Accessing Networks Using NAC Systems
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NAC provides a measure of control for other computers. It ensures that clients meet predetermined characteristics prior to accessing a network. If you’re planning to take the SY0-501 or SY0-401 Security+ exam, you should have a basic understanding of installing and configuring network components to support organizational security. This includes using NAC systems to isolate computers that don’t meet preset conditions.
For example, can you answer this question?
Q. Your organization recently implemented a BYOD policy. However, management wants to ensure that mobile devices meet minimum standards for security before they can access any network resources. Which of the following agents would the NAC MOST likely have?
A. Permanent
B. Health
C. RADIUS
D. Dissolvable
More, do you know why the correct answer is correct and the incorrect answers are incorrect? The answer and explanation is available at the end of this post.
Security+ Practice Test Questions
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Over 440 realistic Security+ practice test questions
All questions include explanations so you'll know why the correct answers are correct,
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Pass the Security+ Exam
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Multiple quiz formats to let you use these questions based on the way you learn.
- Learn mode - randomized. View each of the questions in random order. Learn mode allows you to keep selecting answers until you select the correct answer. Once you select the correct answer, you'll see the explanation. Click here to see how learn mode works.
- Learn mode - not randomized. View each of the questions in the same order. Use this if you want to make sure that you see all of the questions. Learn mode allows you to keep selecting answers until you select the correct answer. Once you select the correct answer, you'll see the explanation. Click here to see how learn mode works.
- Test mode - randomized. View each of the questions in random order. In test mode, you can only see the correct answers and explanations after you complete the test. Click here to see how test mode works.
- Test mode - not randomized. View each of the questions in the same order. In test mode, you can only see the correct answers and explanations after you complete the test. Click here to see how test mode works.
- Test mode - 100 random questions. View 100 random questions from the full test bank similar to how the Security+ exam has a potential maximum of 100 multiple choice questions. In test mode, you can only see the correct answers and explanations after you complete the test. Click here to see how test mode works.
Get the full bank of Security+ (SYO-401) Practice Test Questions Here
SYO-401 Practice Test Questions
INCLUDES QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU PREPARE
FOR THE NEW PERFORMANCE BASED QUESTIONS
Bonus - Performance Based Questions
Additional Security+ questions to help you prepare for the new performance based questions. These are included with the full bank of Security+ practice test questions and are divided into different sections. For example, you'll have access to the following links:
- Performance Based Question - Set 1
You'll see a graphic explaining what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match different types of security to mobile devices and servers in a data center. You'll then have two questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This question also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 2
You'll see a graphic explaining what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match different types of attacks with the name of the attack type. You'll then have five questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This question also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 3
You'll see a graphic showing a network with computers and servers separated by a firewall. The firewall is used to control traffic between the computers and users using rules within an access control list (ACL). You'll have three questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly identify the relevant components of the rule. The incorrect answers and explanation provide you with insight into how to correctly answer this type of question on the actual exam.
- Performance Based Question - Set 4
You'll see a graphic explaining what you might be required to do on the actual exam related to what a forensic analyst would do during an investigation. You'll then have two questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This question also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 5
You'll see a graphic explaining what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match protocols and ports. You'll then have seven questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This question also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 6
You'll see a list of security controls along with a graphic showing devices and locations within an organization, along with instructions on what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match the controls with the devices and locations. You'll then have four questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This question also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 7
You'll see a list of authentication methods and authentication factors along with instructions on what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match the authentication methods with the authentication factors. You'll then have six questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This set also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 8
You'll see a graphic explaining what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match different types of attacks with the name of the attack type. You'll then have five questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This is similar to Set 2 but expands on the possibilities. The set also includes a link to a page showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
New - Performance Based Question - Set 9
New questions recently added using a different testing engine. See a
demo here. This set includes drag and drop and matching questions on ports.
New - Performance Based Question - Set 10
A random set of 20 performance-based questions using drag and drop, matching, sorting, and fill in-the blank.
