802.1X is the gatekeeper of modern enterprise networks, ensuring only authenticated users and devices can connect. This episode explains how 802.1X works as a port-based network access control mechanism, acting as the foundation for many secure wireless and wired deployments. You’ll learn about the three roles in 802.1X: the supplicant (client), the authenticator (switch or access point), and the authentication server (typically RADIUS).

We also dive into the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), which provides flexibility by supporting various authentication methods such as EAP-TLS (certificate-based), EAP-PEAP (password-based), and EAP-TTLS. This episode is essential for understanding how network security extends all the way to the edge, particularly in BYOD and guest access scenarios. It’s a must-know topic for both the exam and real-world configuration.