For Security & Risk Professionals (Length: 14 pages)

November 3, 2009

Market Overview: Network Access Control (NAC)

Evolving NAC Market Focuses On Features That Provide Operational Efficiency

by Usman Sindhu

with Robert Whiteley, Margaret Ryan


Executive Summary (This is a document excerpt)

Network access control (NAC) is high on the security professionals' wish list, but few are able to justify the business case for it. Complex deployments, too many architectural options, and a quickly changing vendor landscape have pushed most NAC deployments further down the project list. We recently surveyed the NAC vendor landscape and found there are still a lot of vendors, but things are beginning to change. The market segments into four high-level categories: appliance, software, infrastructure, and specialized providers. Of the 18 vendors we spoke with across these categories, all support the basic features — like pre- and post-admission control, automated remediation, and guest access — but the leading vendors are embracing new features that focus on the intersection of security and IT automation. Infrastructure vendors currently lead the market, but appliance and software vendors are quickly gaining momentum based on unique scenarios they can address. Expect NAC to drive your access control strategy and to focus on elements that alleviate operational inefficiency.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

NOTES & RESOURCES

itemThe Current NAC Landscape Is Confusing And Too Complex

itemAutomation And Compliance Features Strengthen The Business Case For NAC

itemThere Are Five Commodity Features That Are Table Stakes For NAC . . .

item. . . And Five More Emerging Features That Will Drive NAC Success Moving Forward

itemSegmenting The Market: Appliance, Software, Infrastructure, And Specialized

itemVendors To Watch: Solutions That Expand Into New Access Control Scenarios And Standards

recommendations

itemIt's Time To Drive NAC Mainstream

itemSupplemental Material

Forrester spoke with many user companies and interviewed 18 vendors.

Related Research Documents

itemLook To NAC To Streamline IT Compliance

February 24, 2009

itemNAC Remains A 2008 Blockbuster — But Wait Until You See The 2009 Coming Attractions

October 29, 2008

itemThe Forrester Wave™: Network Access Control, Q3 2008

September 5, 2008

Find Documents In Related Categories

This document falls under the following categories. Click on a link below to find similar documents.

Analyst: Usman Sindhu
Technology: Application Strategy & Selection, Infrastructure Security, Network Performance & Security, Networking, Packaged Applications, Security & Risk, Sourcing & Procurement, Sourcing Strategy & Execution
Geography: Asia Pacific, Europe, North America

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