Any network that is safe and secure from external entry needs a controlled form of access which is only possible if there are rules laid down to enforce this. Being on a secured network means that nothing will get into the network without having the proper authorization, accurate verification and a sane reason for wanting to be on the network. Gaining access into the network also means that there is a reason for the communication otherwise the party trying to start the conversation should not be there at all. A controlled means of accessing networked resources reduces the surge of incoming traffic and makes it possible for the traffic to be controlled. This means that the performance of the overall system is improved and one doesn’t have to worry about the bandwidth being used recklessly by the other parties which might be trying to make their way into the network. Access control into any network means having a means of identifying the kind of network devices that are on the network and their addresses. This means that once the addresses are known, the segment of the network on which the device is located is easily identifiable and the network will be able to determine how much access the device gaining access can be allowed. Controlled access into the network also works for keeping network devices that do not have enough credentials out and out of reach of the network. This form of protection has been known to work for critical and sensitive information systems that might happen to be on the same networks as these devices.
Access control lists are used to determine which range of IP addresses will be allowed to gain access into a network and which ones will not be allowed. The lists are critical and routinely updated to ensure that the IP addresses that are not supposed to be on the list are pruned off the list and only those that are supposed to be on the access list gain access to the system that has been connected using the network. Controlling network access to any resource or system prevents the leaking of information from the system and this ensures that nothing much about the system within the network is known to devices that do not have the necessary credentials. It is useful for several scenarios such as keeping the internal devices of a network separated from the external network devices as well as making the network much simpler to manage and the flow of information easier to handle. Stealing information from a network by overriding the security measures enforced in the programs is only possible is the devices on the outside are able to get past the rules that are laid down to prevent them from getting in in the first place.
Controlling access to the network also makes it easier to handle and manage while preventing it from getting compressed with the weight of large, demanding network devices that suck the performance and beauty out of your network.