Anyone Can Plug In: Secure Your Catalyst Network with Wired 802.1X (Lab Day)

"Most wired networks still trust anything plugged into an Ethernet port."

In this MN Bytes and Brews hands-on LAB DAY, we’ll walk through how to secure the wired edge of your Catalyst network using 802.1X port-authentication.

This is a practical, engineer-led session focused on real-world configurations—not a sales-deck or marketing.

We’ll start with a brief overview of what wired 802.1X is and why it matters, then move into a live configuration demo on a Catalyst 9300 switch. You’ll see how to enable wired 802.1X both globally and on individual switch ports, use username/password authentication with RADIUS, and verify authentication results in RADIUS logs.

If you’d like, you can bring SSH access to a lab or test switch and configure alongside the demo.

Agenda:

• What is wired 802.1X?
• Why secure the wired network with port-authentication?
• Implementing wired 802.1X on Catalyst switches
• Live configuration demo
• Verifying authentication in RADIUS
• Q & A

Who should attend:

• Network and security engineers
• Public sector IT teams (K‑12, higher ed, state/local gov, healthcare)
• Anyone responsible for securing wired access

What to bring (optional):

• Laptop
• SSH access to a test or lab switch
• Curiosity about securing the wired edge

This session is live and interactive and will not be a passive recording.

RSVP and event information and meeting link will be sent to you.