11 Best Network Access Control Solutions for Businesses in 2024

Network Access Control (NAC) is a security framework that enforces access policies, ensuring only authorized and compliant devices connect to a network. NAC software helps prevent unauthorized access to a network, protects sensitive resources, and maintains device compliance.

Implementing NAC solutions enhances security, improves visibility, streamlines compliance, and automates policy enforcement.

Geekflare has curated a list of the best NAC software, evaluated based on essential features like device discovery, authentication, endpoint compliance checks, policy enforcement, and more. Let’s dive in.

• 1. Ivanti NAC – Best for Big Business
• 2. PacketFence – Best Open-Source NAC Solution
• 3. FortiNAC – Best for Network Visibility and Automated Responses
• 4. Belden macmon NAC – Best for Industrial Networks
• 5. Forescout NAC – Best for Agentless NAC
• 6. HPE Aruba Clearpass – Best for Policy Control Automation
• 7. Portnox Cloud – Cloud-Native Platform
• 8. OPSWAT MetaDefender NAC – Best for IT/OT Convergence
• 9. Perimeter 81 – Best for Zero Trust Security Models
• 10. Cisco Identity Services Engine – Best for Comprehensive Policy Management
• 11. Extreme Networks – Best for Automated Policy Enforcement
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Ivanti NAC

Ivanti NAC offers complete visibility of all of your local and remote endpoints. It has a growing database of around 2.3 unique fingerprints, so it can automatically classify numerous device types.

Ivanti NAC offers simple, secure guest access and BYOD onboarding. Active VPN sessions migrate to local networks without the need for re-authentication. It can also evaluate a device’s security posture by checking critical factors such as operating system or software patch levels and active applications. This helps ensure that only compliant and secure devices gain network access.

Ivanti NAC’s open platform easily integrates with networking solutions, including NGFW, switching, and Wi-Fi, to enforce stringent access policies.

Furthermore, you can integrate Ivanti NAC with various other security solutions, such as IBM QRadar, Splunk, McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator, and more, to automate responses to indicators of compromise.

Ivanti NAC Features

• Offers centralized visibility and policy management of all endpoints.
• Conducts a granular assessment of endpoint security posture before allowing access.
• Provides dynamic network segmentation based on device class and user role.
• Offers quick and secure BYOD onboarding.
• Provides user-friendly access control for guests and vendors.
• Runs on physical, virtual, and cloud platforms.
• Uses external cyber threat intelligence from NGFW or SIEM solutions to automate actions at the device connection level.

lvanti NAC Pricing

Ivanti NAC uses custom pricing; contact the company directly for a personalized quote.

Get Ivanti NAC

PacketFence

PacketFence is a free, open-source network access management solution with many advanced features, including Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) capabilities, network anomaly detection with layer-2 isolation of problematic devices, 802.1X, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) support, and more.

PacketFence can detect abnormal network activities like viruses, worms, or unauthorized traffic using tools like Snort, Suricata, or commercial sensors. With Suricata, it can also perform a content inspection to analyze more serious cyber threats.

Beyond detection, PacketFence adds its own alerting and suppression mechanisms, allowing security teams to define custom actions for different types of violations.

PacketFence offers both web-based and command-line interfaces for managing its Network Access Control system. The web-based interface provides an easy-to-use graphical dashboard supporting multiple user permission levels.

It also integrates with authentication systems like Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and Microsoft Active Directory. PacketFence is available for Linux-based systems.

PacketFence Features

• Offers flexible VLAN management and role-based access control.
• Supports guest access through various means of registration, such as manual, email, SMS, and more.
• Have the capability to block unwanted devices automatically using DHCP fingerprints, User-Agent data, or specific MAC address patterns to secure your network.
• Offers device management and provisioning capabilities through integration with complementary solutions.
• Authenticates users employing various protocols and standards, such as LADP, RADIUS, OAuth2, and SAML.

PacketFence Pricing

PacketFence is free to use. However, the free version comes with community support. PacketFence commercial support package costs $5,000 USD per PacketFence server.

Get PacketFence

FortiNAC

Fortinet’s FortiNAC is a zero-trust network access management solution that automatically discovers all connected devices in your network, manages their access, and responds to security vulnerabilities.

It can monitor various types of devices working in your network, including information technology (IT), the Internet of Things ( IoT), operational technology/industrial control systems (OT/ICS), and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). FortiNAC can also allow you to manage the network access of third-party network devices.

