security compliance - one of the main functions of NAC. Respondents were asked to pick their reasons from among nine choices, and could pick more than one. The other options were to protect critical assets, IP-connected devices and wireless devices; address regulatory requirements and reduce the cost of security incidents. Webcast: Get the latest on NAC Learn the latest on Network Access Control in Network World's Perspectives Editorial Webcast. Discover how IT professionals can leverage this hot security technology in their networks, while also learning about key management areas that have not yet been perfected. To learn more click here. The way the survey worked, 65,000 recipients of eMedia security and networking newsletters were asked to fill out the questionnaire and the first 450 who presented valid corporate e-mail addresses were counted. Forty four percent of the respondents say that endpoint-compliance checking is either of top importance or is very important. More important, however were network authentication (62%) and identity-based access control (59%), the survey says. Very few of those polled - just 3% - consider NAC their primary method to control user access to network resources, which is something NAC can do, but often in conjunction with other technologies. The most popular primary method is access rights set by RADIUS or directories (31%), followed by VPNs (21%), data center firewalls (16%) and VLANs (9%). The questionnaire listed eight possible responses plus “other.” A majority of those who responded, 58%, say they lack the ability to determine at any given moment, which users are accessing what network resources. This is a feature of some NAC gear.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Tim Greene is a senior editor at Network World, covering network access control, virtual private networking gear, remote access, WAN acceleration and aspects of VoIP technology. You can reach him at tgreene@nww.com. ARCHIVE Archive of the Security: Network Access Control Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007