Product Summary
Secure IT
Fully managed security solution designed to guard your network and entire IT infrastructure – including cloud resources and remote devices – from threats and attacks.
ARTICLE
Strengthening Security: The Role of Network Access Control
Florin Soltan
Florin is a Cyber Security Product Manager at Acronym. He helps organizations protect against digital threats by developing and implementing robust security strategies to safeguard sensitive data and infrastructure.
Network Access Control is Imperative
Access control in and of itself is nothing new in the IT world. But what if you could strengthen your organization’s security with even more effective access control techniques? In today’s high-threat environment, security risks must be mitigated to safeguard sensitive business data while complying with a proliferation of global cybersecurity regulations. The methods previously employed by IT security teams (to grant user rights and privileges for accessing software applications, email, databases, etc.) are no longer adequate to protect the complex digital infrastructure of modern enterprises.
Whether sabotage, theft, or espionage is the goal, increasingly sophisticated hackers are finding new ways to infiltrate private and public network systems—both on-premises and in the cloud—making all the devices connected to those systems more vulnerable. Specialized IT professionals are an essential first line of defence. However, they need more advanced tools to control access to information and communication technology (ICT). The emergence of network access control security measures is an ideal solution that takes managing and regulating user access to physical and digital resources to a new level.
Understanding Network Access Control
Network access control solutions are designed to fully integrate “authorized” access control and “unauthorized” intruder detection in a single, unified platform. This convenient merging of security functions helps streamline IT management and close potential points of vulnerability via comprehensive dashboards, alarms, and reports—all in one place. Any attempt or breach (by an unrecognized user or intruder) is more likely to be detected, resolved, and averted in real-time. Such systems typically offer built-in scalability, so they can quickly and easily adapt to company growth in size and complexity. The initial capital investment far outweighs the financial cost of a cyber attack by minimizing downtime and preventing ransomware attacks before they happen.
Key Benefits of Network Access Control
Network access control comes with several benefits for organizations:
- Control access to users and devices entering the network.
- Flexibility for users to securely access any resource from any secure device anywhere.
- Protect against cyber attacks by creating systems and controls that detect unusual or suspicious activity.
- Grant controlled access to non-employees as needed without engaging your IT team.
- Lowers IT costs by automating the protection of devices, which means fewer IT resources are needed. Protecting against cyber attacks prevents companies from suffering financial losses that may result if these attacks aren’t blocked.
Best Practices for Implementing Network Access Control
Companies want peace of mind that their data is secure, and network access control is a powerful way to achieve full protection. From our experience, here are some best practices to help you get started:
- Find and hire IT personnel with network access control experience.
- Identify and evaluate network access control solutions for ease of use.
- Consider outsourcing to an MSP to install, configure, and manage the system for you.
- Ensure network access control vendors meet stringent security and regulation requirements (for example, SOC 2 Type 2 accreditation).
Trends in Network Access Control: What to Expect
It is predicted that the impact of cyber attacks will continue to escalate, with ransomware alone expected to cost $10.5 trillion worldwide annually by 2025. As long as malicious acts are perpetrated against business and government infrastructures, IT professionals will turn to security solutions like network access control. To respond to the ever-evolving threats, this technology and its associated services will keep pace to meet the moment. We already see facial recognition, fingerprints, two-factor authentication, etc., as alternate means of verifying access. And watch for further biometric identification methods, like the iris of your eye, to be more widely used. We can also expect network access control to be offered as a service along with the expansion of cloud capabilities.
Summary
Companies struggle to limit data and financial losses that impact and often interrupt business as usual. Rapid changes in network access control are well on the way to delivering an integrated, seamless experience that secures enterprise-wide IT infrastructure—regardless of device, user, or location. It may not be the only way to win the battle, but it is another tactic worth adding to your arsenal of cyber crime prevention methods.
Acronym, a trusted SOC 2 partner
In addition to our existing comprehensive security services, Acronym Solutions is now SOC 2® Type 2 accredited. According to John Papadakis, CEO at Acronym, “We value the trust our clients place in us and are committed to maintaining that confidence by continually evaluating and improving upon our security protocols.”
Let’s discuss how we can help secure your network infrastructure and protect your digital assets. Contact Acronym Solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Network Access Control for Information and Communications Technology
Information and communications technology (ICT) refers to the computing and telecommunication technologies, systems, and tools that help us create, collect, process, transmit, and store information. It includes everything from laptop computers to software applications to servers, as well as the wired and wireless devices that support mobile phones, the Internet, the Internet of Things, and even the metaverse. The ultimate goal of ICT is to improve access to information while making human-to-human, human-to-machine, and machine-to-machine communication as seamless and as secure as possible.
ICT environments must deliver a safe, dependable ecosystem for enhanced worker productivity across a widely dispersed organization and a growing number of devices. To meet this business-critical objective, IT leaders continually seek newer, better, and quicker tools that optimize the user experience, whether seamlessly collaborating with colleagues, seeking technical help, or gaining quick access to information. ICT enables these processes to be more digitized, connected and automated to achieve the desired results—often with fewer IT staff. Network access control systems ensure that only users who are authenticated and devices that are authorized and compliant with security policies can access the network.
Like any IT implementation, careful planning is required to ensure the right resources are in place and the proper system is selected. Network access control system selection and implementation require expert knowledge of cyber security risks and mitigation methods. Therefore, a big challenge is sourcing talent through recruitment or training and upskilling existing staff.2 Another option is to find and hire a qualified Managed IT provider to handle this end-to-end for you.
Network access control systems must comply with various regulations and standards across countries and regions. This should include SOC 2 compliance, with the necessary controls to govern security (i.e. how user data is processed and the confidentiality and privacy of that data). If a managed services provider (MSP) is hired to assist, it is an added benefit if they are also SOC 2-compliant and have a solid commitment to providing highly secure IT services.
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About Acronym
Acronym Solutions Inc. is a full-service information and communications technology (ICT) company that provides a range of scalable and secure Network, Voice & Collaboration, Security, Cloud and Managed IT Solutions. We support Canadian businesses, large enterprises, service providers, healthcare providers, public-sector organizations and utilities. We leverage our extensive network expertise to design and build customized, fully scalable solutions to help our customers grow their businesses and realize their full potential. With more than 20 years’ experience managing the communications system that enables Ontario’s electrical grid, Acronym is uniquely positioned to understand the mission-critical needs of any business to deliver the innovative and reliable services that respond to the changing demands of businesses, and support rapid growth and digital transformation initiatives.