Wireless Networks

The origin of wireless networks and their ubiquity in the technological environment poses a new type of exposure and vulnerability for network security. Controlling and keeping the security on a wireless network is much harder than on a traditional wired network due to over-the-air transmission of information (TESSCO Technologies, Inc.). Making sure that people have access to the applications they need when they need them without opening security holes is a challenge, specifically when complicated by the ad hoc access points in virtual LANs, integration of the wireless network with wired networks, and interoperability with other organizations' LAN management products.

In a wireless network, there is "no static point in which all data can be monitored "and" administrators also lose the ability to trace a port to determine the location of a device" (TESSCO Technologies, Inc.). Therefore, a wireless network needs extra security that a traditional network does not necessarily need. One aspect of this extra security is operational. Fault management in terms of event notifications, alarms, alerts, error or event logging, problem reorganization, troubleshooting, and problem resolution should be part of the wireless network's structure to assist identify and confront problems, errors, or failures (TESSCO Technologies, Inc.). Security management should be scaled up for a wireless network, also. Network security, node security, security policy needs and implementation, authorizations, access controls, and audit trails need to be stronger and pose a greater barrier to network intrusions than on wired networks. Additionally, extra authentication in the form of Cisco's Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol (LEAP) is recommended. Precautions such as being sure to change defaults when turning on encryption schemes should be strictly followed.