Napera N24: NAP made easy

14.05.2009
Microsoft's Network Access Protection (NAP) serves as a good foundation for securing Windows network infrastructure. Nevertheless, you can usefully expand NAP's capabilities with applications that bring easier configuration of policies, more granular enforcement, and clearer reporting to the mix. A case in point: the Napera N24 network access control appliance.

Napera licenses the NAP protocol, embeds enforcement within a gigabit Ethernet switch, and uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) and a Web-based application for configuration and reporting. The result is a compelling solution targeting SMB, but providing features that will be attractive for branch offices and other pockets of need within a large organization.

[ Microsoft NAP has compelling advantages, and severe shortcomings. See the . ]

The concept is brilliantly executed: all configuration, administration, and reporting of the NAP functions are managed by a Web application on AWS that talks directly to the Napera switch, meaning that you need only a Web browser on a computer plugged into the switch to configure the system. The switch communicates directly with the AWS application, getting its NAP policies and enforcement instructions, as well as providing clear, graphical, Web-based reporting.