IT Pros Get the 'NAC'

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Vernier Networks recent “NAC Market and Technology Trends Survey” reveals that more than half of 400 IT security professionals surveyed consider a Network Access Control (NAC) solution to be an essential part of their near-term network infrastructure implementation plans. 16 percent of respondents already have NAC products installed, and nearly 40 percent of respondents are planning on implementing a NAC solution within the next 12 months.

“Near-term adoption of NAC solutions is well underway,” said Rod Murchison, vice president of marketing for Vernier Networks. “This survey highlights that not only are companies very concerned about limiting network access to approved individuals connecting from safe computers, but they also want to ensure that the data these users transmit is free of spyware, worms, and other security threats.”

One key observation in the survey was that Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDP) technologies will play a significant role in NAC solutions going forward. IDP inspects all inbound and outbound network activity and identifies suspicious patterns that may indicate a network or system attack from someone attempting to break into or compromise a system. Over 42 percent of respondents viewed IDP as a strategic component in their Network Access Control plans in order to ensure compliance to IT policies at all times, while less than 18 percent believed that endpoint software alone (permanent, downloadable, or dissolvable) was up to the task.

Vernier Networks Inc.