What is the role of Compliance Checks in Cisco ISE?

Compliance checks in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) are fundamental to maintaining the security posture of a network. Their primary role is to ensure that devices attempting to access the network comply with predefined security policies. This encompasses a wide range of checks related to device health and configurations, such as verifying that antivirus software is installed and up to date, ensuring firewalls are enabled, and checking for operating system updates.

When a device tries to connect to the network, the compliance check is performed to ascertain whether it meets the organization's security requirements. If a device fails to comply, ISE can issue a posture assessment to either deny access or place the device in a quarantined VLAN or a remediation network to bring it into compliance before allowing full access.

This capability is critical for organizations aiming to protect network assets from potential vulnerabilities and threats arising from non-compliant devices. By ensuring that endpoints meet compliance standards before they gain access, Cisco ISE helps mitigate risks and enforce security policies effectively.