What is tacacs?

TACACS (Terminal Access Controller Access Control System) is a standard protocol used to authenticate network users and control access to network resources. Originally developed by Cisco, TACACS is now an open standard that is widely used in corporate networks for centralized user authentication and authorization.

TACACS operates on a client-server model, where the TACACS server is responsible for verifying user credentials and granting access to network devices and services. It allows network administrators to define policies that determine what resources users can access and what actions they can perform.

TACACS supports both authentication (verifying the identity of users) and authorization (determining access rights) functions. It can also provide accounting capabilities, allowing administrators to track and log user activity on the network.

There are several versions of TACACS, including TACACS and TACACS+. TACACS+ is an updated and more secure version of the protocol that supports additional features such as encryption and authentication mechanisms.

Overall, TACACS is a powerful tool for managing user access to network resources, ensuring security, and maintaining control over network operations.