Guests get key to Cisco NAC

摘要

Cisco is introducing a network-access-control appliance dedicated to speeding up access for corporate guests. NAC Guest Server lets any employee create a guest account so visitors, consultants or vendors can gain network access quickly when they come to a corporate site. If the company uses Cisco wireless-access points to grant guest access, the points can enforce the NAC policy Cisco says. If the company has a Cisco NAC appliance, it can enforce the policy In December, Cisco plans to upgrade software on the appliance so it also can use Cisco 802.1X switches to enforce guest access. Previously, when designated employees wanted to provision a guest account, they would have to set it up in a NAC appliance or within Cisco's Wireless LAN Controller, a process that involved training. Cisco says IT staff time is freed up when individual employees create guest accounts. With the appliance, authorized employees can log on to a Web page and set up an account. Businesses can designate these employees by creating groups in Active Directory or Lightweight Directory Access Protocol or RADIUS.