NAP Overview

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

Network Access Protection (NAP) is one of the most anticipated features of the Windows Server® 2008 operating system. NAP is a new platform that allows network administrators to define levels of network access based on a client’s identity, the groups to which the client belongs, and the degree to which the client complies with corporate governance policy. If a client is not compliant, NAP provides a mechanism for automatically bringing the client into compliance (a process known as remediation) and then dynamically increasing its level of network access. NAP is supported by Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, Windows® XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server® 2008 R2.

Note

On NAP client computers running Windows 7, NAP is integrated into Action Center. If a NAP client computer is determined to be noncompliant with network health polices, you can obtain more information by reviewing the Network Access Protection category under Security . NAP client computers that are compliant with health requirements and computers that are not running the NAP Agent service do not display NAP information in Action Center.

NAP also includes an application programming interface (API) that developers and vendors can use to integrate their products and leverage this health state validation, access enforcement, and ongoing compliance evaluation. For more information about the NAP API, see Network Access Protection (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=128423).