FortiNAC offers real-time visibility, dynamic policy adjustment, and automated responses to compromised devices. You can easily integrate it with FortiGate and other Fortinet Security Fabric solutions.

The FortiNAC product line offers hardware appliances, virtual machines, and software licenses to fit various network environments. Each deployment requires a Control Server(manages policies and configurations) and an Application Server(handles device monitoring and responses). For larger enterprize networks, you can stack multiple servers to increase capacity.

FortiNAC Features

• Agentless scanning to detect and identify headless devices as they connect without needing client software.
• Twenty-one techniques to accurately identify and classify devices on the network.
• Integration with Fortinet’s Security Fabric enhances visibility, segmentation, and policy management.
• Microsegmentation for device-specific access controls to protect sensitive network assets.
• Supports over 150 vendors offering switches, access points, and firewalls.
• Scales efficiently to multi-site deployments and handles millions of connected devices.

FortiNAC Pricing

FortiNAC didn’t publish any pricing details on its website. The company offers a free demo.

Get FortiNAC

Belden macmon NAC

Belden macmon NAC is a leading network access control software that helps you manage access to your network in a three-part lifecycle, which includes Overview, Network Access Control, and Compliance phases.

In the Overview phase, Belden macmon NAC offers full visibility into your network and easily detects any unknown devices that it refers to as unknown frightening objects (UFOs) in your network.

The Network Access Control phase of Belden macmon NAC enforces access control and consistent automatic rules and policies for all devices in your network.

Finally, the Compliance phase of the macmon NAC lifecycle ensures verifications of the security levels and automatic isolation of unsecured devices. It also integrates your technology partners securely.

Belden macmon NAC Features

• Records your entire network infrastructure and all endpoints.
• Displays network events, such as MAC spoofing, ARP spoofing, and more.
• Offers visualized network topology with extensive features for quick and in-depth analysis.
• Isolates UFOs automatically.
• Enforces dynamic and automatic rules and policies.
• Maps compliance policies are supported by a macmon agent and vendor-independent security integrations.

Belden macmon NAC Pricing

Belden didn’t publish any pricing information for macmon NAC on its website. It offers a 30-day free trial.

Try Belden macmon NAC

Forescout NAC

Forescout offers a next-gen network access control solution that provides comprehensive, compliant, and resilient access control for diverse networks. It leverages active and passive monitoring to detect all devices connected to your network, including IoT and OT devices.

Forescout NAC uses the Forescout Device Cloud, which has a database of around 12 million device fingerprints. It can accurately discover and classify devices connected to your network, thereby giving you complete visibility of them.

Forescout enforces the least privileged access by automatically assigning devices to the correct VLANs or applying access control lists (ACLs) based on set policies. This dynamic assignment restricts devices to only the resources they require, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or network breaches. Furthermore, no agent is required to enforce these policies.

Forescout NAC Features

• Enforces security policies without requiring software installations on connected devices.
• Utilizes the Forescout Device Cloud, with over 12 million device fingerprints, for accurate device identification.
• Dynamically assigns devices to VLANs or applies access control lists based on predefined policies.
• Monitors device behavior and compliance in real-time to adjust access and automate responses.
• Automatically applies security policies to non-compliant assets.
• Controls access between network zones to reduce the impact of potential threats and enhance security.

Forescout NAC Pricing

Forescout NAC offers custom pricing tailored to your specific needs. You can request a free demo to explore its features.

Get Forescout NAC

HPE Aruba Clearpass

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Aruba Clearpass Policy Manager offers role-based and device-based network access control for various types of devices, including IoT, corporate, BYOD, contractors’ devices, and more.

HPE Aruba Clearpass Policy Manager can enforce policies across wired, wireless, and VPN infrastructures. It simplifies network access for end users by offering secure self-service capabilities. Users can independently configure their devices for enterprise network use or Internet access.

It lets administrators maintain complete control by setting policies that govern the access process. HPE Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager uses network telemetry and machine learning models to fingerprint, identify, and profile all connected devices. This provides detailed visibility and control over every device accessing your network.

ClearPass integrates with the HPE Aruba Networking 360 Security Exchange Program to enhance security coverage and response. It works seamlessly with firewalls, UEM, and other existing tools, enabling automated threat detection and response workflows.

HPE Aruba Clearpass Features

• Offers in-built discovery and profiling to detect any device connected to your network.
• Comes with a policy manager to create policies and securely provision network access.
• Offers role-based network access across multi-vendor wireless, wired, and VPN networks.
• Supports multiple authentication and authorization sources.
• Provides self-service device onboarding with built-in certificate authority (CA) for BYOD.

