Wireless has changed the engagement of a mobile workforce and telecommuting has challenged IT departments. Among these changes is the proliferation of wireless networking. Today, virtually all notebook and mobile computers, and even many desktop computers, come equipped with wireless network cards. You can easily buy a wireless network access point for less than $50 and deploy wireless access to your network within an hour.
Wireless networks have truly changed the way we do business. Where would we be without wireless network today? So what is wireless and how do we make it secure? Wireless utilize radio waves and/or microwaves to maintain communication channels between computers. Wireless networking is a more modern alternative to wired networking that relies on copper and/or fiber optic cabling between network devices.
A wireless network offers advantages and disadvantages compared to a wired network. Advantages of wireless include mobility and elimination of unsightly cables. Disadvantages of wireless include the potential for radio interference due to weather, other wireless devices, or obstructions like walls. Network administrators need to take special consideration when setting up their wireless network security. From a security perspective, network administrator should look for the following features:
• Support for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2 to protect the wireless traffic
• Support for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) authentication so that you can use your centralized authentication system to provide strong, integrated authentication
• Support for MAC address filtering to limit which clients can access your network (great for smaller networks)
Wireless networks are now becoming more mainstream than ever. Wireless LANs now travel at Ethernet speeds with a greater range and built-in security. Wireless data networks are now providing Internet coverage to many of the large metropolitan areas. Businesses of all sizes and disciplines are now seizing upon the advantages provided by wireless networks. This growth will continue to increase in step with the growing mobile workforce. Stay on top of wireless security and your network will be limited to attacks.