802.1X

802.1X Wired Authetication

802.1X is an IEEE standard that authenticates devices connecting to a network. It's a port-based network access control (PNAC) protocol that works for both wired and wireless devices.

How it works :

• A device (supplicant) initiates a connection with the network.
• The network device (authenticator) provides data links to connect the device to the network.
• The authentication server receives the request for access and responds.
• The authentication server verifies the device's identity using a certificate or MAC address.
• The authentication server grants or denies access to the network.

Security :

• 802.1X is secure, but it's not invulnerable.
• The security of the policies created for 802.1X is important.
• Weak policies, like requiring only a username and password, can be vulnerable to dictionary attacks.
• Session hijacking and man-in-the-middle attacks can also be effective.

Interoperability :

• Not all wired LAN components fully support 802.1X.
• This is especially true for older equipment and some newer IoT devices.