What is 'Sponsorship' in the context of Cisco ISE?

Sponsorship in the context of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) refers to a process where designated users, often referred to as sponsors, have the ability to approve guest access for others within an organization. This is a key feature that enables organizations to efficiently manage guest access while maintaining security controls.

When a guest arrives at a facility needing network access, the sponsor can authorize the guest's access, enabling a smoother onboarding experience without requiring constant administrator intervention. This system allows sponsors to create temporary accounts or approve access requests for visitors, ensuring that the guests get the connectivity they need while still adhering to the organization’s security policies.

This approach contributes to a more streamlined process for handling guest users, as it decentralizes account handling to trusted individuals rather than relying solely on administrative staff, which can be a bottleneck in high-traffic scenarios.