Internet Security Systems, a provider of pre-emptive,
enterprise security, now supports Cisco's Network Admission Control
(NAC) framework through its Proventia Desktop Endpoint Security
product.
Cisco's network access control is designed to help enterprise
users maintain security on their networks, particularly with remote
and mobile users. It ensures that any device attempting to connect
to a corporate network meets a minimum level of security required
by the organisation.
Users without up-to-date anti-virus protection or the latest
patches are logged into a special quarantine zone of the network
with limited access. This area can be used by system administrators
to apply missing security updates.
Support for the Cisco NAC framework further expands network
compliance options for ISS customers, building on ISS's own
Proventia Access Control and existing support for other leading
network access control protocols.
NAC is part of the Cisco Self-Defending Network, a strategy to
improve the network's ability to automatically identify, prevent
and adapt to security threats.
The ISS Proventia Desktop module supports a Cisco NAC framework.
The software assesses the security of a system running Proventia
Desktop and reports information back to the Cisco components that
handle verification and enforcement of security policies. It is
integrated with a Cisco Trust Agent to allow network authorisation
or quarantining or devices requesting network access.