HPE Aruba Clearpass Pricing

Aruba Clearpass Policy Manager pricing starts at $2,025.44.

Get HPE Aruba Clearpass

Portnox Cloud

Portnox Cloud offers a cloud-based network access control service. It helps you unify passwordless authentication, zero-trust access control, and compliance management for your applications, networks, and infrastructures.

Portnox Cloud offers comprehensive zero-trust Network Access Control (NAC). It ensures device visibility, authenticates network users, enforces access policies, and mitigates security risks. Additionally, it simplifies compliance enforcement.

Portnox Cloud access control can cover any device, any data, anywhere. It is fully cloud-native, so you can easily scale and manage it according to your requirements. What’s more, it is vendor agnostic, which means you can use it to apply access control to any networking application or hardware in your network.

It lets you offer passwordless conditional access for your applications. Portnox Cloud works on all types of connections, including wired, WiFi, and virtual private networks (VPNs).

Portnox Cloud Features

• Fully cloud-based, no on-site setup.
• Easily integrates with cloud services.
• Works with any networking hardware.
• No maintenance is required.
• Secures wired, wireless, and VPN access.

Portnox Cloud Pricing

Portnox Cloud follows custom pricing. A 30-day free trial is available.

Try Portnox Cloud

OPSWAT MetaDefender NAC

OPSWAT MetaDefender is a leading network access control tool that helps you monitor devices connected to your network.

OPSWAT MetaDefender can quickly discover new IoT and user devices trying to connect to your network. It can then profile a device (discover the device type) or quarantine it until it is fully known.

You can set MetaDefender to recognize certain device types passively and allow them to access the network. Using its allowlist feature, you can also upload many devices. It uses various techniques to discover device types, including Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), URL fingerprinting, web browser user agent identification, and more.

Windows, macOS, and mobile devices undergo deep endpoint assessments before accessing the network. This ensures compliance with your Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs). Devices are monitored in real-time as they move across the network, maintaining security and policy adherence.

MetaDefender NAC Features

• Cloud-native SaaS Radius service.
• Flexible deployment in the Cloud or Hybrid environment.
• A user-friendly captive portal to guide users toward compliance.
• Agentless device profiling.
• Compliance enforcement & IoT device registration.

MetaDefender NAC Pricing

Pricing details are not available online; contact the company directly for information.

Explore MetaDefender NAC

Perimeter 81

Perimeter 81 offers zero-trust network access that protects your employees and network with identity-based access rules, two-factor authentication, monitoring, traffic encryption, and more.

Choosing a single encryption solution can create challenges when resources span multiple cloud environments, and users connect from diverse devices and locations. With Perimeter 81, you can deploy various encryption protocols simultaneously, tailored to your connection and environment’s needs.

To help you reduce your attack surface, Perimeter 81 allows you to segment your network and customize access rules to individual users and groups.

With heavy cloud reliance, remote work, and BYOD policies, your IT team may face complexity and limited visibility into your network activity. Perimeter 81 solves this challenge. You can integrate it seamlessly with your solutions, offering complete network awareness and control.

Perimeter 81 Features

• Gain visibility into network activity, access policies, and threats with SIEM integration and detailed activity logs for compliance.
• Manage access, segment networks, and enforce security measures like 2FA from a single, streamlined platform.
• Limit resource access based on user roles and devices.
• Integrate easily with major cloud providers and legacy systems
• Has private VPN gateways around the world to provide remote workers with fast remote access.

Perimeter 81 Pricing

Perimeter 81 does not disclose pricing details on its website but provides a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

Explore Perimeter 81

Cisco Identity Services Engine

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a security policy enforcement platform that offers complete visibility to devices connected to your network. It also enables you to build visibility-based segmentation to support a zero-trust framework.

Cisco ISE offers a detailed view of every device connected to your network, offering a snapshot of activities, unusual behavior, access denial, and more in an easy-to-use graphical interface.

It supports agentless posture, so you can identify, classify, and configure an endpoint or device without installing software. As a result, your IT team can quickly onboard new users and devices anytime.

Furthermore, it leverages AI Endpoint Analytics to identify and classify new devices based on their behavior automatically. This helps you apply endpoint security policies dynamically as devices’ postures change.

