Tech-enabled devices are ever-growing, and in the United Kingdom, it’s estimated that by the end of 2024, there will be an average of 9 connected devices in every household with a variety of uses, according to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. In total, more than 61 million smartphones in the UK will be online during the same time, making internet connectivity one of the most vital digital resources for nearly every constituent.
The rapid pace at which internet connectivity has grown in the last couple of years has meant that a series of malicious unwanted cyber activities have become more active than ever before. In 2023, the average data breach in the UK cost around £3.8 million (US $4.21 million), with would-be cyber attackers now having a large arsenal of digital tools at their disposal through which they can launch an attack on an individual, business or government organisation. Already in 2019, nearly 80% of all digital security breaches were directed through fraudulent emails and websites.
Protecting the digital landscape requires a series of sophisticated, and complex network controls that allows to bolster security, visibility and access management. For the government, these resources are vital to their systems, and to ensure a more refined digital security policy for all individuals and organisations in the country and provide them with secure access.
Understanding Network Access Control (NAC)
With more than 60 million smartphone devices being online by the end of 2024, not to mention the millions of computers, tablets, and other digital devices, investment in network admission control systems is more important than ever before.
Network Access Control (NAC) is a method of improving digital security by bolstering the visibility and access management of devices using a proprietary corporate network. This technology helps to restrict the availability of a network to endpoint devices, enforcing certain digital security policies and system authentication methods.
With network access control solutions, a network security can deny access to a non-compliant device. These devices are then placed in a quarantined area, restricting their access to any available digital resources, and reducing the number of network connections to insecure nodes. With these capabilities, organisations can control and authenticate devices more accurately, protecting their network systems and restricting access to those devices that are non-compliant.
Scalable and manageable NAC solutions are a valuable asset for both private and public entities. NAC functionalities for device identification and access control form part of an organisation’s broader digital transformation, making deployment, configuration and maintenance expertise some of the most important service providers throughout the value chain.
Tender process for acquiring NAC solutions
Network Access Control (NAC) solutions tenders are a highly specific class of contracts that requires the expertise of a dedicated team that can help provide visibility and reduce operational costs associated with the detection and management of certain devices.
The tendering process will consider the importance of the project and the broader need, taking into consideration the end-user and end-user-owned devices, privately owned Internet of Things (IoT) systems, and the integration and management of NAC solutions following the completion of the project.
When tendering for network access control contracts, a vendor must ensure that they are an authorised professional who can provide a service based on the service and schedule needs of the buyer.
Additionally, vendors will need to ensure they have the necessary resources to fulfil the demand of buyers. Network systems can vary from place to place and person to person, thus it’s important to consider the scope of tender requirements, against individual experience and skills.
Finally, winning bids for NAC tenders will require vendors to be in ownership of the required compliance and regulatory certifications. For instance, some network access control contracts may require that all vendor applications provide sufficient proof of the necessary compliance and up-to-date compliance clearance where applicable.
Understanding NAC Tenders
Before taking on network access control tenders it’s important to highlight the general NAC functionalities and define network access control best practises.
Security Posture Evaluation
Checking and evaluating security-policy compliance per user type, device type and operating system being used.
Visibility and Recognition
Helps to identify various profiles, and recognize devices and users before the transmission of malicious or suspicious codes can cause damage.
Security-Policy Management
Enforces and upholds digital security policies for all operating systems, and minimises the need for separate and individual products and module solutions.
Manage Guest Network Access
Provides guests with a self-service portal, enabling them to become registered and authenticated. These customizations allow for better guest network access management and profiling. Identity and access management on personal devices ensures a more robust network infrastructure that can deny network access through multi factor authentication and network segmentation for remote users.
Incident Response
Assists with minimising threats, cyberattacks and suspicious activity by enforcing digital security policies, and blocking, isolation and quarantining non-compliant devices without requiring administrative permission.
Bi-Directional Security Integration
Integrates and manages additional security solutions on proprietary networks, including additional systems through specific and coordinated compliance protocols.
Preparing a Winning Bid
Evaluation criteria for NAC tenders will largely ensure that successful vendors can follow and adhere to supported network protocols, and provide integration with existing security infrastructure. More than this, it’s important that vendors and service suppliers put into practice a step-by-step approach to crafting a compelling NAC tender proposal.
Importance of scalability
As networks continue to grow and expand, NAC solutions will need to be flexible to ensure more effective scalability. With the necessary NAC solutions, vendors will need to identify product modality and effective solutions management.
Ease of management
Network vendors will need to provide sufficient clearance on the availability of resources, including technical and educational resources. Offering additional instructions and implementing an easy-to-use system will help all stakeholders with improved control and NAC management.
Network-specific requirements
A thorough understanding of network-specific requirements can help vendors stand out against competitors. More than this, offering a more flexible, yet reliable solution can play in favour of experienced vendors.
Guidance to address needs
Vendors are required to guide on NAC issues and security challenges, and how their solutions will address these needs. Putting a compelling proposal together requires unique problem-solving abilities that highlight both vendor experience and skillset.
Advise on network access control best practices
Furthermore, vendors can emphasise how their expertise in NAC deployment, configuration and ongoing maintenance will address tender needs effectively. This might require delivering insight into their competitive pricing strategy, and ability to overcome security risks and threats more effectively without requiring additional resources.
Conclusion
Building a winning NAC tender requires insight and the right team to provide the necessary guidance. With Defence Contracts International (DCI) vendors can have access to a plethora of advanced resources that enable them to improve their tender strategy while allowing them an overview of market demand and historic trends.
NAC functionalities for device identification and access control, along with scalable and manageable NAC solutions will continue to see increasing demand over the coming years as more and more devices come online and internet connectivity helps to power the digital economy.
Vendors seeking to improve their tendering strategy can reach out to our experienced team at DCI for further guidance and assistance in crafting compelling network access control contract bids and helping secure the future of the digital network.
