How does Cisco ISE support BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies?

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) supports Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies primarily through the capability to segment and secure devices based on user roles. This approach allows organizations to establish policies that manage and protect network access according to the specific requirements and classifications of users and their devices.

When a user connects their personal device to the network, Cisco ISE can identify the device type, the user’s role, and apply role-based access control (RBAC) policies. This means that the access rights granted to the user and their device can vary significantly, depending on factors such as the user’s job function, the security posture of the device, and organizational policies. This ensures that devices with appropriate compliance and security standards are given different, often more expansive access to network resources than devices that do not meet these standards.

The segmentation further enhances security by implementing policies that restrict access to sensitive areas of the network. For instance, a personal device may be allowed to connect to the internet but restricted from accessing critical internal systems. This degree of control helps prevent potential security breaches and fosters a safe BYOD environment, balancing user convenience with organizational security requirements.