Provide A Brief Definition Of Network Access Control ✓ Solved

Provide A Brief Definition Of Network Access Control

51 Provide A Brief Definition Of Network Access Control

5.1 Provide a brief definition of network access control. 5.2 What is an EAP? 5.3 List and briefly define four EAP authentication methods. 5.4 What is EAPOL? 5.5 What is the function of IEEE 802.1X? 5.6 Define cloud computing. 5.7 List and briefly define three cloud service models. 5.8 What is the cloud computing reference architecture? 5.9 Describe some of the main cloud-specific security threats.

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Network Access Control (NAC) is a security solution that enforces policies on devices attempting to access network resources. It ensures that only authorized and compliant devices can connect, thereby reducing the risk of malicious attacks or unauthorized access. NAC assesses device health and security posture before granting network access, often integrating with enterprise security policies and technologies such as Firewalls, RADIUS servers, and Authentication protocols (Cisco, 2020).

Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) is an authentication framework frequently used in wireless networks and Point-to-Point connections. It provides a flexible mechanism for various authentication methods and protocols to be used during the process of establishing a secure communication channel (Eapol.Org, 2021). EAP supports multiple authentication methods, allowing organizations to choose based on their security requirements and infrastructure.

Four common EAP authentication methods include:

  • PEAP (Protected EAP): Encapsulates EAP within a TLS tunnel, providing credential security and protecting the authentication process from eavesdropping.
  • EAP-TLS: Utilizes digital certificates for mutual authentication between client and server, offering high security and is widely regarded as the most secure EAP method.
  • EAP-FAST (Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling): Uses protected access credentials and is designed for environments with limited certificate management.
  • EAP-TTLS (Tunneled TLS): Similar to EAP-TLS but allows for legacy password-based authentication within a secured TLS tunnel.

EAP over LAN (EAPOL) is a network port-based access authentication protocol used primarily in IEEE 802.1X networks. It facilitates the communication of EAP messages between a supplicant (client device) and an authenticator (switch or access point) to manage network access control (IEEE, 2018).

The primary function of IEEE 802.1X is to provide port-based, network access control, authenticating devices attempting to connect to a LAN or WLAN. It ensures that devices are authenticated before gaining access to network resources, thereby preventing unauthorized access and enhancing overall network security (IEEE, 2018).

Cloud computing is a paradigm that allows users to access computing resources, such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics, over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis. It provides scalable and flexible resources that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort.

Core cloud service models include:

  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, including servers, storage, and networks, allowing users to run operating systems and applications.
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS): Offers a development environment and tools, enabling developers to build, deploy, and manage applications without managing underlying hardware or software layers.
  • Software as a Service (SaaS): Delivers software applications over the internet on a subscription basis, accessible through web browsers without local installation or maintenance.

The cloud computing reference architecture is a comprehensive framework that describes the key components, services, and interfaces involved in cloud ecosystems. It guides the design, deployment, and management of cloud services by providing standardized descriptions and interactions among different cloud entities (NIST, 2010).

Despite its advantages, cloud computing introduces various security challenges. Major threats include data breaches, where sensitive data is accessed unlawfully; data loss due to accidental deletion or malicious activity; insecure APIs that can be exploited by attackers; account hijacking through credential theft; and insider threats from malicious or negligent insiders. Other concerns involve insufficient access controls, insecure storage, and lack of compliance with regulatory standards (Shah et al., 2019; Ristenpart et al., 2009).

References

  • Cisco. (2020). Network Access Control (NAC). Cisco Systems. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/advanced-malware-protection/index.html
  • Eapol.Org. (2021). Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). https://eapol.org
  • IEEE. (2018). IEEE Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks: Port-Based Network Access Control. IEEE 802.1X-2018.
  • NIST. (2010). NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture. Special Publication 500-292. https://pages.nist.gov/CloudComputing2012/index.html
  • Ristenpart, T., Tromer, E., Shamir, A., & Theoreti, V. (2009). Hey, you, get off my cloud: Exploring cloud privacy and security. Proceedings of the 16th ACM conference on Computer and communications security, 197-208.
  • Shah, M., Usman, M., Anwar, M., et al. (2019). Cloud security threats and mitigation techniques. IEEE Access, 7, 124006-124024.

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