What is User-ID?

User-ID is a technology that enables network devices (like firewalls) to identify and control network traffic based on user identity rather than just IP address. It achieves this by mapping IP addresses to usernames, often through integration with directory services like Active Directory or by analyzing login events. This allows for more granular security policies, reporting, and control, such as allowing access to specific resources only for certain users or groups, and logging activity by user rather than just IP address.