Strengthening Network Security and Access Control for SOCAL Districts

Challenge

A Southern California School District faced critical challenges in network access control (NAC) and overall security within its 802.1x wired Aruba ClearPass environment. 

The existing network infrastructure lacked robust controls for managing access and monitoring activity, increasing the risk of unauthorized access by malicious actors. 

Additionally, the district struggled with securely onboarding guests onto the wireless network, further exposing vulnerabilities and potential data breaches.

Solution

Our company was engaged to overhaul the network access control (NAC) and security framework. 

We leveraged our expertise in network security to deliver the following solutions:

Implementation Details: 

• Role Definition and Access Management: Developed and implemented distinct roles, profiles, and rule sets tailored for internal staff, students, physical guests, and IoT devices. This segmentation ensured that each user group had access appropriate to their needs and security clearance, thus enhancing the overall security architecture of the district. 
  
  
• Enhanced Onboarding Process for Guests:
  Introduced an advanced and secure method for guest onboarding that not only streamlined access but also ensured that guest devices were monitored and managed effectively without compromising the security of the network.
  
  
• Increased Network Visibility:
  By refining the rule sets and profiles, our team was able to significantly enhance the visibility across the network. This allowed for real-time tracking of network activities and enabled proactive identification and mitigation of unauthorized access or potential security.
  
  
• Training and Empowerment:
  Conducted comprehensive training sessions for the district’s IT staff, empowering them with the necessary skills to manage and maintain the new system efficiently. This transfer of knowledge ensures sustainability and long-term effectiveness of the implemented solutions. 

Benefits

The implementation of our tailored solution yielded tangible improvements in the school district's network security posture and access control capabilities. By adopting a role-based access control (RBAC) framework and fine-tuning network policies, the district experienced enhanced protection against unauthorized access attempts and potential data breaches. Furthermore, the improved visibility into network activities facilitated proactive threat detection and response, safeguarding sensitive data and critical infrastructure.