Policy Sets
Cisco ISE is a policy-based, network-access-control solution, which offers network access policy sets, allowing you to manage several different network access use cases such as wireless, wired, guest, and client provisioning. Policy sets (both network access and device administration sets) enable you to logically group authentication and authorization policies within the same set. You can have several policy sets based on an area, such as policy sets based on location, access type, and similar parameters. When you install Cisco ISE, there is always one policy set defined, which is the default policy set, and the default policy set contains within it, predefined and default authentication, authorization and exception policy rules.
When creating policy sets, you can configure these rules (configured with conditions and results) in order to choose the network access services on the policy set level, the identity sources on the authentication policy level, and network permissions on the authorization policy levels. You can define one or more conditions using any of the attributes from the Cisco ISE-supported dictionaries for different vendors. Cisco ISE allows you to create conditions as individual resuable policy elements.
The network access service to be used per policy set to communicate with the network devices is defined at the top level of that policy set. Network access services include:
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Allowed protocols—the protocols configured to handle the initial request and protocol negotiation.
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A proxy service—sends requests to an external RADIUS server for processing.
![]() Note |
From the , you can also select a relevant TACACS server sequence for your policy set. Use the TACACS server sequence to configure a sequence of TACACS proxy servers for processing. |
Policy sets are configured hierarchically, where the rule on the top level of the policy set, which can be viewed from the Policy Set table, applies to the entire set and is matched before the rules for the rest of the policies and exceptions. Thereafter, rules of the set are applied in this order:
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Authentication policy rules
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Local policy exceptions
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Global policy exceptions
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Authorization policy rules
![]() Note |
Policy Sets functionality is identical for network access and for device administration policies. All processes described
in this chapter can be applied when working with both the Network Access and the Device Administration work centers. This chapter specifically discusses the Network Access work center policy sets. In the Cisco ISE GUI, click the Menu icon ( |
|
For information about using RADIUS results from a WLC, see WLC Called-Station-ID (Radius Authentication and Accounting Config). |
Network Access Policy Terminology
The following are some of the commonly used terms in the policy set pages:
Access Control Lists
An Access Control List (ACL) in the Cisco ISE system is a list of permissions attached to a specific object or network resource. An ACL specifies which users or groups are granted access to an object, as well as what operations are allowed on a given object or network resource. Each entry in a typical ACL specifies a subject and an operation or provides the state (such as, Permit or Deny).
Allowed Protocols
Allowed protocols, configured on the top level of each policy set, define the set of protocols that Cisco ISE can use to communicate with the device that requests access to the network resources. You can configure a single allowed protocol per policy set, or alternatively, a server sequence that you define in advance.
Authentication Policy
Authentication policies are configured within policy sets. Each policy set can contain a single authentication policy with multiple rules. Priority of the authentication rules for processing is determined based on the order of those rules as they appear within the Authentication Policy table of the policy set itself (from the Set View page).
The authentication policy uses the allowed protocols configured on policy set at the top level. Identity source sequences define the order in which Cisco ISE looks for user credentials in different databases. Within the authentication policy under the main policy set, you can define condition-based rules that configure the identity sources or identity source sequences, as well as the identity methods, to be used for authentication.
Authorization Policy and Exceptions
An authorization policy consists of user-defined rules that determine the permissions for different user groups when accessing your network.
Authorization policies allow access to specific or all network endpoints and are created to apply to groups of users and devices that share a common set of privileges and can also be used as templates that you modify to serve the needs of another specific identity group, using specific conditions or permissions, to create another type of standard policy to meet the needs of new divisions, or user groups, devices, or network groups.
By contrast, exception policies are created to meet an immediate or short-term need, such as authorizing a limited number of users, devices, or groups to access network resources. An exception policy lets you create a specific set of customized values for an identity group, condition, or permissions that are tailored for one user or a subset of users. This allows you to create different or customized policies to meet your corporate, group, or network needs.
Authentication Policy Result Options
You can define what course of action Cisco ISE should take if the authentication fails, the user is not found, or if the process fails. Authentication policy result options are configured on the authentication policy level.
