Safe Connect
SafeConnect - New network access control (NAC) software
Connecticut College Information Services staff has installed SafeConnect, a NAC (network access and compliance tool) to help ensure that computers connected to the college network are patched and have protection from malicious software. Safe Connect is our replacement for Cisco Clean Access.
Benefits of SafeConnect:
This NAC solution (SafeConnect) is part of Information Services’ effort to help keep the computers on its network as free as possible from viruses, spyware, and operating system security holes. Machines protected in this way generally perform much better and require much less downtime due to damage caused by malicious software.
Additional benefits include:
- SafeConnect is easier to install and use compared to Cisco Clean Access
- The SafeConnect product is easier to maintain.
- You only need to log into SafeConnect a few times a year.
- You don’t need to register most common mobile phones, mobile devices and game consoles.
- SafeConnect works better with Macs than the Cisco Clean Access version that we use today.
How it Works:
SafeConnect is a NAC (network access and compliance tool) to help ensure that computers connected to the Connecticut College network are patched and have protection from malicious software. All computers accessing the academic, administrative, student, and lab networks must authenticate through this system before they can access the networks. Before authentication and policy key installation, Internet access will be restricted to web sites that allow you to update your computer with Windows or anti-virus updates.
Policies that are enforced:
Authentication: All computers must be authenticated using a valid username and password (same login as email). Your login and password are your keys to the network and email. Do not share them with anyone!
Policy Key: All Windows and Mac computers must have the SafeConnect policy key installed and running.
Antivirus: One of the following antivirus programs with up-to-date virus definition files must be installed and running on every Windows PC on the network. Sophos, McAfee, TrendMicro, EZ Antivirus, Symantec, AVG, Authentium, Microsoft OneCare, Symantec Corp, McAfee NA, McAfee 45, TrendMicro Corp, Panda, AVGuard, Avast, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, SpySweeper AV. Other computers such as Mac and Linux systems are expected to be running up to date antivirus software as well.
System Patches: All Windows computers should be set to automatically download and install all critical security patches. Macintosh and Linux systems have that ability and it should be turned on as well.