Cisco Identity Services Engine Features

• Cisco ISE enables seamless communication across multi-domain networks, supporting zero-trust access and IoT policy compliance.
• A single web-based interface simplifies the management of profiler, posture, guest, authentication, and authorization services.
• Temporary policies for devices automatically revoke access after a set time, maintaining least-privilege principles.
• Supports various authentication protocols like RADIUS and TACACS+ for secure and flexible access control.
• Provides real-time and historical reporting, activity logs, and a built-in help console for network insights.
• Simplifies and accelerates upgrades with preloaded files and split node updates for uninterrupted operations.
• Detects, classifies, and enforces compliance policies for IoT devices with automatic reassessment capabilities.

Cisco Identity Services Engine Pricing

Cisco has not provided pricing details on its website. No free trial is available, but you can watch demos to gain insights into the product.

Explore Cisco ISE

Extreme Networks

Extreme Control is a powerful network access control solution that offers in-depth visibility and control over all endpoints across your network. It can effectively manage IoT and BYOD devices to secure your network from external threats.

Its dashboard makes it easy to monitor issues. Extreme Control offers customizable reports and alerts for guest access, authentication, onboarding, device profiles, and endpoint health.

ExtremeControl detects threats by profiling and tracking users and devices. It helps you monitor device health and compliance both before and after access. It also supports policy audits through third-party integrated MDM/EMM solutions to effectively validate or enforce defined policies.

Extreme Control integrates with various network security solutions, including analytics, cloud monitoring, and enterprise mobility management tools. Its open northbound API enables customized integrations with leading enterprise platforms for enhanced flexibility.

Extreme Control Features

• Offers role-based network access control for all devices.
• Covers various device types, including BYOD, IoT, and more.
• Integrates easily with third-party solutions, such as NGFW, SIEM, etc.
• Offers policy management, access control, and application analytics via a single screen.
• Provides faster troubleshooting via separation of the network from application issues.
• Network access prevention for compromised devices and unauthorized users.

Extreme Control Pricing

Extreme Control follows custom pricing.

Explore Extreme Control

Best Network Access Control Solutions Comparision

Here, we compare the best network access control solutions based on deployment options, policy enforcement granularity, and integration capabilities.

Product Name	Deployment Options	Policy Enforcement Granularity	Integration Capabilities
Ivanti NAC	Physical, virtual, and cloud	Granular rules for dynamic monitoring, reporting and access control	Comprehensive policy management in multi-domained, multi-siloed networks
PacketFence	Virtual, cloud	Flexible policy enforcement modes, role-based access	IDS, Firewalls, VPN
FortiNAC	Hardware, virtual machine, cloud	Easy Integration with NGFW, SIEM, and EMM support	Firewalls, Access Points, switches, and clients from 150+ vendors
Belden macmon NAC	Hardware, virtual	Flexible enforcement, RBAC, dynamic access control list	MDM, UEM, SIEM, IDS, Firewall
Forescout NAC	Hardware, virtual	PoLP by automatically placing devices in specific VLANs or applying access rules	SIEM, ticketing tools, IT tools
HPE Aruba Clearpass	Hardware, virtual, cloud	Role-based, unified network access enforcement across multi-vendor wireless, wired and VPN networks	UEM, HPE Aruba Networking 360 Security Exchange Program, SIEM
Portnox Cloud	SaaS	Zero-trust network access.	SIEM, Microsoft Intune, Jamf, Absolute Secure Endpoint
MetaDefender NAC	Cloud-based, hybrid	Deep compliance check, ability to set different access levels	Firewall, endpoint security, SIEM, IDS, content filter
Perimeter 81	Cloud-based, hybrid	Rule-based security policy for dynamic segmentation and micro-segmentation	SIEM, IdP
Cisco ISE	ISE Physical Appliance, ISE Virtual Appliance	NGFW, SIEM, CMDB, internet security, and EMM/MDM	SIEM, various threat defense(TD) tools
Extreme Control	Physical, virtual	Granular controls over users and endpoints allowed on the network	NGFW, SIEM, CMDB, internet security and EMM/MDM

What Is Network Access Control?

Network Access Control (NAC) is a security practice that includes policies, protocols, and tools to control and manage network access. NAC allows only authenticated, authorized, and compliant devices to enter a network.

Network access control prevents various security threats, such as malware and data breaches, by blocking unauthorized and uncompliant devices from accessing a network.

There are two types of network access control. Pre-admission NAC analyzes initial access attempts and allows only authorized devices to enter the network. Post-admission NAC re-authenticates users who are trying to access different network parts after their initial entries.