Identity Source and Identity Source Sequences
Identity source, configured on the Authentication policy level, defines which database Cisco ISE should use for user authentication. The database can be an internal database or an external identity source, such as Active Directory or LDAP. You can add a sequence of databases to an identity source sequence and list this sequence as the identity source in your policy. Cisco ISE will search for the credentials in the order in which the databases are listed in this sequence.
Network Authorization
Network authorization controls user access to the network and its resources and what each user can do on the system with those resources. Activate network authorization from Cisco ISE by defining sets of permissions that authorize read, write, and execute privileges. Cisco ISE lets you create a number of different authorization policies to suit your network needs. This release supports only RADIUS access to the Cisco ISE network and its resources.
Policy Rules
Policy rules act to create a specific policy. For example, a policy set can include a rule that indicates under which circumstances a certain allowed protocol should be used for network access. An authentication policy can include a rule that indicates under which circumstances Active Directory is to be used for authentication. A standard authorization policy can include the rule name using an If-Then convention that links a value entered for identity groups with specific conditions or attributes to produce a specific set of permissions that create a unique authorization profile.
Policy Sets
A policy set is a hierarchical container consisting of a single user-defined rule that indicates the allowed protocol or server sequence for network access, and authentication and authorization policies and policy exceptions, all also configured with user-defined condition-based rules.
Policy Evaluation
Policies consist of rules, where each rule consists of conditions to be satisfied that allow actions to be performed such as access to network resources. Rule-based conditions form the basis of policies, the sets of rules used when evaluating requests.
At run-time, Cisco ISE evaluates the policy conditions and then applies the result that you define based on whether the policy evaluation returns a true or a false value.
During policy-condition evaluation, Cisco ISE compares an attribute with a value. It is possible that where the attribute specified in the policy condition may not have a value assigned in the request. In such cases, if the operator that is used for comparison is “not equal to,” then the condition will evaluate to true. In all other cases, the condition will evaluate to false.
For example, in the condition Radius.Calling_Station_ID Not Equal to 1.1.1.1, if the Calling Station ID is not present in the RADIUS request, then this condition will evaluate to true. This evaluation is not unique to the RADIUS dictionary and occurs because of the usage of the “Not Equal to” operator.
In Cisco ISE, the table provides a list of all policy sets currently configured in the system. The order of the enabled policy sets determines the order by which the system searches for the relevant policy set every time an endpoint requests access. The last row in the Policy Set table from the Policy page is the default policy that will be applied if none of the rules match the request in any of the other configured policy sets. You can edit the allowed protocols and identity source selection in default policy set, but you cannot delete it.
Policy Set Evaluation Flow

The sequence of policy set and the authentication and authorization evaluation flow is as follows:
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Evaluate policy set (by evaluating the policy set condition). As a result, one policy set is selected.
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Evaluate allowed protocols rules of the selected policy set.
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Evaluate ID store rules of the selected policy set.
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Evaluate authorization rules of the selected policy set, based on the following paradigm:
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Evaluate the local exception policy if it is defined.
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If no match is found in Step a above, evaluate global exception policy if defined.
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If no match is found in Step b above, evaluate authorization rules.
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If none of the policy sets match, the default policy set will be selected.
Network Access Work Center
Network Access related options are grouped under , so that the administrator can easily access all the options related to network access at one location.
You can perform the following tasks from the Network Access window:
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Configure the external identity stores that you intend to use during the authentication process for users and devices. You can configure the following external identity stores: Active Directory, LDAP, ODBC, RADIUS, RSA, and SAML ID Providers.
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Define policy elements to be used in the authentication and authorization policies.
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Add all the network devices that will be controlled by Cisco ISE. Devices can be grouped by type and location.
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Define authentication and authorization policies for users and network devices based on your requirements.
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Check default network access settings for client provisioning, protocol settings, and proxy configuration.
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Monitor network events by using RADIUS Live logs.
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Run network access reports to check access and authorization results.
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Troubleshoot network access issues using the diagnostic tools.
Navigate the Policy Sets Area
Policy sets enable you to logically group authentication and authorization policies within the same set. The Policy Sets area enables you to configure, manage, and update your policy sets.
