Network access control (NAC) is a critical aspect of network security that helps prevent unauthorized access to a network. It is important for network administrators to implement NAC to ensure that only authorized users and devices have access to the network. This can help prevent data breaches, malware infections, and other security incidents.
There are several NAC solutions available for both Windows and Linux systems. Some of the most common NAC solutions include:
Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) - This is a popular NAC solution for Cisco networks that provides network access control, policy enforcement, and security posture assessment.
Microsoft NPS - This is a NAC solution for Windows networks that allows network administrators to control access to the network based on user and device attributes.
FreeRADIUS - This is an open-source NAC solution for Linux networks that allows network administrators to control access to the network based on user and device attributes.
In this article, we will look at how to implement network access control using FreeRADIUS on a Linux system. FreeRADIUS is a popular open-source NAC solution that is widely used in enterprise networks.
First, you need to install FreeRADIUS on your Linux system. You can do this by running the following command:
sudo apt-get install freeradius
Next, you need to configure the FreeRADIUS server by editing the configuration files. These files are located in the /etc/freeradius/ directory.
You will need to configure the following files:
- clients.conf - This file contains the IP addresses of the devices that are allowed to access the network.
- users - This file contains the usernames and passwords of the users that are allowed to access the network.
- sites-enabled/default - This file contains the configuration for the default FreeRADIUS site.
Once the configuration is complete, you will need to start the FreeRADIUS server by running the following command:
sudo systemctl start freeradius
You can then test the NAC configuration by running the following command:
sudo radtest <username> <password> <radius-server-ip> <radius-server-port> <secret>
If the test is successful, you will see an Access-Accept message.
Implementing network access control is an important task for network administrators, as it helps prevent unauthorized access to a network. Network administrators should familiarize themselves with the tools, best practices, and industry standards to be able to handle such cases in the future. Additionally, taking relevant courses and certifications and staying informed about the latest developments in network access control will help network administrators to become proficient in securing networks from unauthorized access.
