- December 8, 2023
- Posted by: Henry Chrizostom
- Category: Cyber security
Overview
In our current digitally interconnected landscape, safeguarding sensitive data and infrastructure is of the utmost importance. The proliferation of cyber threats has made it increasingly critical to implement robust network security measures. Network Access Control (NAC) solutions have emerged as a crucial tool for reinforcing network defences, enabling authorized access, and minimizing potential risks.
According to the 2022 Ponemon Cost of Insider Threats Global Report, it is stated that…
Insider threats are a serious and growing risk for modern organizations, with incidents rising by 44% over the past two years and costs per incident increasing by more than a third to $15.38 million. This highlights the need for organizations to prioritize measures to prevent and detect insider threats.
- The cost of credential theft to organizations has increased from $2.79 million in 2020 to $4.6 million presently, marking a 65% rise.
- The average time to contain an insider threat incident increased from 77 to 85 days, resulting in increased containment costs for organizations.
- On an annualized basis, organizations incur an average cost of $17.19 million for incidents that take more than 90 days to contain.
Understanding Network Access Control (NAC)
Network Access Control (NAC) is an all-inclusive methodology that governs and supervises user and device access to a network. It functions as a gatekeeper, verifying and approving devices before providing access. NAC solutions enforce security protocols, conduct endpoint compliance checks, and continuously monitor network activities to ensure complete security.
This tool gathers up-to-date contextual information for a network, which encompasses:
- Users and User Groups (Who?)
It is essential to onboard all network users, including employees, vendors, consultants, and guests, with visibility. This ensures network security and transparency while facilitating efficient operations for all users.
- Device Type (What?)
You can help facilitate your organisation with an all-inclusive device control mechanism that enables complete supervision over all network-connected devices. This will empower your organisation to have comprehensive control over the devices connected to your network, ensuring the utmost precision and security in network management.
- Access Time (When?)
Organizations can regulate the time at which devices and users are permitted to connect to their networks by setting access controls that align with their security requirements. Controlling network access, reduces the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, thereby increasing the overall security of their network environment.
- Access Location (Where?)
To optimise network security and control, it is imperative to identify the specific sources to which users are connected and establish granular policies accordingly. By doing so, organisations can ensure that remain safe from potential threats and that their users are able to access only the resources they need.
- Access Type (Wired, Wireless, or VPN) (How?)
Implementing Network Access Control (NAC) solutions enables the customisation of network authorisation policies based on user access type. NAC guarantees the protection and security of your network, irrespective of whether the user is connected via a Wired, Wireless, or VPN connection.
- Network Threats and Vulnerabilities.
The Network Access Control (NAC) Solution is designed to assess endpoint compliance checks, ensuring that devices meet security standards before granting access. This solution can effectively isolate non-compliant or compromised endpoints to prevent them from accessing critical network segments.
The Importance of NAC Solutions in Network Security
Network Access Control (NAC) solutions play a pivotal role in fortifying network security by addressing the following critical needs.
Enhanced Visibility and Control
An effective way to manage the security of network devices is through Network Access Control (NAC) solutions. By offering a comprehensive overview of all devices that are trying to access the network, organisations can accurately identify and categorize each device, which helps in creating access policies that are tailored to the device type, user roles, and security posture in line with the organization’s security policy. Implementing NAC solutions not only ensures that only authorized devices can connect to the network but also provides an added layer of protection against potential security threats.
Endpoint Compliance
Before allowing access, the Network Access Control (NAC) process is utilized to guarantee that endpoint security standards are being followed. NAC checks for up-to-date antivirus software, encrypted hard drives, and necessary configurations or applications on devices to reduce vulnerability risks. This process guarantees that endpoints that pose a risk and do not meet security requirements are unable to establish a connection.
Segmentation and Isolation
Network Access Control (NAC) is a security solution that offers an effective approach to controlling access to networks. By segmenting networks and enforcing access controls, NAC prevents lateral movement of threats. Additionally, NAC can provision dynamic Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) for authorized users, which enables them to access resources and applications securely. Network Access Control (NAC) has the ability to effectively contain compromised devices by restricting their access to specific networks. This, in turn, reduces the potential impact on the broader network, thus maintaining the integrity of the network.
Continuous Monitoring and Threat Response
NAC monitors network activity, identifies suspicious behaviors and unauthorized access, and provides real-time alerts to swiftly respond to potential security breaches by quarantining compromised endpoints.