In the Cisco ISE GUI, click the Menu icon (
) and choose
in order to access the Policy Sets area for network access policies. In the Cisco ISE GUI, click the Menu icon (
) and choose in order to access the Policy Sets area for device administration policies.
The Policy Sets area consists of the main page and the Set view, from which you can manage all of the details for each policy set including configuration for authentication and authorization policies, and exceptions.
Policy Sets
The following figure shows the main elements of the Policy Sets page.

The following table describes the main elements of the main Policy Sets page.
|
1 |
Policy Sets tab |
In the Cisco ISE GUI, click the Menu icon ( |
|
2 |
Policy Sets table |
Provides a list of all policy sets currently configured in the system. The order of the enabled policy sets determines the order by which the system searches for the relevant policy set every time an endpoint requests access. The last row in the policy page is the default policy that will be applied if none of the rules match the request. You can edit the allowed protocols and identity source selection for the default policy, but you cannot delete this set. From this table you can:
|
|
3 |
Status column |
To drag rows and change the priority order of the policy sets in the table, click Enabled (active) policy sets are marked with Rows that have been edited and not yet saved are marked with |
|
4 |
Conditions column |
Hover over any cell in the Conditions column and click the Edit icon to open the Conditions Studio. From the Conditions Studio, edit any of the Condition Studio conditions in order to use those
conditions when configuring policy rules, including those used for the particular policy set from which you accessed the Studio,
as well as all other conditions that have been configured and maintained in the system library.
|
|
5 |
Actions column |
Click the cog icon
|
| 6 | View column | Click the arrow icon from the View column to open the Sets view screen and view, manage, and update the authentication and authorization policies as well as
the policy exceptions.
|
| 7 | Action buttons |
Reset—revert the table to the last saved details, removing any changes not yet saved. Save—save any new changes made directly from the table to any of the policy sets and implement those changes. |
Set View
To configure, manage and edit a specific policy set, ensure you have saved or reset any changes made from the Policy Sets
table and then choose the arrow icon
from the View column to open the Set view.
The following figure shows the main elements of the Policy Sets - Set view page. The specific sections for authentication and authorization are described in separate sections.

The following table describes the different elements of the Set view.
|
1 |
Set view |
From the Set view you can view, update, and manage all of the configurations for the selected policy set. |
| 2 | Conditions column | Hover over any cell in the Conditions column and click the Edit icon to open the Conditions Studio. From the Conditions Studio, edit any of the conditions in order to use those conditions when configuring policy rules, including those used for the
particular policy, and all other conditions that have been configured and maintained in the system library.
|
| 3 | Policies and Exceptions | Expand any of the policy areas with the arrow icon in order to view, update, and manage all the policy configurations (authentication, exceptions, and authorization).
|
| 4 | Action buttons |
Reset—revert the table to the last saved details, removing any changes not yet saved. Save—save any new changes made directly from the table to any of the policy sets. |
Predefined and Default Configurations for Policies and Conditions
Cisco ISE is shipped with several predefined and default configurations that are part of common use cases for network access and device administration policy sets, including policy set, authentication, authorization, exception and condition configurations, as described in the following tables.
Policy Set Default Configuration
There is only one predefined policy set when you first install Cisco ISE. This set includes all predefined and default authentication and authorization rule configurations. This policy set is the default policy set. You can make changes to the configuration, but you cannot delete it.
|
Name |
Description |
Allowed Protocol / Server Sequence (RADIUS / TACACS+) |
|---|---|---|
|
Default Policy Set |
You can use this access service for wired and wireless 802.1X and MAB authentication policy rules. For the default policy set in the Network Access work center, this configuration is the network access allowed protocols service to be used in policy sets as the last default. For the default policy set in the Device Admin work center, this configuration uses the TACACS-relevant allowed protocol services to be used in policy sets as the last default. You can change the allowed protocol services for these default sets, but you cannot add conditions or delete the sets. |
For the default policy set in the Network Access work center, the Default Allowed Protocol Service is configured to enable process host lookup and allows the following authentication protocols:
For more information about configuring allowed protocols, see Allowed Protocols. For the default policy set in the Device Admin work center, the Default Device Admin sequence is configured to allow the following authentication protocols:
For more information about configuring allowed protocols for TACACS, see Device Administration - Authorization Policy Results. |
Authentication Policy Predefined and Default Rule Configurations
Authentication rules are configured within each policy set.
