Cisco's NAC Network Module Acts As A Profiler

Cisco on Monday unveiled a Network Admission Control (NAC) module that's completely integrated into the network infrastructure, and a profiler that keeps an inventory of connected devices.

Cisco's NAC Network Module for Integrated Services Routers is designed to authenticate, authorize, and evaluate remote wired or wireless devices before they're granted access to a corporate network. The module can be deployed at branch offices and prevent threats and vulnerabilities locally, so that they don't affect the wide-area network.

"Integrating NAC into the routing simplifies operation complexity for our customers," said Mick Scully, VP of product management for Cisco's Security Technology Group, in a statement. "As businesses support more devices, the Cisco NAC profiler strengthens IT's ability to protect users and devices without adding another server." Pricing wasn't disclosed.

The module is supported in the Cisco 2800 and 3800 Series Integrated Services Routers. It enforces security policies on all networked devices used by employees or guests and can be used in conjunction with other Cisco security technologies, including firewalls, intrusion prevention, and virtual private networks.

Additionally, Cisco rolled out the NAC Profiler, an endpoint-recognition technology that keeps an inventory of networked devices, which are evaluated before they're connected to a corporate network. These include devices like printers, Internet Protocol phones, wireless access points, HVAC sensors, medical devices -- essentially those that aren't associated with a particular user.Cisco's current NAC lineup includes switches, routers, and access server, which enforces the decision to grant or deny access based on a company's admission policies.