Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), remote working, and the rapid growth of Internet of Things (IoT) devices have fundamentally reshaped modern enterprise networks. While these technologies have enabled greater flexibility, scalability, and productivity, they have also created one of the most complex security challenges IT teams have ever faced.
The traditional network perimeter has effectively disappeared. In its place is a distributed environment where users, devices, applications, and data all operate across multiple locations and networks.
At Syscomm, we help organisations design and secure this modern environment through integrated networking and security solutions, including secure connectivity, access control, and managed infrastructure services. During our recent webinar with Extreme Networks, we explored how Network Access Control (NAC) is helping organisations regain visibility, enforce policy, and secure increasingly complex network environments.
The Evolution of the Network Perimeter
Traditional network security was built around a simple assumption: everything inside the network was trusted, and everything outside was not. Devices were organisation-owned, users worked on-site, and access was controlled at the perimeter. That model no longer reflects modern reality. Today’s networks must support hybrid workforces, personal devices, cloud applications, and a growing ecosystem of connected IoT devices. Users expect seamless access from anywhere, while IT teams are expected to maintain full visibility and control.
This shift has removed the concept of a fixed network boundary and replaced it with a continuous access model where identity, device health, and context determine trust. This is why modern organisations are increasingly investing in structured network design and security frameworks through managed services.
BYOD and the Expansion of the Attack Surface
BYOD adoption has become standard across education, healthcare, and enterprise environments due to its convenience and cost benefits. However, it introduces significant security complexity because organisations no longer fully control endpoint devices.
Recent research from Ivanti found that 44% of employees now use personal phones for work, 32% use personal computers, and 78% of employees continue using personal devices even where company policies restrict BYOD usage.
Personal devices often operate outside of corporate security standards. They may not be regularly patched, may run outdated operating systems, and may include unmanaged applications. They also frequently connect from unsecured networks, increasing exposure to potential threats. As a result, BYOD significantly expands the organisation’s attack surface. Industry research highlights that endpoint compromise remains one of the most common causes of security breaches, particularly where device visibility and enforcement are inconsistent. Microsoft has also reported that over 90% of ransomware incidents originate from unmanaged devices, highlighting the growing risk associated with limited endpoint visibility and inconsistent device security.
IoT Devices and the Visibility Problem
IoT devices introduce a different but equally significant challenge. These devices are often deployed quickly, at scale, and with limited built-in security controls. Examples include CCTV systems, environmental sensors, access control systems, and building management platforms. Many of these devices do not support modern authentication standards, meaning organisations must rely on weaker identification methods. This creates significant blind spots in network visibility. Once compromised, IoT devices can provide attackers with an entry point into wider systems, particularly where network segmentation is not properly enforced. UK cyber threat analysis from Beaming also found that connected IoT devices such as CCTV systems and building management platforms were targeted an average of 178 times per day during Q1 2025.
As organisations scale their IoT deployments, structured network design becomes essential. Syscomm’s and Extreme Networks’ Solutions are designed to support this by enabling secure segmentation, visibility, and control across diverse device types.
Why VPN-Based Access Is No Longer Sufficient
VPNs have traditionally been used to provide secure remote access into corporate environments. While still widely used, they were designed for a centralised network model where users and devices were largely trusted once authenticated. The limitation of this model is that once access is granted, users often receive broad connectivity across internal systems. If credentials are compromised, attackers may be able to move laterally through the network with limited resistance.
The UK has the second-highest adoption of hybrid working in the world (after Canada), with the average worker working remotely for 1.8 days each week, according to the 2025 Global Survey of Working Arrangements. Modern environments require a more granular approach to access control, where trust is continuously evaluated rather than assumed after login. This is particularly important in hybrid working environments where users connect from multiple locations and device types.
How Network Access Control Strengthens Security
Network Access Control (NAC) provides a more intelligent and dynamic method of managing access across modern networks. Instead of granting broad access based solely on authentication, NAC evaluates multiple contextual factors before allowing a device or user to connect.
These factors include identity, device type, operating system version, security posture, patch status, location, and compliance with organisational policy. Access is then enforced dynamically. Managed corporate devices may receive full access, while BYOD devices are restricted to specific applications or services. Non-compliant devices can be automatically quarantined, and IoT devices can be isolated into controlled network segments.
Device Posture and Continuous Compliance
A key capability within modern NAC environments is device posture assessment. This allows organisations to evaluate whether a device meets security requirements before granting access to the network. If a device is missing updates, security patches, or required configuration settings, access can be restricted until it is remediated. This ensures that only compliant devices are allowed onto the network, significantly reducing exposure to vulnerabilities. By enforcing posture checks at the point of access, organisations can maintain consistent security standards without relying on manual IT processes.
Simplifying Complex Network Security
Historically, implementing NAC and advanced access control at scale was seen as complex and resource-intensive. However, modern cloud-managed approaches have significantly simplified deployment and management. Today’s platforms enable centralised policy control, automated onboarding, real-time visibility, and integration with existing identity frameworks. This not only strengthens security posture but also saves IT teams significant time by reducing manual administration, streamlining device management, and automating routine access decisions. As a result, organisations can enforce consistent security policies across distributed environments without increasing operational complexity.
Building a Resilient Modern Network
There is no single technology that eliminates cyber risk entirely. However, organisations can significantly improve resilience by combining strong access control, structured network design, and continuous visibility across users and devices. As BYOD adoption continues to grow, remote working becomes standard, and IoT deployments expand, organisations must move toward network architectures that are identity-aware, policy-driven, and continuously enforced. Those that fail to adapt risk losing visibility and control over their most critical digital environments.
Want to Learn More?
Syscomm’s recent webinar with Extreme Networks demonstrated how modern Network Access Control can be used to improve visibility, enforce policy, and strengthen security across complex enterprise environments. Fill in the form below, and we’ll send the full webinar to your inbox.