Specifications
Policy Server for Cisco NAC
10-9
The Policy Server
The Policy Server is responsible for evaluating the OfficeScan client’s security posture 
and for creating the posture token. It compares the security posture with the latest 
versions of the Virus Pattern and Virus Scan Engine received from the OfficeScan 
server to which the client is a member. It returns the posture token to the Cisco Secure 
ACS server, which in turn passes it to the client from the Cisco Network Access Device.
Installing additional Policy Servers on a single network can improve performance when 
a large number of clients simultaneously attempt to access the network. These Policy 
Servers can also act as a backup if a Policy Server becomes inoperable. If there are 
multiple OfficeScan servers on a network, the Policy Server handles requests for all 
OfficeScan servers registered to it. Likewise, multiple Policy Servers can handle requests 
for a single OfficeScan server registered to all the Policy Servers. The following figure 
illustrates the relationship of multiple OfficeScan servers and Policy Servers.
FIGURE 10-24. Multiple Policy Server/OfficeScan server relationship
You can also install the Policy Server on the same computer as the OfficeScan server. 
OfficeScan 
servers
Policy 
servers
Cisco 
Secure ACS
Network 
Access 
Device
OfficeScan client










