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1200 West University
Ave
Mitchell, SD 57301
Phone:
605-995-2697
E-mail: helpdesk@dwu.edu
Web: http://www.dwu.edu/is//
Cisco
Clean Access (CCA) Frequently Asked Questions
Key Terms
- Network Access Process:
The process of authentication and validation of your computer
required for network access.
- Authentication:
The process of verifying your access to the network by
confirming your username and password and associating it with your
computer.
- Validation:
The process of confirming that certain security measures are
in place on your computer.
Q: How does the Network Authentication and Validation system work?
A: The new computer security system performs the following functions:
·
Require
authentication to the network.
·
Validate whether the
system connecting to the network meets the minimum security
standards.
·
Quarantines the
system until it meets the minimum security standards.
·
Provides access to
the remediation sites.
·
Once the system is
validated as “clean,” allows access to the network.
Q:
Why Are We Introducing this Solution Now?
A: From investigations on the causes of the problems experienced, it has
been determined that the best way to prevent this from happening
again is to insure that OS critical update/patches are current and
maintained.
Users who did connect systems
that were current with both OS patches and anti-virus software also
suffered delays in Internet and other network access due to the
excessive traffic caused by the infected machines.
Q: How Does Validation Work?
A:
The validation solution will “trap” any Internet browser access and
redirect the user to a web page that instructs the user to download
and install the validation client known as “Clean Access Agent”.
Once launched, the client downloads the validation rules and
processes these. If the workstation fails the test, it is allowed
Internet access only to the remediation sites for a period of time.
Once corrected, full network access is provided and a timer is set
for the connection. The connection remains intact until the timer
expires; at that time, the connection is reset and the user must
re-validate by launching the client.
Q:
What is Clean Access
Agent?
A: Clean Access Agent is the client application that can check certain
security settings on any Microsoft Windows PC to make sure that the
system is up-to-date with required security patches and report this
status to a Server. No information about the user or the content of
user files is sent to the server. Each user must use Clean Access
Agent for his/her Microsoft Windows PC in order to authenticate and
use the network.
Q:
What Validation Checks are being performed?
A:
The following are some examples of validation checks that can be
performed:
Q:
How Long Do the Validation Checks Take?
A: The checks can take between 15 seconds to a few minutes.
Q:
How Does Validation Work for Macintosh Users?
A: Macintosh users must authenticate by logging in via a web page. The
only validation check for Macintosh systems is the Antivirus scan.
There is no client which is downloaded to Macintosh systems. The
network connection timer is set for Macintosh systems; however,
there is no icon that can be right-clicked to logout and
subsequently login again.
Q: How Does Validation
Work for Linux Users?
A:
Linux users must authenticate by logging in via a web page. The only
validation check for Linux systems is the Antivirus scan. There is
no client which is downloaded to Linux systems. The network
connection timer is set for Linux systems; however, there is no icon
that can be right-clicked to logout and subsequently login again.
Q: What Remediation is
Available?
A: Microsoft Windows Patch Failure. If the user’s system fails the check
for current critical OS patches, the user is instructed to click on
the URL for the Microsoft Windows update site and follow the
instructions. Additionally, the user is provided the option to
download a program that can assist in configuration of Microsoft
Windows Automatic Updates.
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