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Verizon Business deploy and manage a Network Access Control (NAC)
August 2008 by Marc Jacob
Verizon Business is using its unique blend of worldwide
professional and managed service capabilities to help customers understand, deploy and manage
one of the most promising yet complex security technologies in years — Network Access Control
(NAC).
The technology helps boosts network security by allowing only authorized users and
compliant devices to access a company’s network. NAC is increasingly important as businesses become more distributed and mobile. It provides a means for controlling access to a company’s extended network as more employees, contractors, customers, suppliers, vendors and partners
connect to critical resources and business applications.
NAC is designed to grant network access only to compliant and trusted endpoint devices,
such as servers, laptops and work stations. With intelligence residing in the network, NAC
checks endpoints across all access methods, including local area and wide area networks,
wireless connectivity, remote access, unmanaged device access and guest access. If devices are
noncompliant with the company’s security policy, then NAC can deny or restrict those devices
from gaining access to the network.
By linking network-based security with identity and access management and endpoint
security technologies (including anti-virus, host intrusion prevention and patch management),
NAC can greatly limit potential damage to the critical resources from known and unknown
security threats that expose vulnerabilities.
How Verizon Business Helps Organizations Realize the Benefits of NAC
Verizon Business supports all aspects of the technology, from design to strategy to
implementation, and to management and maintenance. It is immediately available globally to
enterprise customers throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific, including Australia,
Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
To help businesses deploy NAC, Verizon Business Professional Services experts assess
the customer’s needs and requirements to establish the optimal application of NAC within the
enterprise. Subsequently, Verizon Business will help to evaluate and select a technology vendor.
Verizon Business works with a lot of NAC vendors, including Cisco, Juniper Networks,
ForeScout Technologies and TippingPoint.
The professional services team also designs the infrastructure, configures and installs
the NAC technology and provides training to the customer. In addition, Verizon Business’
Managed Security Services (MSS) technology and team help customers manage and monitor
their NAC technology round-the-clock, 365 days a year.
For customers already using Verizon Business’ MSS, the log data collected from the
NAC infrastructure is aggregated with data from other managed security devices to provide a
more complete view of the customer’s security posture. To date, Verizon Business has
integrated Cisco Network Admission Control into its MSS platform, with plans to support
additional NAC technologies.
Verizon Business Security Solutions Powered by Cybertrust
Verizon Business’ NAC offering is one portion of the company’s robust security services
portfolio. Verizon Business Security Solutions, a leading global provider of managed security
services, offers governance risk and compliance solutions, data loss and prevention solutions, identity management solutions and managed security services, all aimed at helping enterprises
and government agencies manage security risk and protect critical assets. The company’s more
than 1,100 security professionals around the globe deliver these offerings through a range of
managed services, professional services and technologies, based on what best suits the customer.