Designing and Implementing NAC Solutions
The successful implementation of Network Access Control (NAC) solutions is predicated on meticulous planning and execution. The integration of NAC solutions with an organisation’s network infrastructure requires a deliberate approach to ensure seamless and uninterrupted network operations. As such, it is imperative that organisations engage in a comprehensive evaluation of their network infrastructure before embarking on the deployment of NAC solutions. This will enable them to identify any potential bottlenecks or areas of vulnerability that may impede the smooth functioning of the network. By doing so, organisations can ensure the successful implementation of NAC solutions and safeguard their network infrastructure against potential security threats and breaches.
Assessment and Planning
Performing a thorough evaluation of your existing infrastructure is the initial and most critical phase when implementing NAC solutions in your organization. Unfortunately, numerous organizations tend to skip this stage and directly select specific NAC solutions without proper evaluation. This often leads to endpoints with incorrect configurations that do not align with the organization’s requirements. Such a situation can prove to be detrimental to the success of your NAC implementation.
To ensure the security of your network, it’s important to conduct a comprehensive assessment of your current infrastructure. This will help you to identify any potential vulnerabilities and define clear security objectives. Once you’ve done this, the next step is to create a roadmap that outlines the implementation of NAC. This roadmap should be designed with scalability and integration in mind to ensure that it can be seamlessly integrated with your existing security systems.
During the assessment, ensure that your NAC solution implements security objectives in line with your company’s internal information security policy and standards. These are some questions that can assist you in collecting the necessary information regarding network connection requirements:
- Do you allow external users, such as vendors, consultants, or guests, to connect to your network?
- Does your organization permit only updated Windows and macOS Computers? What other devices are allowed on your network? Is Linux-based endpoint access restricted by your organization?
- Are there any time-based restrictions on network access? Are certain groups of users prohibited from connecting at specific times?
- Does your organisation permit remote work, and is it location-based for VPN access?
- What are the requirements for endpoint compliance prior to network access, and what are the appropriate remediation procedures for non-compliant devices?
- Do you assign different levels of network access to different user groups, such as employees, vendors, consultants, and guests? Are specific devices, such as printers, scanners, and cameras, only granted service access?
- Does the organisation permit the use of personal devices for accessing both internal and external networks?
- Do your guest users have access only to the internet?
Creation of Access Policy
Access policies are a crucial aspect of an organization’s security framework. Access policies refer to a set of regulations and guidelines that determine how users can interact with an organization’s data and systems. These policies are formulated after evaluating an organization’s security requirements through a risk assessment process to create comprehensive, well-defined access policies during the assessment and planning stage. Defining user roles, access privileges, and compliance criteria is crucial to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to data for permitted purposes. By following these access policies, organisations can reduce the risk of unauthorised access, data loss, or other security breaches.
In the ever-changing world of security, it is vital to regularly review and update security policies. Effective security policies are critical to an organization’s ability to protect its valuable assets, including sensitive information and intellectual property. By conducting regular reviews and ensuring that policies are in line with internally approved security standards, organisations can maintain a high level of security and minimise the risk of security breaches. Regular reviews also help identify potential vulnerabilities and allow for proactive measures to address them.
Access policies on NAC solutions grant network access to user groups for internal corporate or internet use. The table below outlines access needs for different user groups. Please note that these requirements may vary based on your approved security standards.
| Access Level | User/Device Group |
| Internet |
|
| Corporate Access |
|
Network Access Control (NAC) serves as the first line of defense to ensure that only authorized users are granted access to the network. To allow internal corporate access, it is crucial to establish a well-defined and comprehensive policy and perform necessary compliance checks on users.
Organizations must perform essential security checks when onboarding users to ensure safe and secure internal access. By relying on three key groups – Machine Authentication, User Authentication, and Endpoint Compliance checks – the NAC solution can create a comprehensive policy that ensures maximum security.
| Machine Authentication | User Authentication | Security Compliance Check |
| Check the employee’s workstation against the internal central computer repository, such as Active Directory Computers, to verify its authenticity. | Validate employee’s username against internal repository like Active Directory Users. | Verify compliance status of Employees, Vendors, and Consultants workstations against pre-defined checks such as updated antivirus software, encrypted hard drives, and necessary configurations or applications. |
| Check MAC address of the Vendors/Consultant Workstation in the Cisco ISE registered group. | Verify the validity of the Vendors/Consultant Username against an internal central repository like Active Directory Users. |
Deployment
It is recommended to deploy a suitable NAC solution and to integrate it with existing security tools, including firewalls and intrusion detection systems, to ensure a comprehensive defense strategy across the network. This will help enhance the organization’s overall security posture and protect against potential threats.
