Network Access Control

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Network Access Control (NAC): what is it? And which solution works best for your organization?

In today’s enterprise landscape, the perimeter has dissolved: work happens everywhere and anywhere on different devices, ranging from laptops and smartphones to IoT endpoints. This dynamism fuels innovation, but also exposes organizations to new risks. Who (or what) is allowed access to your company resources? And under which conditions? Our network and security expert, Michiel Quintelier, answers the most burning questions and helps you pick the right tool for network access control.

Mon, 24 November 2025

Michiel Quintelier

Network & Security Consultant, Arxus

What is Network Access Control?

Network Access Control (NAC) solutions provide a structured methodology to determine who (or what) can access your corporate network, ensuring that only authorized users and devices gain entry. It establishes policies, enforces security standards, and helps organizations manage the growing complexity of distributed IT environments.

For years, traditional NAC has been powerful, yet notoriously complex. IT teams have had to manage external AAA servers, VPN tunnels, load balancers and dedicated appliances – often stitching together multiple tools just to enforce the right access restrictions. The result? Heavy maintenance, fragmented troubleshooting, and systems that were often more of a burden than a safeguard. As networks expanded to include contractors, BYOD and countless smart devices, this approach became unsustainable.

While this entire process may sound complex, choosing the right NAC solution makes it all effortless. Let’s take a closer look at two leading Cisco solutions that deliver effective, streamlined access control without the headaches: Meraki Access Manager and Identity Services Engine.

Meraki Access Manager

Delivered entirely through the cloud and integrated into the familiar cloud dashboard, Meraki Access Manager eliminates the sprawl of external servers and manual inputs. Instead, access is managed through identity and context: whether that’s authenticating managed devices with certificates, validating users with directory credentials, or applying simple rules for unmanaged endpoints. Policies can be based on roles, group memberships, or even attributes like job title or location, ensuring the right level of access without adding operational friction.

Continuing that simplicity, Meraki Access Manager offers the ability to directly integrate with Entra ID as your identity provider. This allows organizations to move away from traditional, on-premises Active Directory setups for NAC and streamline authentication across users and devices directly from the cloud. By tying access policies to Entra ID groups, roles, and attributes, IT teams can enforce security with far less manual configuration, while gaining the flexibility to manage a distributed, hybrid workforce.

What are the benefits of Access Manager?

The strategic advantage lies in how this simplicity scales. Access Manager unifies identity-based access with adaptive policies, making it far easier to implement microsegmentation and accelerate Zero Trust adoption across distributed organizations. It reduces costs and overhead while giving IT leaders centralized visibility and control, all without slowing down the business.

In other words: Meraki Access Manager takes what was once a complicated, specialist-driven process and turns it into a streamlined, scalable service that just works.

Simplified management

Manage access control directly from the Meraki dashboard.

Streamlined scalability

Cloud services support growing number of users and endpoints.

Rapid Zero Trust adoption

Instantly enforce zero trust and microsegmentation policies.

Seamless integrations

Use additional context to apply access control with third-party integrations.

Reduced overhead

Eliminate RADIUS servers, VPNs, and load balancers.

Centralized visibility

Monitor and troubleshoot access to users and endpoints from one dashboard.

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)

While Meraki Access Manager shines in environments that prioritize agility, simplicity, and cloud-first scalability, some organizations face a different reality. Highly regulated industries, global enterprises, or businesses with complex, multi-domain networks often need more than streamlined access. They require deep visibility, granular control, and the ability to enforce policies across thousands of users and devices. This is where Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) comes into play, offering a level of precision and integration that addresses the most demanding network environments.

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) addresses the reality that large, distributed enterprises need more than just basic access control. It provides a framework where trust is continuously evaluated, and policies adapt automatically as users, devices, and conditions change. Rather than layering security only at the perimeter, ISE embeds intelligence directly into the network, creating trusted zones that limit the spread of threats and enforce compliance at scale. This approach not only strengthens protection, it also ensures that access policies align with the complexity of modern operations – whether by supporting contractors, managing guest access, or safeguarding sensitive data across global environments.

What are the benefits of Identity Services Engine?

The strategic value of ISE lies in its depth and adaptability. By combining granular access control with continuous visibility, it enables organizations to adopt zero trust at scale – even though that has traditionally been too complex and slow to implement. With ISE, segmentation becomes a living part of the network, evolving alongside the business, ensuring policies stay aligned with intent, and turning the network itself into a powerful enforcer of security.

For enterprises with layered architectures, heavy regulatory demands, and the need for precision, ISE provides unmatched control and resilience.

Granular policy enforcement

Apply precise access policies across wired, wireless, and VPN environments.

Advanced threat containment

Limit lateral movement and contain threats automatically within the network.

Continuous visibility

Monitor users, devices, and their interactions for smarter security decisions.

Automated segmentation

Create and maintain trusted zones that reduce attack surfaces and simplify network segmentation.

Zero Trust at scale

Dynamically evaluate trust and enforce access policies across large, distributed networks.

Integration with security ecosystems

Seamlessly connect with identity providers, security platforms, and endpoint management systems for a cohesive security posture.

Setting entry rules with the right tools

Every connection to your network matters. Without proper controls, even a single compromised device can jeopardize operations. NAC provides the framework to manage every entry point intelligently, enforcing rules automatically while giving IT teams the visibility and control needed to maintain business continuity. Security needs to be seamless, not obstructive.

So, how do you choose the right NAC solution? It should reflect your organization’s priorities and complexity. In both cases, NAC is more than a security tool: it’s a strategic foundation that protects the business, supports innovation, and ensures the network can evolve confidently alongside organizational growth.

When should you choose Meraki Access Manager?

If your team is seeking speed, ease of management, and cloud-native simplicity, Meraki Access Manager delivers streamlined access control that scales effortlessly across distributed environments.

When should you choose Identity Services Engine?

Is your enterprise facing global operations, stringent compliance requirements, or multi-layered network architectures? Cisco ISE provides the granular visibility and control needed to enforce zero trust and segment the network with precision.

Choose simplicity to accelerate your network security

Learn how our managed NAC solutions simplify access management, enforce policies automatically, and give you the confidence to scale safely.

Looking for a managed NAC solution? Get in touch | Arxus

Want more? Read on!

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