Network Access Control: Disruptive Technology? Craig Fisher Regis University
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Regis University ePublications at Regis University All Regis University Theses Fall 2007 Network Access Control: Disruptive Technology? Craig Fisher Regis University Follow this and additional works at: https://epublications.regis.edu/theses Part of the Computer Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Fisher, Craig, "Network Access Control: Disruptive Technology?" (2007). All Regis University Theses. 94. https://epublications.regis.edu/theses/94 This Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by ePublications at Regis University. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Regis University Theses by an authorized administrator of ePublications at Regis University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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The materials may not be downloaded in whole or in part without permission of the copyright holder or as otherwise authorized in the “fair use” standards of the U.S. copyright laws and regulations. Network Access Control: Disruptive Technology? Craig Fisher Regis University School for Professional Studies Master of Science in Computer Information Technology Network Access Control: Disruptive Technology? i Abstract Network Access Control (NAC) implements policy-based access control to the trusted network. It regulates entry to the network by the use of health verifiers and policy control points to mitigate the introduction of malicious software. However the current versions of NAC may not be the universal remedy to endpoint security that many vendors tout. Many organizations that are evaluating the technology, but that have not yet deployed a solution, believe that NAC presents an opportunity for severe disruption of their networks. A cursory examination of the technologies used and how they are deployed in the network appears to support this argument. The addition of NAC components can make the network architecture even more complex and subject to failure. However, one recent survey of organizations that have deployed a NAC solution indicates that the ‘common wisdom’ about NAC may not be correct. Network Access Control: Disruptive Technology? ii Table of Contents 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 What is the Problem ................................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 What is Network Access Control .............................................................................................................. 1-4 1.3 Why use Network Access Control ............................................................................................................ 1-5 1.4 Who is offering Network Access Control ................................................................................................. 1-6 1.5 Organization of Material .......................................................................................................................... 1-7 2 Terms ............................................................................................................................................................... 2-1 3 Research Methodology .................................................................................................................................... 3-1 4 Components of NAC ......................................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Network Access Policy.............................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Secure Communications .......................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2.1 OSI Reference Model ....................................................................................................................... 4-2 4.2.2 Encryption ....................................................................................................................................... 4-3 4.2.3 Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) ............................................................................................................ 4-12 4.2.4 Tunneling Protocols ....................................................................................................................... 4-14 4.2.5 Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS) ................................................................. 4-22 4.3 Infrastructure ......................................................................................................................................... 4-24 4.3.1 IEEE 802.1x Standard ..................................................................................................................... 4-24 4.3.2 Virtual Private Network ................................................................................................................. 4-25 5 Network Access Control ................................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 NAC Frameworks ...................................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 NAC Appliances ........................................................................................................................................ 5-4 6 Areas of Concern .............................................................................................................................................. 6-1 6.1 Future Enterprise Network Infrastructure ............................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Endpoint Control ...................................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.3 Architectural Considerations .................................................................................................................... 6-2 6.3.1 Nontechnical impact ....................................................................................................................... 6-2 6.3.2 Network Availability ........................................................................................................................ 6-3 6.3.3 Network Monitoring ........................................................................................................................ 6-3 6.3.4 New technologies ............................................................................................................................ 6-4 6.4 Complexity ............................................................................................................................................... 6-4 6.5 Interoperability ........................................................................................................................................ 6-5 7 Project Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 7-1 Network Access Control: Disruptive Technology? iii 7.1 Analysis of results ..................................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.2 Project Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 7-5 8 References ....................................................................................................................................................... 8-1 9 Supplemental Material .................................................................................................................................... 9-1 9.1 Network Access Control Frameworks ...................................................................................................... 9-1 9.1.1 Cisco’s Network Admission Control................................................................................................. 9-1 9.1.2 Microsoft’s Network Access Protection .......................................................................................... 9-8 9.1.3 TCG’s Trusted Network Connect ................................................................................................... 9-26 10 Annotated Bibliography 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