Best Network Access Control (NAC) Software of 2026

The increasing number of devices accessing corporate networks requires businesses to pay special attention to network security. However, deploying separate security solutions (antivirus, firewall, etc.) from different vendors can increase the complexity of network infrastructure and end up costing significantly on maintaining each of them.

Such challenges can be handled by deploying a centralized solution called network access control software. This software helps organizations keep unauthorized devices and users out of organizational networks. It controls who has access to what part of the network and helps track access details such as the time of access and the device used.

But given the many options available on the market, buying a network access control tool can be confusing. To help you figure out how to find the tool that matches your business needs, we’ve created this buyers guide that has all the essential information relating to network access control software.

Here’s what we'll cover:

• What is network access control software?

• Common features of network access control software

• What type of buyer are you?

• Benefits of network access control software

• Market trend to understand

What is network access control software?

Network access control software is a solution that helps organizations strengthen their network security by enforcing access policies for internal as well as external users and devices. These policies govern device authentication and endpoint configuration.

The solution grants users or devices access to organizational resources depending on the degree of authorization awarded to them. The right to grant, revoke, or block access on a case-by-case basis typically rests with the network administrators.

Network access control in Genian NAC Software (Source)

Common features of network access control software

The features vary by product or vendor but most network access control tools have the following in common:

What type of buyer are you?

Before purchasing network access control software, you should assess which buyer category you belong to. The majority of buyers fall into the following categories:

• Small and midsize businesses (SMBs) (up to 500 employees): SMBs need network access control to ensure the security of their organization network from outside devices and users. Due to budget constraints and lack of IT experts, they outsource some of their business processes such as accounting, IT services, and digital marketing to outside parties. This makes their network vulnerable to threats such as data breaches, noncompliances, and mishandling of sensitive information.

  Investing in a network access control solution that has a low cost of implementation and features such as remote access control, authentication of devices, and incident response capabilities will be beneficial for buyers of this segment. This will help SMBs provide controlled access to users based on their role, device and location, and protect their data from outside attacks.

• Large enterprises (over 500 employees): Unlike SMBs, large enterprises have a complex network infrastructure with a huge number of devices, applications, files, and other resources connected to each other. Additionally, such organizations are rapidly deploying internet of things (IoT) applications, automation and other IT initiatives related to data analytics—which means moving huge amounts of data over networks. This makes the security of IT networks essential for such organizations.

  A fully featured network access control system that offers continuous monitoring of network access, encryption, and authentication features will be beneficial for this segment. They should opt for a tool that helps ensure all devices comply with organizational security requirements, sensitive information moving across are encrypted, and prevent unauthorized access to data.

Benefits of network access control software

Listed below are some benefits you can expect from using a network access control software tool:

• Network visibility: Network access control solutions can help identify which devices exist on your network and who has access to them. The comprehensive view of the entire network allows administrators to detect the root cause of any issue and proactively assess them before they critically affect the organization’s infrastructure.

• Achieving compliance: Network access control solutions help organizations meet compliance standards across many industries, such as HIPAA, SOX, NIST, and PCI-DSS. Network and security administrators can bring organization security policies into compliance with the help of such tools by conducting audits and checks on each user type, device type, and operating system.

• Protect sensitive data: The aim of network access control solutions is to control access of devices and users to organization networks and infrastructure. This access control capability helps network administrators provide controlled or restricted access to data based on user role, time of day, location, application, etc.

Market trend to understand

Here’s a market trend to keep in mind when selecting a network access control software solution for your business:

• The growing need for network access control software with the rise in bring your own device (BYOD): Nowadays, wireless networks and mobile technologies have introduced personal devices (via BYOD) into the workplace. Many businesses have also adopted the remote working trend. These businesses will need controls to ensure users and devices do not compromise the safety of the network. This has accelerated the need for network access control solutions to control outside devices and remote workers by ensuring they are configured for proper data protection.

Note: The application selected in this article is an example to show a feature in context and is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation. It has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication.