A wall plate assembly has a first port adapted to be coupled to a device and a second port adapted to be coupled to a communications network. The wall plate assembly is operable to obtain authentication information from a user and to determine from the obtained authentication information whether the user should be granted or denied access to the network. The assembly is operable when the determination indicates the user should be granted access to provide endpoint location identification information associated with the wall plate assembly and the authentication information to the second port, and is operable responsive to a acknowledgement signal received via the second port to grant access to the network via the first port. The assembly is operable when either no acknowledgment signal is received or the determination indicates the user should be denied access to isolate the first port from the network.