Several Network Access Control (NAC) solutions are available, including Cisco ISE, FortiNAC, Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager, and The Forescout Platform. When an organization is deciding on a suitable NAC solution, it is important to consider the device support for the NAC agents, integration capabilities of the NAC with existing systems and network devices, and regulatory compliance requirements such as PCI DSS, ISO 27002, and NIST that the solution can provide. It is crucial to ensure that the product is easy to use and that effective support can be obtained from the vendor.
Deploying a high availability setup for the NAC solution is crucial as it serves as the first line of defense. This ensures that the service remains uninterrupted even if one of the NAC nodes goes down. Additionally, it allows the organization to carry out scheduled maintenance activities while minimizing the impact on services. The number of NAC nodes required for deployment will be determined during the assessment and planning stage.
Testing and Optimization
In order to maintain the smooth functioning of a system, it is essential to conduct comprehensive testing. This testing should be done in a way that ensures that the system’s functionality remains uninterrupted. It is also important to modify policies based on feedback and evolving security requirements. To achieve this, it is recommended to include all user groups and devices in scope in thorough testing. This will help ensure compliance with documented access policies. Additionally, negative testing is crucial to identify any potential ways of unauthorised access. By conducting negative testing, we can identify and address any vulnerabilities that may exist in the system.
Regular Maintenance and Updates
To maintain the security and efficiency of your network, it’s highly recommended to keep the NAC solution up-to-date by regularly installing the newest patches, firmware updates, and security fixes. This helps prevent potential cyber threats and improves the solution’s overall performance. By staying informed about the latest updates, you can ensure that your NAC solution is optimised and functioning at its best.
To improve the security of your organization’s network, it is recommended that you use NAC nodes that are supported by the vendor. This ensures that the vendor will provide continued support in case of any critical issues that may arise. Additionally, it is advisable to monitor the NAC solution’s ability to handle authentication traffic efficiently. If you need to add a new node, do it immediately to avoid any potential network security and performance risks. By implementing these measures, your organization can maintain a secure and reliable network infrastructure, which will help improve the overall efficiency of your business operations
The Future of NAC
As technology advances, NAC solutions must keep up by adapting to new technologies such as Zero Trust and AI-driven threat detection. The emphasis will shift towards dynamic access controls and automated response mechanisms. This will enable organizations to take a proactive approach to security. By using AI-driven threat detection, NAC solutions can effectively identify and respond to potential threats in real time.
For example, Cisco ISE 3.2 has introduced new features for better network transparency, improved endpoint attributes, and data mining capabilities. With access to detailed information like device type, owner, and operational status, network admins can make better decisions resulting in safer and more efficient networks. Dynamic visibility has extended beyond static lists, simple identifiers, or single-level authentication. Cisco AI Endpoint Analytics tracks multiple data sources and classifies unknown devices based on their behaviour, adding an extra level of assurance to endpoint identity. Device profiles are continuously updated using behaviour, posture, and threat analytics from the pxGrid ecosystem to maintain trust levels and compliance.
Conclusion
Cyber threats are a constant reality in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing digital landscape. That’s why Network Access Control (NAC) solutions are essential for safeguarding networks. With its granular control, continuous monitoring, and adaptive security measures, NAC provides a robust and resilient defense layer against cyber-attacks. Protect your network infrastructure with NAC and stay ahead of the curve.
In the digital age, implementing proactive measures such as network access control (NAC) is not optional but a necessity to maintain network security and integrity.
Infosec’s Cyber Security Consulting
To assist your organization with the design and implementation of Network Access Control (NAC), Infosec is proud to offer the expertise of our highly qualified engineers. Our team includes individuals with reputable certifications such as CCIE Security, CISSP, CISA and CISM and over 10 years of experience in NAC solutions. Our team is confident in our ability to provide invaluable insight and assistance to help your organization achieve its network security objectives.
At Infosec (T) Ltd, we understand the importance of keeping your networks safe and secure. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing top-notch security solutions that will protect your network against any potential threats. Trust us to safeguard your network and give you the peace of mind you deserve.
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