http://www.nwfusion.com/weblogs/routers ... tml#006527
---
By Phil Hochmuth
Network World Fusion, 10/18/04
Cisco and Microsoft this week will both take a step closer to having a compatible LAN-based network security story. The vendors say they will begin interoperability work with Cisco’s Network Admission control (NAC) and Microsoft’s Network Access Protection (NAP) architectures.
Cisco’s NAC system uses client software, Cisco hardware and a back-end RADIUS server to lock out PCs and laptops that don’t pass a security screening test while logging on. Microsoft’s NAP does a similar job, with client inspection and network quarantine features, but is based on Active Directory and Windows software. It could also be supported on multiple vendor’s switches.
Neither companies gave any specifics on how a unified NAC/NAP architecture might work, and interoperable products are expected to be available for several years. But the cooperation should be somewhat of a comfort to the countless Microsoft/Cisco-based shops who may have been confused about the two companies competing network protection schemes.