Typical steps in network access control process include device identification, authentication, compliance assessment, policy enforcement, access monitoring, re-authentication, and logging & monitoring.

How To Choose the Best NAC Solutions

Choosing the best NAC solution for your organization requires a tailored approach, as no single solution fits every need.

Here are key considerations to help you select the right NAC solution.

• Network Size and Complexity: Complex networks demand advanced network access control solutions to manage extensive devices and enforce detailed policies. Evaluate your network’s scale, including the number of devices and users connecting, to determine the type of NAC solution that fits your needs.
• Industry and Regulatory Compliance: Different industries have specific compliance requirements (e.g., HIPAA for healthcare, PCI DSS for payment processing). Choose an NAC solution that can help meet these regulations through features like access controls and audit logs.
• Device Diversity: Modern networks often include various device types, such as laptops, smartphones, and IoT devices. Ensure the NAC solution supports various device types and effectively manages their access based on established policies.
• Deployment Model: Do you prefer an on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid deployment model? Each has its advantages. For instance, cloud solutions may offer easier scalability, but on-premises solutions may provide greater control over data.
• Policy Granularity: Look for a solution that allows detailed policy configurations, enabling you to set specific access levels based on user roles, device types, and compliance statuses.
• Integration: Pick the NAC solution that can integrate seamlessly with your existing IT infrastructure.
• Network Infrastructure: Evaluate how well the NAC solution fits within your current network architecture. Network access control systems that leverage existing infrastructure (like 802.1x) can simplify deployment and minimize disruption.
• Security Tools: Consider whether the NAC solution complements other security tools in your organization, such as intrusion detection systems (IDS) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions. 
• Automation & Remediation: Choose an NAC solution with features that automate tasks like device onboarding and policy enforcement.
• Reporting: Detailed reports help in audits and provide insights into network health. So, make sure you pick the solution that offers comprehensive reporting on network activity and network health.
• Scalability: As your network expands or changes, the NAC should be able to accommodate additional devices and users without significant reconfiguration.
• Usability: Choose an NAC solution with a friendly user interface to reduce your IT staff’s learning curve.
• Vendor Support: Reliable customer support is a must for troubleshooting issues and ensuring a smooth operation of the NAC solution over time.

Best Practices for Implementing NAC

After selecting the best network access control solution for your organization, the next step is to implement it strategically to get maximum protection.

Here are the best practices for implementing NAC:

• Define Access Policies: Set detailed network access rules based on user roles, device types, and compliance requirements for effective access control.
• Assess Your Network: Evaluate your network’s structure, connected devices, and user behavior to guide NAC implementation for better protection.
• Implement the Principle of Least Privilege: Give users only the minimum network access needed to perform their duties, restricting all other resources.
• Automate Enforcement: Use automation for tasks like policy enforcement, device onboarding, and remediation of non-compliance.
• Monitor and Adjust: Continuously review network activity and refine policies to address emerging threats and operational needs.
• Test Before Deploying: Conduct pilot implementations to identify potential issues and validate the solution’s effectiveness.

What Type of Organization Needs an NAC Solution?

NAC provides enhanced security, improved visibility into connected devices, simplified compliance, and streamlined policy enforcement. These benefits make network access solutions or network admission control products valuable for organizations of all sizes.

That said, the following types of organizations should prioritize implementing NAC solutions:

• Enterprises with large or complex networks manage numerous devices.
• Industries with regulatory compliance requirements, such as HIPAA or PCI-DSS.
• Organizations with BYOD policies.
• Businesses using IoT devices.
• Cloud-first or hybrid organizations require consistent security across dynamic and distributed networks.
• Organizations face frequent cyber threats.

How is NAC Different from IAM and PAM?

Network Access Control (NAC), Identity and Access Management (IAM), and Privileged Access Management (PAM) all focus on access security, but they serve distinct purposes.

NAC controls and monitors device access to the network. It ensures that only authenticated, authorized, and compliant devices connect to the network and enforces policies at the point of access.

IAM manages user identities and their access to network resources, such as applications, data, and systems. IAM focuses on who the user is and what permissions they should have based on their roles.

PAM solutions specifically manage and secure access for privileged accounts, such as administrators or system operators, to prevent misuse of high-level permissions. PAM is a subset of IAM.

Recently, there has been increasing focus on SDP software, which grants access to internal applications based on user identity and dynamically adjusts trust based on context. 

Frequently Asked Questions