This section provides an overview of the switch access security features, authentication protocols, and methods. See Using the Management Interface. The authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) strategy is used to verify identity of, grant access, and track the actions of remote users in all switches in the Cisco MDS 9000 Family. Network switches operate at the Data Link Layer or Layer 2 of the OSI model. However, that is not enough, because these devices are vulnerable. Switches are a vital security component in networks: After all, they control the traffic for all of your internal data communications.