Understanding Wireless LAN Security

All signs point to the enterprise of the future as being one in which every laptop,
handheld device, and desktop PC is connected wirelessly to the corporate network.
Today, enterprises are rapidly deploying in-building wireless networks based on
standards such as 802.11b, which offers constant access to enterprise intranet,
extranet, and Internet data and services. Compared to traditional wired networks, in-
building wireless networks offer mobility, giving users access to enterprise data
anywhere and anytime; flexibility, reducing deployment and network reconfiguration
costs; and convenience. Within the workplace, these innate benefits foster a mobile
workforce that can collaborate more easily, be productive within flexible office
configurations, and travel between buildings in a campus environment or across
office sites worldwide. Consequently, wireless LANs have become the preferred
method of connecting users within the enterprise environment.
Like any new network access technology, wireless LANs raise new concerns, the
greatest of which is security. Network managers must ensure that new vulnerabilities
are not introduced to the corporate network when a wireless LAN is deployed. At the
same time, they must ensure that wireless transmissions are safe from
eavesdropping. Finally, while enforcing security, network managers must preserve
the simplicity, ease-of-use, and performance promised by the wireless LAN; when
faced with burdensome security procedures, end users will naturally seek ways to
simplify their use.
At first glance, the security challenge seems insurmountable. In response, some
network managers have suggested that the best way to address such concerns is to
simply remove the wireless LAN. Unfortunately, this is an impractical approach; end
users will continue to demand the convenience and productivity afforded by wireless
LANs. Instead, network managers need to deploy layered solutions that
systematically address the security issues.
In this paper, we provide an overview of the security concerns introduced by wireless
LANs, current approaches to wireless LAN security, their limitations, and the
weaknesses of various “band aid” security solutions. We conclude by describing how
the ReefEdge Connect System provides a comprehensive solution to wireless LAN
security.