At Twotrees Technologies, we’re excited to partner with Fortinet to bring powerful, cost-effective network security solutions to schools, businesses, and government agencies. One standout feature of Fortinet’s ecosystem is the FortiLink Network Access Control (NAC), which comes built into FortiGate firewalls, Fortinet switches, and Access Points (APs) at no additional cost. This lightweight yet robust NAC solution, often referred to as FortiLink NAC, delivers many of the benefits of a full-blown NAC system, making it an ideal choice for organizations looking to enhance security without adding complexity or breaking the budget.
What is FortiLink NAC?
Network Access Control (NAC) is a critical security tool that helps organizations manage and secure devices connecting to their networks. FortiLink NAC, integrated into FortiGate firewalls, switches, and APs, provides a simplified yet powerful way to identify, segment, and secure devices on your network. Unlike traditional NAC solutions that require significant investment and expertise, FortiLink NAC is included out of the box, offering immediate value for Fortinet customers.
For schools, small to medium-sized businesses, or government agencies with limited IT resources, FortiLink NAC simplifies network security. It allows you to control who and what connects to your network, ensuring that only authorized devices and users gain access while maintaining compliance with security policies.
Seamless Integration with Active Directory and Azure Entra ID
One of the standout features of FortiLink NAC is its ability to integrate with Active Directory or Azure Entra ID to enable role-based network segmentation. This integration allows you to define network access policies based on user identity or device type, ensuring that users and devices are placed in the appropriate network segment (e.g., VLAN) based on their role or function.
For example:
- In a school environment, FortiLink NAC can automatically place students, teachers, and administrators into separate VLANs based on their credentials. Fifth graders can be segmented into one VLAN with restricted access, while seniors or teachers can be assigned to different VLANs with access to specific resources.
- In a business or government agency, employees, contractors, and guests can be separated into distinct network segments, ensuring that sensitive data is only accessible to authorized personnel.
This role-based segmentation enhances security by limiting lateral movement within the network, reducing the risk of a compromised device spreading malware or accessing unauthorized resources.
Benefits of Role-Based Network Segmentation
Implementing FortiLink NAC’s role-based segmentation offers numerous benefits, particularly for organizations like schools, businesses, or government agencies:
- Enhanced Security: By isolating devices and users based on their roles, FortiLink NAC minimizes the attack surface. For instance, a student’s Chromebook infected with malware at home can be automatically quarantined, preventing it from affecting the rest of the network.
- Improved Visibility: FortiLink NAC provides end-to-end visibility into all devices connected to the network, allowing IT teams to identify and monitor devices, including IoT devices, printers, or even vehicles like Teslas downloading updates on school Wi-Fi.
- Compliance and Policy Enforcement: Schools and agencies can enforce security policies, such as requiring up-to-date antivirus software or specific patches, before granting network access. Non-compliant devices are automatically quarantined until remediated.
- Simplified Management: With FortiLink NAC, IT administrators manage security and network policies from a single FortiGate interface, reducing the need for multiple tools or extensive training.
Automations That Simplify IT Management
FortiLink NAC’s automation capabilities are a game-changer for overworked IT teams. These trigger-based automations allow network administrators to set policies that respond to specific events, reducing manual intervention and improving response times. Here are some examples of how FortiLink NAC automations can make life easier for IT directors and administrators:
- Quarantine Non-Compliant Devices: If a device fails an antivirus scan or lacks required patches, FortiLink NAC can automatically move it to a quarantine VLAN and notify the IT team via email, Slack, or Microsoft Teams. For example, a student’s infected Chromebook can be isolated immediately upon connecting to the school network, preventing potential threats.
- Network Event Notifications: Administrators can set up alerts for events like an access point going offline or a device attempting unauthorized access. These notifications can be sent via email, Slack, or webhooks, ensuring IT staff are always informed.
- Dynamic Segmentation: FortiLink NAC can automatically assign devices to specific VLANs based on their type or user role. For instance, Linux devices can be placed in one VLAN, Windows machines in another, and printers in a separate segment, all without manual configuration.
- Integration with Third-Party Tools: Fortinet’s open API allows FortiLink NAC to integrate with over 300 third-party vendors, enabling seamless workflows with existing tools. For example, schools can integrate with their classroom management systems to streamline user authentication and access control.
These automations reduce the burden on IT staff, who often wear multiple hats, by providing a Security Operations Center (SOC)-like capability without the high costs of a dedicated SOC or Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system. This “NAC light” approach empowers small IT teams to achieve enterprise-level security with minimal effort.
Real-World Examples
FortiLink NAC has proven its value in real-world scenarios, particularly in K-12 environments:
- Tesla Updates Overloading School Wi-Fi: In one private school, parents waiting in their Teslas were connecting to the school’s Wi-Fi, causing large data downloads that slowed the network. FortiLink NAC identified these devicesagilely assign them to a low-bandwidth VLAN, resolving the issue without impacting critical school operations.
- Password Sprawl in Small Communities: In a small-town district, third-party vendors and visitors frequently accessed the network due to lax password management. FortiLink NAC enabled the IT team to enforce strict access controls, ensuring only authorized devices could connect, even in environments where users resisted password management best practices.
Why FortiLink NAC is a Game-Changer
For organizations already invested in the Fortinet ecosystem—FortiGate firewalls, switches, and APs—FortiLink NAC provides a cost-free, simplified NAC solution that delivers enterprise-grade security. Unlike traditional NAC systems like FortiNAC, Cisco ISE, or Aruba ClearPass, which require significant investment and expertise, FortiLink NAC is built into the FortiGate platform, making it accessible to organizations with limited IT resources.
By leveraging FortiLink NAC’s role-based segmentation, automation, and third-party integrations, schools, businesses, and government agencies can achieve:
- Greater security through device and user isolation.
- Simplified management with a single interface for firewalls, switches, and APs.
- Cost savings by avoiding additional licensing fees or complex deployments.
- Scalability to grow with your organization’s needs, with the option to upgrade to FortiNAC for advanced features if required.
Conclusion
At Twotrees Technologies, we believe FortiLink NAC is a game-changer for schools, businesses, and government agencies looking to secure their networks without adding complexity or cost. By purchasing a FortiGate firewall along with Fortinet switches and Access Points, you unlock a powerful set of NAC features that provide visibility, segmentation, and automation—making your network more secure and your IT team’s life significantly easier. Contact us today to learn how Fortinet and Twotrees Technologies can help you embark on your security journey with FortiLink NAC.
For more information, reach out to Twotrees Technologies or visit Fortinet’s website to explore how FortiLink NAC can transform your network security.
