TLDR: The Future of Network Access Control
- Traditional Network Access Control (NAC) solutions are facing obsolescence in the modern network environment.
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), especially Universal ZTNA (UZTNA), is emerging as a powerful successor to NAC.
The article discusses the shift from traditional NAC to UZTNA as the future of secure network access. NAC, once a standard for access security, is now struggling to keep up with the complexities of modern networks. Limited granularity in access control and security gaps in the evolving threat landscape have led to the rise of UZTNA. UZTNA offers granular, application-level access control, dynamic access adjustments, and streamlined management compared to NAC. However, transitioning to UZTNA comes with challenges such as hairpin cloud routing, managing unmanaged devices on wired networks, and securing IoT/OT environments. Embracing UZTNA represents a broader trend towards zero-trust security frameworks, empowering organizations to strengthen their network security posture and adapt to the ever-changing security landscape.
Key Takeaways:
- Transition from NAC to UZTNA as the future of secure network access.
- UZTNA offers granular access control, dynamic adjustments, and streamlined management.
- Challenges in transitioning include hairpin cloud routing, managing unmanaged devices, and securing IoT/OT environments.