NAC & SOC: Why It’s Essential to Use Them to Secure Remote Workforces from the Cyber Threats

From the Office to Remote Work: Security is Critical Now

You are in AUD Cyber threats are evolving – and companies with remote or hybrid employees need solid security measures. Enter NAC for VPNs and SOC for Threat Detection. But how do they work? And why are they crucial to your company’s cybersecurity strategy? Let’s dive in.

The Unified View of Remote Work Security Challenges

The flexibility that comes with remote work also comes with cybersecurity risks. Employees now work from a variety of environments, on various devices and networks, causing vulnerabilities. Some top challenges include:

1. Unsecured Networks

• Workers tend to utilize unprotected public Wi-Fi or home networks.
• Sensitive company data can be intercepted by hackers.

2. Unauthorized Devices

• Sometimes personal devices are not up to date with security patches.
• This creates a potential risk of malware and unauthorized access.

3. Phishing & Social Engineering

• Workers from home can be victims of phishing emails and scams.
• Business E-mail Compromise (BEC) — Cybercriminals impersonate a business executive to steal credentials.

4. Lack of Real-Time Monitoring

• Cyber threats lurking behind unusual login activity go untracked by IT teams.
• Early detection of breaches is hard without monitoring.

So, what’s the solution? That’s the role of NAC and SOC.

How NAC Ensures Secure Access

Network Access Control (NAC) regulates who or what can connect to the company network (direct access and via VPNs). Here’s what it does:

1. Device Authentication

• NAC validates each device when it connects to your network.
• When the device does not satisfy security requirements, it gets blocked or quarantined.

2. Enforcing Security Policies

• NAC confirms that each device is running the latest security patches, antivirus programs, and network firewalls.
• If a device does not pass a security check then access is denied or limited.

3. Control Over VPN Access

• NAC for VPNs ensures that only authorized devices and users connect.
• This lowers the chance of credential theft being taken advantage of.

4. Segmentation to Reduce Threat Impact

• Assess access for employees, only giving them what they need, to block lateral movement of threats.
• NAC can quarantine a device before any malware spreads to the main network.

Now that NAC is serving as the security gatekeeper, let’s see how SOC guards remote infrastructure from cyber attacks.

What SOC Monitors for Remote Threats

A Security Operations Center (SOC) operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide real-time detection and response to cyber threats. This is especially important for businesses with remote employees, since threats can happen anywhere.

1. Continuous Threat Monitoring

• SOC teams use advanced tools to track suspicious activities.
• Products that monitor for unusual login patterns, unauthorized access attempts, and malware activity.

2. Incident Response

• In the event of a cyber attack, SOC responds immediately to quarantine and eliminate it.
• Faster response = less damage.

3. Threat Intelligence & Analysis

• AI & machine learning analysis of past attacks.
• This allows them to keep up with new and emerging threats.

4. Compliance & Risk Management

• Should be aware of security and compliance rules of many industries (GDPR or HIPAA).
• SOC assists to certify the security criteria for your business.

5. Real-Time Alerts & Reporting

• SOC teams also offer businesses detailed visibility into security incidents.
• This allows your IT team to make more informed security decisions.

In unison, NAC and SOC help enable a dual layer of cybersecurity for remote employees.

PJ Networks – Remote Security Solutions

Settle Into the Remote Work World with Reliable Cybersecurity — PJ Networks. That is why our advanced NAC and SOC solutions provide:

1. Secure VPN & Remote Access

Tee up our NAC for VPNs: it governs access and provides guarantees about secure connections.

2. 24/7 Security Monitoring

Our Security Operations Centre for Threat Detection operates 24/7 to detect and prevent cyber threats.

3. Real-Time Threat Analysis & Predictive Defense

AI analytics to counter and predict attacks.

4. Customized Security Policies

Every business is unique. Our NAC & SOC policies are then customized to adapt and fit your remote work.

PJ Networks provides proactive protection, active monitoring, and secure access to your network.

Conclusion

Protecting a remote workforce has gone from an elective to a requirement. As the number of attacks multiply, companies must introduce NAC + VPN + SOC for Threat Detection to avoid being attacked and be able to work securely.

Using NAC protects the entire network from threats from endpoints, and SOC is a monitoring action from 0 all day. Whenever the monitoring system triggers an unusual event, SOC will be the unit to investigate that threat within that day.

Together, they ensure businesses have a solid cybersecurity defense while keeping remote employees safe. To enhance Remote Work Security, opt for solutions that combine NAC and SOC to provide total coverage.