Barracuda Networks VERSION SP4 User Manual
4 Introduction
Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1
Endpoint Security and Network Access Control
With the advent of novel technologies, work habits have changed dramatically throughout the past
decades. Notebooks and netbooks, smartphones and vast amounts of data easily portable on USB
sticks and miniature storage cards, ubiquitous wireless network access, personal area networking,
they all have attributed to the fact that endpoints in corporate networks have become an increasingly
hard to control hazard.
decades. Notebooks and netbooks, smartphones and vast amounts of data easily portable on USB
sticks and miniature storage cards, ubiquitous wireless network access, personal area networking,
they all have attributed to the fact that endpoints in corporate networks have become an increasingly
hard to control hazard.
Effective endpoint security today extends far beyond historical personal firewall and antivirus concepts.
It still means protection of an endpoint against network threats using a host firewall and malware
detection software, but extends the protection concept by a broader enforcement and validation of
security policies that are specific to the identity of the device, the user and its current state. Powerful
endpoint security concepts also necessitate full integration into an accompanying network access
control framework.
It still means protection of an endpoint against network threats using a host firewall and malware
detection software, but extends the protection concept by a broader enforcement and validation of
security policies that are specific to the identity of the device, the user and its current state. Powerful
endpoint security concepts also necessitate full integration into an accompanying network access
control framework.
Network Access Control (NAC) represents a novel technology aimed at guaranteeing that access to
enterprise network resources is granted based upon authentication of the user and device as well as
verification of the device's compliance with current security policies.
enterprise network resources is granted based upon authentication of the user and device as well as
verification of the device's compliance with current security policies.
By default, a typical Network Access Control solution offers enhanced protection against malicious
software and attackers, improved access control to the network for employees and guests, superior
resource usage tracking, and a powerful policy adherence mechanism. As a consequence, the
complexity of the network and the administration effort required is significantly reduced, a greater
degree of integration among stand-alone security solutions is achieved, existing and potential security
gaps are nicely closed, and a greater visibility of end-to-end security is provided.
software and attackers, improved access control to the network for employees and guests, superior
resource usage tracking, and a powerful policy adherence mechanism. As a consequence, the
complexity of the network and the administration effort required is significantly reduced, a greater
degree of integration among stand-alone security solutions is achieved, existing and potential security
gaps are nicely closed, and a greater visibility of end-to-end security is provided.
1.2
Introduction to Barracuda NG Network Access Client
Barracuda NG Network Access Client denotes Barracuda Networks' endpoint security and network
access control (NAC) framework. Administered endpoint integrity and endpoint access is what
Barracuda NG Network Access Client provides. In order to achieve this, it consists of client software
components
access control (NAC) framework. Administered endpoint integrity and endpoint access is what
Barracuda NG Network Access Client provides. In order to achieve this, it consists of client software
components
1
, server side components, which the client software periodically communicates with to
have the health state of its underlying operating system verified and its network access rights
assessed. Barracuda NG Firewalls can interpret that information and subsequently allow or deny
network access attempts by the respective client.
assessed. Barracuda NG Firewalls can interpret that information and subsequently allow or deny
network access attempts by the respective client.
1. Available for Microsoft® Windows XP (32 Bit) and Vista (32 Bit and 64 Bit)
Windows 7 (32 Bit and 64 Bit)operating systems