Network Access Control

A Midwest issuer of credit cards found a NAC system to help meet compliance requirements...and solidify security, reports Greg Masters.

The nonprofit Trusted Computing Group is offering a new standard for managing clientless devices, a specification that can help organizations avoid gaps in network security.

With regards to network security and setting perimeters, what constitutes legitimate network activity?

Hewlett-Packard announced Wednesday plans to acquire 3Com, whose TippingPoint subsidiary is one of the best-known providers of intrusion prevention systems.

ConSentry Networks is the latest network access control (NAC) vendor to bite the dust. The Milpitas, Calif.-based company, which lately had shifted its focus to making LAN switches and controllers, closed its doors last Thursday, according to Network World, which broke the story. No one at ConSentry answered the telephone on Tuesday, and an email went unreturned. Earlier this year, Trustwave acquired Mirage Networks, and in March 2008, prominent NAC player Lockdown Networks went out of business. Experts said pure-play NAC providers have had trouble competing against bigger companies. -- DK