Implementing NAP and NAC Security Technologies: The Complete Guide to Network Access Control

10.2. NAC and NAP Solutions from Other Vendors

Simply put, there are a ton of NAC/NAP solutions on the market today. As has been stated many times in this book, every NAC/NAP solution will have pretty much the same components, though not all of them will necessarily have every component. The different solutions also may not perform the functions in exactly the same manner, and certainly individual features will be different. This section covers the following:

• What to look for in a NAC/NAP solution

• What are other NAC/NAP vendors

10.2.1. What to Look for in a NAC/NAP Solution

With the multitude of options available, exactly what should companies be looking for when it comes to NAC/NAP solutions? As with any technology, there are criteria that are independent of the technology itself. How much does it cost and can it be worked into a budget is an obvious one. That notwithstanding, following are some key criteria that should be looked at when deciding upon a NAC/NAP solution:

• Does the NAC/NAP solution protect against the threats that you see to your organization? By far, this is the most important criteria. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 help identify the risks, and those risks can be mapped to your organization's needs.

• Will my company have the wherewithal to allow the policies offered by this solution to be implemented? I've heard it many times at law firms, hospitals, and so on. "Our users wouldn't allow us to restrict them." If that's seriously the case, then you can stop looking for NAC/NAP ...