Cisco Cisco NAC Profiler 2.1 Data Sheet
Data Sheet
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Cisco NAC Profiler
Cisco
®
NAC Profiler enables network administrators to keep a real-time, contextual inventory of all devices
in a network. It greatly facilitates the deployment and management of Cisco Network Admission Control
(NAC) systems by discovering and tracking the location and type of all LAN-attached endpoints, including
those that are not capable of authenticating. It also uses the information about the device to determine the
correct policies for NAC to apply.
Product Overview
Cisco NAC Profiler simplifies the deployment of Cisco NAC and eases several administrative tasks in a Cisco NAC-
enabled network, including adds, moves, and changes; location of non-compliant devices; discovery of unmanaged
endpoints; and quick location of endpoints in situations such as helpdesk calls, security events, policy violations, and
asset tracking.
Cisco NAC Profiler works by aggregating information from several sources, including:
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Inference-based discovery
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Network traffic analysis
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Network topology comprehension
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Network infrastructure communication
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NetFlow data analysis
Each network-attached device type is identified, then correlated with the location of the device to provide a complete
picture of endpoints. And because Cisco NAC Profiler is aware of the authentication process, it can also give
visibility into the machines and people that have authenticated to the network, including their location and their
history of network usage.
With this contextual information about endpoints, Cisco NAC Profiler also helps administrators monitor and manage
anomalies related to authentication, such as port swapping, MAC address spoofing, and profile changes.
Features and Benefits
Organizations with Cisco NAC Profiler as part of a Cisco NAC deployment can enjoy the following benefits:
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Complete access control and confidentiality. Can be deployed with other Cisco TrustSec
™
components -
including policy components, infrastructure enforcement components, endpoint components, and
professional services - for a comprehensive access control and confidentiality solution.
●
Save deployment and management costs. Cisco NAC Profiler eliminates the months of work typically
required to discover the type and location of all network-attached endpoints, as well as the time and effort to
input device information into the system.
●
Reduce deployment risk. Automating a previously manual process increases the chance of a successful,
effective deployment by reducing the risk of human error.
●
Enjoy greater change control. When network endpoints are added, moved, or changed, Cisco NAC Profiler
enables real-time discovery and classification of these endpoints, greatly reducing the amount of intervention
required.