Which network access control (NAC) solutions provide the most robust threat detection capabilities?

Darktrace is a good tool for network threat detection and response. If you have any tool which can learn and build a posture which can detect the deviation in the traffic to alert anomalies is considered useful.

Network Access Control (NAC) solutions offer robust threat detection capabilities, such as real-time detection, granular control, and integration with other security products. Other options include Aruba ClearPass, ForeScout CounterACT, Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR, FortiNAC, and Juniper Networks Junos Space Security Director with Policy Enforcer.

If you got money to burn, I like the Juniper SRX series, they come in all sizes and shapes. It is said, that a Juniper has everything but long hair and beautiful legs. If you don't have money to burn, OpnSense is pretty handy, its a FreeBSD native OS that has a very slick install, loads of plug ins and a web based interface. Antivirus, Deep inspection, firewalling, routing, LDAP . .you name it and its Free If you can get your hands on a minipc with 4-6 gig ports, you can do some pretty fancy stuff with it. Should cost $300-600, smash opnsense on it and you are good to go right after install.

I’ve seen firsthand how Sepio stands out with its unmatched level 1 layer visibility and ability to detect spoofed devices—capabilities that truly set it apart from the competition. While many solutions, like Cisco, offer solid NAC options, Sepio simplifies the setup process significantly, making it more accessible and effective. This ease of deployment ensures that compliance and security aren’t just achievable goals, but are seamlessly integrated into your network’s everyday operations in 1-2 days With Sepio, you get the assurance of comprehensive protection and the convenience of a user-friendly setup, making it a top choice for those serious about safeguarding their network #CyberSecurity #NetworkSecurity #NAC #TechInnovation #Sepio

NAC is a concept and each vendor implements the concept with some additionnals features. these make each solution specific and special. choosing among theses will be based on your specifics needs, your existing infrastructure and also you budget. the best one is the one that helps you achieve your goals regarding to your business needs and you budget.

Aruba ClearPass, ForeScout CounterACT, and Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) are top NAC solutions with strong threat detection capabilities. They utilize real-time monitoring, integration with other security tools, and enhanced threat intelligence to provide thorough insight into network traffic, identifying anomalies, malicious activities, and unauthorized access. Cisco ISE uses profiling and machine learning for threat detection. Aruba ClearPass excels in endpoint visibility and control, while ForeScout CounterACT is strong in compliance and device visibility. These features ensure proactive threat detection and response, enhancing overall network security.

Establishing detailed and robust security policies is essential. These policies should define the conditions under which devices can access the network and outline the compliance requirements for devices and users.. Continuous Monitoring and Assessment: Effective NAC solutions continuously monitor devices after they have been granted access to the network. This ongoing assessment ensures that devices remain compliant with security policies, detecting any changes that might introduce vulnerabilities.

The selected NAC solution must seamlessly integrate with the incident detection and response ecosystem. To optimize service efficiency, it should facilitate the correlation of NAC detections with other in-house solutions, thereby enriching incident cases with enhanced contextual data.

One of the best treat detection suite is NESSUS that have the capability to monitor, detect and sound alarm for correlations.

I think this is the most important thing to do first before we implement any kind of NAC. Make sure that the organization make policy and enforce the policy using NAC. Choosing the technology is a bit tricky, but you must know exacly what your organization needs. Start from basics if you still not sure what you've needed

Before selecting a NAC tool, ensure a clear policy definition for implementation and application. Key points include: maintaining a detailed CMDB of infrastructure assets, including technologies, software, manufacturers, and a standardized naming convention (e.g., servers named with "S" followed by "WIN/UNI"). Define monitoring controls to ensure compliance during new environment deployments and updates. Gradual implementation is recommended, with extra monitoring in the initial months to identify security and business impact exceptions. Regularly review and update the policy, ensuring the CISO shares updates with all IT teams.

Policy enforcement in Network Access Control (NAC) involves applying and managing security policies to ensure that only authorized and compliant devices can access network resources. Policy Definition - Access Policies: Define who (users/devices) can access which network resources under what conditions. Policies may vary based on user roles, device types, and security posture. - Compliance Policies.. Establish the security requirements that devices must meet to gain and maintain access. This includes criteria such as antivirus status, operating system patches, and configuration settings

NAC solutions are built around NAC policies, which are defined on a central policy server and enforced by elements of the network infrastructure (switches, routers, firewalls, and so on). A separate server(s) may also be used for authentication, authorization, and accounting

I agree, enforcement is a key requirement for any NAC solution. It’s critical the NAC solution can perform enforcement of non-compliant devices and rogue devices. Without Enforcement you only have an expensive visibility solution. Many organizations struggle with configuring enforcement because of switch dependencies and skillsets required. The InfoExpress EasyNAC solution doesn’t have network dependencies and doesn’t require any configuration changes to the network. This is what makes Easy NAC simple to deploy. It also doesn’t require agents.

