An Overview of Radius Concepts - AAA

AAA is explained as Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting. An architecture that authenticates users provides them permission and keeps track of their activities is renowned as AAA. Without AAA, the network design is "open," allowing anybody to access it and do anything they want without being tracked. Small firms frequently employ open network design, which provides physical access management to offices. ISPs, whose access must be tightly managed and accounted for, are ill-suited to open network design.

Only a subset of AAA may be implemented in a system. For instance, a business could elect to identify and authorize users but disregard user activity and neglect accounting if it is not concerned with charging customers for their network consumption. Similar to a tracking system, an authorization and authentication decision may be delegated to another network area, while a surveillance system will search for unusual user behavior (accounting).

A network administrator would have to set up a network without AAA dynamically. Network managers deemed a static approach unsatisfactory even in the early days of dial-up access. AAA guarantees the versatility of network rules. Network administrators can transfer systems with the help of AAA; otherwise, they need to specify connection choices.

Today's environment puts more demands on AAA due to the prevalence of mobile devices, the diversity of network users, and the variety of network access methods. Nearly every technique we use to access a network involves the usage of AAA, including wireless spots, split networks, and all types of remote access. In addition, AAA is used to authorize distant users and for security purposes in wireless hotspots and divided networks. Freeradius is one of the most popular servers in the world.

This article will help in making a better understanding of different concepts of Radius. It has primarily three significant concepts, i.e., AAA. Keep scrolling to earn in-depth knowledge on AAA. Let's begin with the first one.

Check out the below-listed points to learn the concept and meaning of each AAA solution:

Authentication: Authentication is the procedure of confirming a user's identification by comparing their provided attributes (such as their name and password) to those set up on the AAA server, such as - name and password. The user is verified and granted permission to access the network if the data matches. The authentication process fails, and network connection is forbidden if the credentials do not match.

Imprecisely typed logins can also prevent verification from failing. For instance, site regulation could let a user access the network from a place on-site while using an unencrypted login. However, access could be refused if the user enters the same login from a distant location.

If a user's account has been banned, an ISP may also decide to refuse them access to the network. Additionally, an administrator can provide unidentified people with restricted network access. Finally, an operator could permit access to a location where a user can buy more network access, for instance. The most typical place for this final instance is a for-profit WiFi hotspot.

Authorization: A user can enforce policies on network capacity after it has been approved to use them through authentication. After automatic classification, the individual's permission may determine access to specific resources and procedures.

For instance, the administrator can create a perspective that will only let the user carry out specific instructions if a young network operator wants to use the device but doesn't need all of the data (the commands allowed in the method list). Additionally, the manager can specify, using the authorization method list, whether a user can access network resources locally or through an ACS server.

Accounting: Accounting is keeping track of the resources a user uses when connected to a network. The amount of system time spent, the amount of data delivered, or the amount of data the user got throughout a session are some examples of the data that may be acquired.

The NAS regularly transmits an assessment of user activities to the server during an activation code. Instead of representing every traffic, this accounting is more of a summary. Payment purposes call for the usage of this data. Because each customer is charged for every minute of network connectivity, ISPs are significant consumers of accounting information. However, because employees weren't often assessed for network access, firms have yet to rely on the network accounting data generated by RADIUS previously.

But as their requirement for constant monitoring tools grows, so does the need for storing and processing accounting data.The financial summary the NAS sends to the server excludes specific details like the URLs visited or even the amount of data transmitted using a particular protocol. Only the NAS has access to this in-depth data; the server is not sent any of it.

Network managers can get extensive information about user behavior using alternative protocols like sFlow or NetFlow if needed. However, RADIUS systems do not incorporate such protocols. As a result, it might be challenging for network managers to connect the dots and gain a better understanding of user behavior.

CONCLUSION:

The radius server responds to the NAS once it has made a choice. The NAS may put that response's policy into effect or disregard it entirely. The server cannot determine if the NAS has obtained its answer or is obediently following its directions.

Hey, my name is Amy Watson, and I have been working at Foxpass for the past 4 to 5 years. Foxpass helps you to implement an efficient cyber security system for that organization that works remotely or virtually.