Network Access Control
A system that enforces policy on devices before granting them access to the network.
Network Access Control enforces security policy by evaluating a device’s posture — patch level, antivirus status, OS version — before allowing it onto the network. Devices that fail the check are redirected to a quarantine VLAN where they can remediate without touching production resources. The exam often contrasts NAC with 802.1X: 802.1X handles port-based authentication (who you are), while NAC adds posture assessment (whether your device is compliant). In practice, 802.1X is the enforcement mechanism NAC often rides on, but NAC is the broader policy framework.
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