Network Access Control: Securing Confidential Info

Network Access Control (NAC) is a word used by many IT groups, as it is connected to computer network security. NAC limits access to the computers, networks, and systems of a particular group. In this manner, computers, networks, and systems are restricted from unauthorized personnel, devices, and programs (especially malicious software). By enforcing network security, company data and systems are protected, and confidential information is safeguarded.

Without NAC, the integrity of entire companies and organizations, as well as their affiliates, would be jeopardized. Sometimes, employees will use passwords that are not very secure. Insecure passwords are used because it can be difficult to remember passwords that are too long or have unusual combinations of special characters, numbers, and letters in both upper and lower cases. Forgetting a password can be a hassle, as it will bar access to devices, programs, and entire networks. This in turn, can compromise productivity, and impede the workflow of companies and organizations.

Passwords that can be easily identified by unauthorized third party programs and personnel carries a much bigger risk. With Network Access Control, these risks are minimized or obliterated. IT personnel who are in charge of password creation and resets, and managing any restricted information, will embed sophisticated passwords into every employee's swipe card.

Open Sesame: A Brief Take on Passwords

Obviously, computers can't be locked in the physical sense to impede unlawful access. The standard security measure computers use to deter unauthorized access is the password prompt, which serves as an electronic lock of sorts. The origins of the password could be traced as far back as the era of the Roman Empire, when the Empire's watchmen would discreetly pass around a “watchword” that only they would know of.

Passwords are still some of the most reliable applications designed for security; hackers can try to crack the code, but it will take them a considerable amount of time to do so. To further bolster security, it's even possible to create rotating passwords that would make access to the system next to impossible for criminals. For all its strengths against decryption, however, passwords can complicate the lives of those using them.

Those who use long and complex passwords might have difficulty remembering such codes. Thankfully, there are password managers that can help users key in their passwords without challenging their memory. They could either come in the form of software (either as an application or a cloud-based service) that safely store a list of passwords for users, or as a portable physical device (such as a USB drive) that keeps the passwords inside them.

Securing Your Network From Crackers

Not all hackers are bad guys; some are just very curious individuals who simply have to know how secure a site really is. A good example is Adrian Lamo, who succeeded in hacking the sites of major companies such as Yahoo!, Google, and The New York Times. It turned out Lamo was actually a good Samaritan who informed his victims—at no cost—about the weaknesses in their networks' security systems.

However, there are hackers who try to get into companies' and individuals' computing systems with malice in mind. Strictly speaking, these people should be called “crackers,” a term used to distinguish them from the less harmful “hackers”. Crackers get into systems primarily to extract information that may be used against the owners and users of these systems. The most common crime associated with crackers recently is identity theft, which can be committed against both businesses and individuals.

Sometimes, all it takes to hack into a system is to crack the password of a single user in a network. Once a hacker gets into this user's account, they can enter the entire network and access the system's database. This is why securing passwords is very important both in business and personal computing systems. What may seem to be the most secure password can still be cracked by a determined hacker, making innovative password protection systems necessary.