Another advantage of the Napera solution: Although the N24 uses the NAP protocols, it does not require deploying Windows Server 2008. All of the NAP functions that Windows Server 2008 brings to a Windows network are provided by the N24 appliance instead. The N24 is able to join a domain and use Active Directory Service information for authentication, or it can provide a captive portal, guest access, or local database option for authentication.

In addition to unhitching NAP from Windows Server 2008, Napera's outstanding freshman offering combines a simple installation with the power of a SaaS back end. The larger providers of networking equipment would do well to review Napera's approach and recognize the power of the cloud for configuration and reporting.

Napera N24 is a 24-port switch and Amazon-based Web application that allow you to easily configure and enforce a superset of the Network Access Protection policies available in the native Windows Network Policy Service. It's an exceptionally easy-to-deploy policy-based security solution for SMBs, branch offices, and pockets within larger organizations.