Network access control (NAC) decides whether a device may connect to the network, and to which part, before it gets access. Instead of trusting anything plugged into a wall jack or joined to Wi-Fi, NAC checks who or what the device is, and often whether it meets security policy, then allows, restricts or denies it. It turns every access port and SSID into a checkpoint, which supports zero trust and segmentation. Network+ focuses on 802.1X, the weak but common alternative of MAC filtering, and the key management that keeps credentials and encryption trustworthy.
Keep reading for free
Create a free StudyToCert account to read the rest of this lesson: 7 more sections, 7 key terms, a real-world example, an exam tip and self-check questions. Every lesson, lab and practice test is free with an account.