This set includes performance-based questions on RAID.Get the full bank of Security+ (SYO-401) Practice Test Questions Here
Get the full bank of Security+ Practice Test Questions
Click here if you're looking for SYO-501 Practice Test Questions
Host Health Checks
Administrators set predefined conditions for healthy clients and those that meet these preset conditions can access the network. The NAC system isolates computers that don’t meet the conditions. Common health conditions checked by a NAC are:
- Up-to-date antivirus software, including updated signature definitions
- Up-to-date operating system, including current patches and fixes
- Firewall enabled on the client
NAC systems use authentication agents (sometimes called health agents) to inspect NAC clients. These agents are applications or services that check different conditions on the computer and document the status in a statement of health. When a client connects to a NAC-controlled network, the agent reports the health status of the NAC client.
Consider the figure. When a VPN client accesses the network, the VPN server queries the NAC health server to determine required health conditions. The VPN server also queries the client for a statement of the client’s health. If the client meets all health requirements, the NAC system allows the client to access the network.
Using network access control
However, if a client doesn’t meet the health conditions mandated by the NAC server, the VPN server redirects the client to a remediation network (also called a quarantine network). The remediation network includes resources the client can use to get healthy. For example, it would include current approved patches, antivirus software, and updated virus signatures. The client can use these resources to improve its health and then try to access the network again.
While NAC can inspect the health of VPN clients, you can also use it to inspect the health of internal clients. For example, internal computers may occasionally miss patches and be vulnerable. NAC will detect the unpatched system and quarantine it. If you use this feature, it’s important that the detection is accurate. A false positive by the NAC system can quarantine a healthy client, and prevent it from accessing the network.
Similarly, your organization may allow visitors or employees to plug in their mobile computers to live wall jacks for connectivity, or connect to a wireless network. NAC inspects the clients, and if they don’t meet health conditions, they may be granted Internet access through the network but remain isolated from any other network activity.
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Permanent Versus Dissolvable
Agents on clients can be either dissolvable or permanent. A permanent agent (sometimes called a persistent NAC agent) is installed on the client and stays on the client. NAC uses the agent when the client attempts to log on remotely. This is the most common implementation for corporate-owned devices, and for approved laptops and PCs that employees use to connect remotely.
A dissolvable agent is downloaded and run on the client when the client logs on remotely. It collects the information it needs, identifies the client as healthy or not healthy, and reports the status back to the NAC system. Some dissolvable NAC agents remove themselves immediately after they report back to the NAC system. Others remove themselves after the remote session ends.
Security+ Practice Test Questions
SYO-501 Practice Test Questions Now Available
SYO-401 Practice Test Questions
Over 440 realistic Security+ practice test questions
All questions include explanations so you'll know why the correct answers are correct,
and why the incorrect answers are incorrect.
Pass the Security+ Exam
the First Time You Take It
Multiple quiz formats to let you use these questions based on the way you learn.
- Learn mode - randomized. View each of the questions in random order. Learn mode allows you to keep selecting answers until you select the correct answer. Once you select the correct answer, you'll see the explanation. Click here to see how learn mode works.
- Learn mode - not randomized. View each of the questions in the same order. Use this if you want to make sure that you see all of the questions. Learn mode allows you to keep selecting answers until you select the correct answer. Once you select the correct answer, you'll see the explanation. Click here to see how learn mode works.
- Test mode - randomized. View each of the questions in random order. In test mode, you can only see the correct answers and explanations after you complete the test. Click here to see how test mode works.
- Test mode - not randomized. View each of the questions in the same order. In test mode, you can only see the correct answers and explanations after you complete the test. Click here to see how test mode works.
- Test mode - 100 random questions. View 100 random questions from the full test bank similar to how the Security+ exam has a potential maximum of 100 multiple choice questions. In test mode, you can only see the correct answers and explanations after you complete the test. Click here to see how test mode works.
