This type of network hardening system performs a posture assessment on to check for criteria such as allowed MAC addresses, operating systems, and if the host has anti-malware software installed. Hosts that fail are placed in a quarantine network.

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The essential idea is network access control, which enforces who can connect to the network by checking each device’s posture at the point of access. This means verifying endpoint attributes like allowed MAC addresses, operating system version, and whether anti-malware software is installed and up to date. If a device meets the policy, it gains normal access; if it doesn’t, it’s placed in a quarantine or remediation network so it can’t reach sensitive resources until it becomes compliant.

Intrusion detection systems watch for suspicious or abnormal traffic, but they don’t enforce access or isolate devices based on endpoint configuration. Intrusion prevention systems actively block or drop harmful traffic, yet they don’t typically perform posture checks on endpoints or quarantine noncompliant devices. Unified threat management bundles multiple security functions in one appliance, but posture assessment and quarantine decisions are not its defining role.