Enterprise 802.11 Security Considerations and Vendor Solutions

Enterprise wireless LAN deployments are unquestionably on the rise, driven largely by demand from employees using the technology at home. Improperly secured wireless networks provide an open gateway into corporate networks for both professional information thieves as well as casual seekers of Internet access. Because the information assets in a corporate network are typically much more valuable than those in a home network, greater attention must be paid to security. New wireless products are available on the market today that are designed to address the requirements of corporate users. These products include wireless intrusion detection system, wireless LAN access systems, and software for encryption and authentication. This paper covers major security issues inherent in enterprise wireless LAN deployments as well as some of the product features vendors are delivering to address these issues.