Get the full bank of Security+ (SYO-401) Practice Test Questions Here
SYO-401 Practice Test Questions
INCLUDES QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU PREPARE
FOR THE NEW PERFORMANCE BASED QUESTIONS
Bonus - Performance Based Questions
Additional Security+ questions to help you prepare for the new performance based questions. These are included with the full bank of Security+ practice test questions and are divided into different sections. For example, you'll have access to the following links:
- Performance Based Question - Set 1
You'll see a graphic explaining what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match different types of security to mobile devices and servers in a data center. You'll then have two questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This question also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 2
You'll see a graphic explaining what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match different types of attacks with the name of the attack type. You'll then have five questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This question also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 3
You'll see a graphic showing a network with computers and servers separated by a firewall. The firewall is used to control traffic between the computers and users using rules within an access control list (ACL). You'll have three questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly identify the relevant components of the rule. The incorrect answers and explanation provide you with insight into how to correctly answer this type of question on the actual exam.
- Performance Based Question - Set 4
You'll see a graphic explaining what you might be required to do on the actual exam related to what a forensic analyst would do during an investigation. You'll then have two questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This question also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 5
You'll see a graphic explaining what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match protocols and ports. You'll then have seven questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This question also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 6
You'll see a list of security controls along with a graphic showing devices and locations within an organization, along with instructions on what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match the controls with the devices and locations. You'll then have four questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This question also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 7
You'll see a list of authentication methods and authentication factors along with instructions on what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match the authentication methods with the authentication factors. You'll then have six questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This set also includes a link to a graphic showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
- Performance Based Question - Set 8
You'll see a graphic explaining what you might be required to do on the actual exam to match different types of attacks with the name of the attack type. You'll then have five questions that test your knowledge and ability to correctly answer the questions. This is similar to Set 2 but expands on the possibilities. The set also includes a link to a page showing the end solution for the overall performance based question simulation.
New - Performance Based Question - Set 9
New questions recently added using a different testing engine. See a
demo here. This set includes drag and drop and matching questions on ports.
New - Performance Based Question - Set 10
A random set of 20 performance-based questions using drag and drop, matching, sorting, and fill in-the blank.
This set includes performance-based questions on RAID.Get the full bank of Security+ (SYO-401) Practice Test Questions Here
Get the full bank of Security+ Practice Test Questions
Click here if you're looking for SYO-501 Practice Test Questions
Dissolvable agents are often used on mobile devices when an organization has implemented a bring your own device (BYOD) policy. Employee-owned devices are inspected for health, but the organization doesn’t require users to install extra software on their devices. However, these dissolvable agents can detect vulnerabilities on mobile devices, such as a jail-broken or rooted device. A jail-broken Apple device removes software restrictions, such as the ability to install software from sources other than the Apple store. A rooted Android device has been modified, allowing root-level access to, and the ability to modify, the Android operating system.
Many NAC vendors refer to dissolvable agents as an agentless capability, though this is somewhat of a misnomer. The NAC is still using an agent to inspect the client, but it is not installing the agent on the client.
Remember this
Network access control (NAC) includes methods to inspect clients for health, such as having up-to-date antivirus software. NAC can restrict access of unhealthy clients to a remediation network. You can use NAC for VPN clients and for internal clients. Permanent agents are installed on the clients. Dissolvable agents (sometimes called agentless) are not installed on the clients and are often used to inspect employee-owned mobile devices.
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Q. Your organization recently implemented a BYOD policy. However, management wants to ensure that mobile devices meet minimum standards for security before they can access any network resources. Which of the following agents would the NAC MOST likely have?
A. Permanent
B. Health
C. RADIUS
D. Dissolvable
Answer is D. A dissolvable agent is often used on employee-owned devices and would be appropriate if an organization implemented a bring your own device (BYOD) policy.
A permanent network access control (NAC) agent is installed on the device permanently, but this might cause problems for employee-owned devices.
Any NAC agent is a health agent.
Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) is used for authentication, not to inspect clients.
See Chapter 4 of the CompTIA Security+: Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-501 Study Guide
or
See Chapter 4 of the CompTIA Security+: Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-401 Study Guide
for more information on securing network.