User authentication in Network Access Control (NAC) is a critical process that verifies the identity of users trying to access the network, ensuring that only authorized individuals can connect. Authentication Methods - Password-Based Authentication**: The most basic form, requiring users to enter a username and password. Strong password policies (e.g., complexity, expiration) are essential to enhance security. - Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) :Enhances security by requiring two or more verification methods. Common factors include something the user knows (password), something the user has (smartphone for OTP), and something the user is (biometrics). - Certificate-Based Authentication

One of the recent challenges with network access is increased remote work that has increased due to COVID and been sustained due to employee retention value. I use the following checklist to address compliance issues for remote work environments when I'm driving IT Network Compliance Initiatives: + Establish a remote work program with process and change management framework + Establish remote work policies and procedures for employees and contractors + Detail the network services offered + Verify scalable network performance + Plan for and address network endpoint security, patching, equipment, access control, encryption, collaboration tools, data protection, incident response, user training, audits, testing, back up and recovery

Compliance checks are an integral part of Network Access Control (NAC) systems, ensuring that devices meet security requirements before and during network access. Here are a few key compliance checks commonly implemented in NAC solutions: Antivirus Status - Antivirus Installation: Checking if an antivirus software is installed on the device. Operating System Patches**: - OS VersionVerifying that the device is running an approved version of the operating system. - patch Management: Ensuring the device has the latest security patches and updates installed. 3. **Firewall Status Device Configuration - Secure Configurations

Having a NAC solution with dynamic response capabilities adds a strong layer of defense to a network by shrinking the response time to potential threats from minutes, hours, or even days, with all-human enforcement mechanisms, but still requires some well-trained professionals to set up properly and maintain. The challenge of deployment is to shrink false positive traffic to a minimum, and human intervention will always be necessary to confirm if the NAC is actually only blocking the desired traffic, but a well-configured NAC solution allows those who rely on their networks to sleep soundly at night, knowing they're systems aren't helpless until they get into the office next Monday.

To enhance incident detection and response capabilities, it is crucial to deploy a well-configured NAC tool capable of automatically mitigating potential risks. A best practice involves utilizing guest networks or honeypots to redirect potential threats into isolated environments. This approach allows continuous monitoring of suspicious activities, generating additional traces and evidence. It aids in accurately determining whether the source is a genuine threat or a false positive, thereby improving overall network security posture.

Be sure to take a step back and look at the big picture for NAC before you choose a platform. The real challenge with NAC is its not just a simple thing to achieve. It’s a long journey. You will need to spend time trying to solve and understand the following: ? What are the polices that the users will need ? What are my true application dependencies o This can be hard if the apps are older and home grown ? Be mindful of machine, servers, IoT and other devices on the network ? Who is going to manage the NAC system. Its not just a simple “set and forget it” Lastly just know that this will take 3-4x longer than you plan for and you WILL break things when you hit that “enforce” button, and that’s ok. Start small and grow it from there. -DP

Les fournisseurs comme Cisco et Fortinet proposent des solutions efficaces et complètes, cependant dans la catégorie des NAC les acteurs Open Source sont capables de proposer également des solutions efficaces et facilement maintenables. PacketFence est une de ces solutions qui permet de contr?ler les accès via des règles et politiques à définir.

It is also important to consider several factors beyond threat detection capabilities such as compatibility of the device at scale (byod and iot included), integration with existing security infrastructure for a unified response to threat, adequate OEM support and future proofing.

A good example of where NAC is critical is when you need to allow third parties into your network to provide troubleshooting support. Giving VPN access to unknown devices without the implementation of NAC is a serious risk to your infrastructure.

Here are some robust NAC solutions known for their threat detection capabilities: Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE): Cisco ISE is an excellent choice for large enterprises with advanced requirements. It provides robust compliance features, scalability, and seamless integration. Aruba ClearPass: Aruba ClearPass is well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). It offers compliance features and user profiling. ClearPass simplifies network access control for SMBs, making it a solid choice. Fortinet FortiNAC: FortiNAC is a cloud-based NAC solution. It provides robust threat detection capabilities and integrates well with existing infrastructure. Its cloud-based approach allows for flexibility and scalability.