What is the main purpose of Network Access Protection (NAP)?

The main purpose of Network Access Protection (NAP) is to ensure that only compliant systems can connect to the network. This is achieved by assessing the health and compliance of client computers against defined policies before they gain network access. By doing this, NAP helps organizations maintain security and compliance standards, thereby reducing the risk of vulnerabilities introduced by non-compliant devices.

In the context of network security, ensuring compliance means that devices must meet certain criteria—like having the latest updates, antivirus definitions, or adhering to other security policies—before they are permitted to access sensitive resources on the network. This proactive approach helps protect the network from potential threats that could arise from devices that do not meet the established security standards.