Authentication rules define which identity source database to use for authentication, and what actions to take if authentication fails. The following table describes the information that can be configured for each of the predefined and default authentication rules available in Cisco ISE upon installation:
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Rule name
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Conditions—No conditions are used for any of the systems defaults as described in detail below. Conditions can be smart conditions (stored for reuse in the Library) or conditions that you create for a specific rule. The available smart conditions used for the predefined rules are saved with unique names as indicated accordingly for the different predefined rules below, and are as detailed in this table: Predefined Policy Conditions (Smart Conditions). You can also customize your own conditions. For more information about configuring customized conditions, see Special Network Access Conditions.
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Identity source or source sequence—which user database to use for authentication. For more information about configuring identity source sequences, see Internal and External Identity Sources.
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Failure configurations (Options)—the resulting action if the user cannot be authenticated.
|
Name |
Description |
Conditions |
Use |
Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Default |
For both network access and device administration, this is the default authentication rule that is included in every policy set you create, as well as in the system default policy set. You can edit this policy to configure any identity source sequence or identity source based on your needs, but you cannot add conditions to it or delete it. |
There are no conditions for this set. As the default rule, this is the last rule referred to if all rules above it cannot be matched. |
If no other authentication rule in the set can be matched, this default policy rule authenticates the All_User_ID_Stores identity sequence, which includes all users in all of the ID stores predefined in the system as follows:.
You can change the identity store configuration, but you cannot change the conditions or delete this rule. |
Options are configured as follows:
|
|
Dot1X |
This authentication rule uses the wired and wireless 802.1X smart conditions as well as the default network access allowed protocols service (as defined in the Policy Set Default Configuration table). This policy evaluates requests that match the criteria specified in both the wireless and wired 802.1X smart conditions. You can make any changes to this configuration necessary based on your organization's needs. |
Wired_802.1X Wireless_802.1X |
This predefined configuration is available only from the Network Access work center. This default policy uses the internal endpoints database as its identity source. You can edit this policy to configure any identity source sequence or identity source based on your needs. |
Options are configured as follows:
|
|
MAB |
This authentication rule uses the wired and wireless 802.1X smart conditions as well as the default network access allowed protocols service (as defined in the Policy Set Default Configuration table). This policy evaluates requests that match the criteria specified in the wired and wireless MAB smart conditions. |
This predefined configuration is available only from the Network Access work center. This default policy uses the internal endpoints database as its identity source. You can edit this policy to configure any identity source sequence or identity source based on your needs. |
Options are configured as follows:
|
Authorization Policy Predefined and Default Rule Configurations
Authorization rules are configured within each policy set.
Authorization rules define permissions within the network for different security groups. The following table describes the information that can be configured for each of the predefined and default authorization rules available in Cisco ISE upon installation:
-
Rule name
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Conditions—No conditions are used for any of the system defaults as described in detail below. Conditions can be smart conditions (stored for reuse in the Library) or conditions that you create for a specific rule. The available smart conditions used for the predefined rules are saved with unique names as indicated accordingly for the different predefined rules below, and are as detailed in this table: Predefined Policy Conditions (Smart Conditions). You can also customize your own conditions. For more information about configuring customized conditions, see Special Network Access Conditions.
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Authorization profiles—defines which permissions are to be provided to the configured security group. For more information about authorization profiles, see Cisco ISE Authorization Profiles. You can also configure new authorization profiles inline from the Policy Set pages.
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Security groups—defines different groups of users based on common needs in the network, such as Contractors, Administration, Guests, Engineers, etc. You can configure new authorization profiles inline from the Policy Set pages.
