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What Security Problems Do Organizations Expect NAC To Solve?

Two recent market research reports provide a good picture of the benefits many organizations expect from NAC solutions. We encourage you to read the entire reports as we reference only some important highlights.

NWC Analytics: Network Access Control (Network Computing, November 2006) addresses both network admission control1 and network resource access control although most of the vendor products also referenced in the report provide "admission control. Based on 709 interviews of "decisionmakers", the complete report can be purchased from Network Computing at ($499 US)

Endpoint Security Strategies - Part 1 Network Access Control Benchmark (AberdeenGroup, November 2006) focuses more narrowly on network admission control. Based on interviews of 120 "organizations", the complete report can be obtained from the Aberdeen Group (Free)

Key Findings - Network Computing

Primary NAC Objectives:

  1. Address network security compliance requirements - both internal and externally imposed (58.3%)

  2. Limit users and their devices to accessing only specific network resources. (48%)

  3. Ensure that NAC security policies can be applied successfully to unmanaged users and devices. (40.4%)

  4. Ensure that NAC security policies can be applied successfully to any device using wireless access. (37.9%)

Primary Access Points Needing NAC Protection:

  1. Remote user access - 45% critical + 44% important = 89%

  2. Data center resources - 47% critical + 40% important = 87%

  3. Direct wired LAN access - 42% critical + 43% important = 85%

  4. Branch office access - 35% critical + 43% important = 78%

  5. Local wireless access - 40% critical + 37% important = 77%

  6. Contractor access - 27% critical + 41% important = 68%

  7. Guest access - 30% critical + 33% important = 66%

Key Findings - Aberdeen

Primary Network Admission Control (NAC) Objectives:

  1. Reduce malware propagation - 59%

  2. Control network admission - 53%

  3. Enforce endpoint software configurations - 42%

  4. Enforce security policy compliance - 41%

  5. Improve network uptime - 24%

  6. Shorten recovery tine from malware attacks - 22%

  7. Automate remediation - 17%

  8. Improve endpoint visibility - 12%

  9. Reduce IT operations costs - 12%

  10. Meet regulatory requirements - 11%

Additional Information on NAC

1. What security problems do organizations expect NAC to solve?

2. What different types of NAC solutions are available today?

3. Network Admission Control: An In-depth Review

4. Network Admission Control Best Practices

5. NAC Facts, Opinions and Misunderstandings

6. NAC Product Selection Guide (20 vendors)

7. Portal Blog

 

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