[Day 35] Cisco ISE Mastery Training: BYOD Wired Onboarding
Table of Contents
Introduction
In today’s hybrid workspace, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is no longer optional — employees, contractors, and guests all bring their own laptops to connect to corporate resources. Over wired connections, onboarding BYOD devices is trickier than wireless because physical switch ports require 802.1X/MAB authentication, provisioning portals, and secure certificate handling — all without preconfiguring the device.
Cisco ISE provides a fully automated BYOD wired onboarding workflow where endpoints:
- Self-register
- Get onboarded with an endpoint identity certificate
- Are assigned the correct network profile without manual IT intervention
This process ensures security compliance while keeping the user experience frictionless.
Problem Statement
Traditional wired onboarding involves:
- Manual IT setup
- MAC whitelisting or pre-registered device entries
- Weak guest access controls
- No endpoint compliance tracking
These methods cause:
- Security gaps (rogue devices gain access)
- Operational delays
- Frustration for end users
We need a solution that authenticates unknown devices, registers them in ISE, provisions them with certificates, and dynamically authorizes them — all without IT desk visits.
Solution Overview
Cisco ISE’s BYOD wired onboarding uses:
- 802.1X + MAB fallback
- ISE Guest/BYOD portals for self-service onboarding
- Certificate provisioning via ISE SCEP or internal CA
- Authorization policy rules that change based on onboarding stage
Flow:
- Endpoint connects to wired port
- ISE classifies device as unknown → redirects to BYOD portal
- User logs in with corporate credentials
- Certificate provisioned to endpoint
- Device reauthenticates with EAP-TLS using new certificate
- Full access granted based on compliance profile
Sample Lab Topology
Lab Tools: VMware/EVE-NG, Cisco ISE, Catalyst Switch (L2/L3), BYOD laptop endpoints
Components:
- ISE Node (2.7 or higher) on VMware
- Catalyst 9300 in EVE-NG or physical
- Windows/Mac endpoint (BYOD device)
- AD/DNS server (optional for identity store)
Diagram:

Port Gi1/0/10 configured for 802.1X + MAB with VLAN assignment via ISE.
Step-by-Step GUI + CLI Configuration Guide
A. Switch CLI Configuration
conf t aaa new-model aaa authentication dot1x default group radius aaa authorization network default group radius aaa accounting update periodic 5 radius server ISE1 address ipv4 10.10.10.5 auth-port 1812 acct-port 1813 key cisco123 ip device tracking interface Gi1/0/10 switchport mode access authentication order mab dot1x authentication priority dot1x mab authentication port-control auto mab dot1x pae authenticator spanning-tree portfast
Validation:
show authentication sessions interface Gi1/0/10 details
B. ISE GUI Configuration
Step 1 – Enable BYOD Services
- Navigate: Administration → Settings → Client Provisioning
- Enable BYOD Device Registration and Certificate Provisioning
- [Screenshot: ISE BYOD Service Enable Screen]

Step 2 – Create BYOD Portal
- Go to Work Centers → Guest Access → Portals & Components → BYOD Portals
- Create New BYOD Portal
- Set authentication method = AD or Internal Users
- [Screenshot: BYOD Portal Configuration]

Step 3 – Client Provisioning Policy
- Go to Policy → Policy Elements → Results → Client Provisioning → Resources
- Add AnyConnect Compliance Module and Certificate provisioning script
- [Screenshot: Client Provisioning Policy]

Step 4 – Authorization Policy
Example rules:
- Condition: Wired_MAB and
Endpoint:IdentityGroup = Unknown
→ Result: Redirect to BYOD Portal ACL - Condition:
Wired_802.1X
andCertificateIssuedBy ISE
→ Result: Full Access VLAN/ACL
- [Screenshot: ISE Authorization Policy Rules]

Step 5 – Download & Install AnyConnect NAM/Posture Module (if required)
- Redirect ACL allows ISE, DNS, CRL, SCEP, and update servers
- User downloads from portal → installs
CLI Validation after Onboarding:
show authentication sessions interface Gi1/0/10 details # Look for: Status: Authz Success Method: dot1x Domain: DATA
FAQs – BYOD Wired Onboarding
1. How is BYOD wired onboarding different from wireless onboarding in Cisco ISE?
- Wired onboarding requires configuring 802.1X/MAB on switch ports, handling VLAN assignments, and managing limited portal redirection through ACLs on the access switch.
- Wireless onboarding typically uses a WLC to redirect traffic to the BYOD portal without manual ACL configuration.
- In wired setups, switch hardware, IOS version, and RADIUS timeout tuning are more critical.
2. Do I need a separate VLAN for BYOD onboarding?
- Recommended but not mandatory.
- A dedicated VLAN for onboarding (with limited internet/ISE access) improves security and simplifies troubleshooting.
- VLAN assignment can be done dynamically via ISE Authorization Profiles during onboarding.
3. What’s the role of the BYOD portal ACL in wired onboarding?
- It ensures that before onboarding is complete, the endpoint can only reach:
- ISE nodes (HTTPS)
- SCEP server
- DNS server
- CRL distribution points
- Without the ACL, endpoints might either get full access prematurely or be unable to reach the onboarding resources.
4. Can a non-domain-joined device complete BYOD wired onboarding?
- Yes — domain membership is not required.
- Users authenticate with AD or internal ISE credentials, and the endpoint is provisioned with an ISE-issued certificate.
5. How do we handle endpoints that don’t support 802.1X for wired BYOD?
- Use MAB to trigger web-based onboarding.
- This is less secure and may require stricter ACLs to reduce risk.
- Some legacy devices may need manual MAC registration in ISE.
6. What happens if an onboarded device’s certificate expires?
- The device will fail 802.1X EAP-TLS authentication.
- ISE can redirect it to the BYOD portal for re-provisioning.
- Best practice: configure certificate lifetimes and renewal reminders in ISE.
7. Can posture checks be integrated into BYOD wired onboarding?
- Yes, via Cisco AnyConnect Posture Module.
- You can require compliance (e.g., AV running, OS patch level) before granting full VLAN/ACL access after onboarding.
8. How does ISE differentiate between corporate BYOD and guest devices?
- Endpoint identity groups and authorization rules separate BYOD from guests.
- Guests use guest portals; BYOD devices are recognized by certificates issued during onboarding.
9. What’s the most common failure point in BYOD wired onboarding?
- Misconfigured switch redirection ACLs or missing DNS reachability.
- Endpoints can’t load the BYOD portal if they can’t resolve ISE’s hostname or reach its HTTPS service.
10. How do I verify BYOD wired onboarding success from CLI and GUI?
- CLI (Switch):
show authentication sessions interface Gi1/0/10 details # Look for Method: dot1x, Status: Authz Success
- ISE GUI:
- Go to Operations → RADIUS → Live Logs
- Look for final authentication using EAP-TLS and the endpoint identity group updated to RegisteredDevices.
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Closing Notes
BYOD wired onboarding with Cisco ISE ensures security, automation, and compliance without slowing down productivity. With proper portal design, certificate provisioning, and authorization rules, users can self-onboard their devices in minutes — while IT retains full control.
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