![]() Note |
For Device Administration policies, Command Sets and Shell Profiles are configured in place of the authorization profiles and security groups. There is only one default authorization rule, as described in the table below, for Device Administration policy sets, and no additional predefined rules are available at this time. For additional information about command sets and shell profiles, refer to Control Device Administration Using TACACS+. |
|
Rule Name |
Status |
Description |
Conditions |
Authorization Profiles (Permissions) and Security Groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Default (Network Access work center) |
Enabled |
This is the default authorization rule that is included in every network access policy set you create, as well as in the system default policy set. You can edit this policy to configure any authorization profile or security group based on your needs, but you cannot add conditions to it or delete it. |
There are no conditions for this set. As the default rule, this is the last rule referred to if all rules above it cannot be matched. |
Access is denied to the network. |
|
Default (Device Administration work center) |
Enabled |
This is the default authorization rule that is included in every device administration policy set you create, as well as in the system default policy set. You can edit this policy to configure any command set or shell group based on your needs, but you cannot add conditions to it or delete it. |
There are no conditions for this set. As the default rule, this is the last rule referred to if all rules above it cannot be matched. |
Command set—DenyAllCommands Shell Profile—Deny all shell profiles |
|
Basic_Authenticated_Access |
Enabled |
To enable access to authenticated users. |
Network_Access_Authentication_Passed |
PermitAccess |
|
Wi-Fi_Redirect_to_Guest_Login |
Enabled |
To redirect users to the CWA Portal. |
Wireless_MAB |
Cisco_WebAuth |
|
Wi-Fi_Guest_Access |
Disabled |
To permit Guest access, after a Guest user is authenticated from the WebAuth. |
Wireless_MAB IdentityGroup Name Equals Endpoint Identity Groups:GuestEndpoints |
PermitAccess Guest |
|
Employee_Onboarding |
Disabled |
Any wireless 802.1X authentication that uses MSCHAPv2 would be redirected to the Native Supplicant Provisioning process. |
Wireless_802.1X EAP-MSCHAPv2 |
NSP_Onboard BYOD |
|
Employee_EAP-TLS |
Disabled |
— |
Wireless_802.1X BYOD_is_Registered EAP-TLS MAC_in_SAN |
PermitAccess BYOD |
|
Compliant_Devices_Access |
Disabled |
To enable access for compliant devices. |
Network_Access_Authentication_Passed Compliant_Devices |
PermitAccess |
|
Noncompliant_Devices_Redirect |
Disabled |
— |
Network_Access_Authentication_Passed Non_Compliant_Devices |
AnyConnect_Temporal_Onboard |
|
Unknown_Compliance_Redirect |
Disabled |
— |
Network_Access_Authentication_Passed Compliance_Unknown_Devices |
AnyConnect_Temporal_Onboard |
|
Profiled Non-Cisco IP Phones |
Enabled |
— |
Non_Cisco_Profiled_Phones |
Non_Cisco_IP_Phones |
|
Profiled Cisco IP Phones |
Enabled |
— |
InternalUser IdentityGroup EQUALS Endpoint Identity Groups:Profiled:Cisco-IP-Phone |
Cisco_IP_Phones |
|
Wireless Black List Default |
Enabled |
— |
Wireless_Access InternalUser IdentityGroup EQUALS Endpoint Identity Groups:Blocklist |
Blackhole_Wireless_Access |
Predefined Policy Conditions (Smart Conditions)
Policy conditions are created from the Conditions Studio and maintained from the Conditions Studio Library. Upon initial installation, Cisco ISE includes predefined smart conditions that you can easily use when configuring your policy sets and rules, and that are used in the different default and predefined policy sets, and authentication and authorization rules. You can edit, rename and delete these predefined smart conditions based on your organization's needs. For more information about configuring customized conditions and existing predefined conditions, see Special Network Access Conditions.
|
Name |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Wired 802.1X |
|
|
Wireless 802.1X |
|
|
Wired MAB |
|
|
Wireless_MAB |
|
|
WLC_Web_Authentication |
A condition to match requests for web authentication from wireless LAN controllers, according to the corresponding Web Authentication attributes defined in the device profile.
