Cisco Secure Access Control Server (ACS) Version 3.2 for Windows provides a centralized identity networking solution and simplified user-management experience across all Cisco devices and security-management applications. Cisco Secure ACS helps ensure enforcement of assigned policies by allowing network administrators to control:

• Who can log in to the network
• Privileges each user has in the network
• Security audit or account billing information that is recorded
• Access and command controls that are enabled for each configuration administrator

Cisco Secure ACS, an essential component of the Cisco Identity Based Networking Services (IBNS) architecture, extends access security by combining authentication, user and administrator access, and policy control from a centralized identity networking framework. This allows greater flexibility and mobility, increased security, and user productivity gains.

With Cisco ACS you can manage and administer user access for Cisco IOS® routers, VPNs, firewalls, dial up and DSL connections, cable access solutions, storage, content, voice over IP (VoIP), Cisco wireless solutions, and Cisco Catalyst® switches using IEEE 802.1x access control.

Advanced features include automatic service monitoring, database synchronization, and importation of tools for large-scale deployments; Lightweight Directory Access Protocol and Open Database Connectivity user authentication support; flexible 802.1X authentication type support (including Extensible Authentication Protocol Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS), Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol, Cisco EAP Wireless, EAP-Message Digest Algorithm 5); downloadable access control lists for the Cisco PIX Firewall and Cisco VPN; device command set authorization; network access restrictions; user and administrative access reporting; dynamic quota generation; restrictions such as time of day and day of week; and user and device group profiles.