Network access control (NAC) is a security technology that ensures endpoints—laptops, PDAs, smart phones, and other devices—entering the enterprise comply with security policies and run no risk of bringing malware inside the perimeter of the corporate network.
But a recent report predicts the death of modern NAC products due to their complexity and lack of interoperability. So if NAC can’t fill the security gap, what should administrators in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) look for in security products?
Rich Weiss, director of endpoint product marketing at Check Point Software, says most NAC products are overly complex because they’re trying to do too many tasks, such as changing network infrastructure, serving as network gateways, and assessing endpoints. And, he adds, these products usually have standalone management consoles that have either very little or no integration with existing security products. [read more]
Source: The Death of NAC? Security Options for the SME, Sixto Ortiz Jr., Processor.com, Lincoln, Neb., May 25, 2007.