|
|
Catalyst Switch Local Web Authentication |
|
|
Wireless Lan Controller (WLC) Local Web Authentication |
|
|
Switch_Web_Authentication |
|
|
Switch_Local_Web_Authentication |
|
|
Non_Compliant_Devices |
Session PostureStatus equals Compliant |
|
Non_Cisco_Profiled_Phones |
EndPoints LogicalProfile equals IP Phones |
|
Network_Access_Authentication_Passed |
Network Access AuthenticationStatus equals AuthenticationPassed |
|
MAC_in_SAN |
CERTIFICATE Subject Alternative Name equals Radius Calling-Station-ID |
|
Guest_Flow |
Network Access UseCase equals Guest Flow |
|
EAP-TLS |
Network Access EapAuthentication equals EAP-TLS |
|
EAP-MSCHAPv2 |
Network Access EapAuthentication equals EAP-MSCHAPv2 |
|
Compliant_Devices |
Session PostureStatus equals Compliant |
|
Compliance_Unknown_Devices |
Session PostureStatus equals Unknown |
|
Catalyst_Switch_Local_Web_Authentication |
|
|
BYOD_is_Registered |
EndPoints BYODRegistration equals Yes |
Configure Policy Sets
Configure policy sets in order to manage your authentication and authorization policy flows.
Following are the guidelines for creating policy sets:
-
Rules are configured with names, conditions, and results. You must define authentication and authorization rules in order to implement a policy set. The default pre-configured policy set that is installed automatically with ISE, as well as any new policy sets that you create, are automatically created with the existing default authentication and authorization policy rules which you can then edit or supplement.
-
Conditions may be stored in the Library of the Conditions Studio and can be used for multiple policies sets thereafter.
Overview of Steps for Configuring a Policy Set
Following are the steps for configuring a complete policy set including authentication, exception, and authorization rules:
-
Upon installing ISE, a default policy set is implemented, including default ISE authentication and authorization rules. The default policy set also includes additional flexible built-in rules (that are not defaults) for authentication and authorization. You can add additional rules to those policies and you can delete and change the built-in rules but you cannot remove the default rules and you cannot remove the default policy set.
If you want to customize your sets and rules, you can first create your own conditions, identity sources, security groups and authorization profiles. Alternatively, you can configure your customizations while working with the policy sets that you are creating. For example, while adding rules to your authorization policy, you can select Create a New Authorization Profile in order to customize an authorization profile and to add it to the policy set that you are currently editing.
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Create policy sets.
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Configure authentication policies.
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Configure authorization policies.
Create and Manage Policy Sets
In order to manage authentication and authorization rules, you must first create a policy set to contain them. This task describes how to create the policy set. Subsequent tasks describe how to update the policy set and manage authentication and authorization rules.
Procedure
|
Step 1 |
For network access policies, choose . For device administration policies, choose . |
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|
Step 2 |
From the Actions column on any row, click the cog icon and then from the dropdown menu, insert a new policy set by selecting any of the insert or duplicate options, as necessary. |
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|
Step 3 |
From the Status column, click the current Status icon and from the dropdown list update the status for the policy set as necessary. For more information about policy set status, see Policy Set Configuration Settings. |
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Step 4 |
For any policy set in the table, click in the Policy Set Name or Description cells to make any free-text changes necessary. |
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|
Step 5 |
To add or change conditions, hover over the cell in the Conditions column and click Not all attributes you select will include the “Equals,” “Not Equals,” “Matches,” “Starts With,” or “Not Starts With” operator options. The “Matches” operator supports and uses regular expressions (REGEX) not wildcards.
|
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|
Step 6 |
From the Allowed Protocols column select the protocol or the server sequence (Radius or TACACS) to be followed for this set
or click |
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|
Step 7 |
From the top right-hand side of the table, click Save. |
||
|
Step 8 |
From the View column, click |
What to do next
-
Configure authentication policies
-
Configure authorization policies

, hold, drag and drop.
. For more information about
. The icon disappears when you choose
to open the Conditions Studio. From the Conditions Studio, edit any of the Condition Studio conditions in order to use those
conditions when configuring policy rules, including those used for the particular policy set from which you accessed the Studio,
as well as all other conditions that have been configured and maintained in the system library.
from the
and select

, because conditions can be associated with more than one category.




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