Wireless Security - Networking

Security

The Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) which forms part of the 802.11 standard does not provide adequate security. Many independent studies have shown how, with relatively little effort, attackers can decrypt data that has been encrypted using WEP simply be eavesdropping on the network. These studies have also shown that attackers can log onto WEP-enabled networks as bona fide users and access the network without being detected.

Authentication

Other than "hard-coded" MAC address lists, which can easily be spoofed, most WLAN Access Points do not offer any means to authenticate users before they are granted access to the network.

Access Control

Most WLANs offer no ability to provide differential levels of access according to user category, such as visitor level access to the internet only. This is because access control is binary, thereby allowing only "on/off" access to the corporate network.

Bandwidth Management

Access Points are a shared medium device, like a traditional hub. There is no ability to stop a user who is closest to the Access Point from "hogging" all of the available bandwidth and impacting the overall WLAN performance.

Subnet Mobility

As WLANs grow from pilot or small department deployments, administrators are faced with the shortcoming that users cannot move between subnets without stopping and re-authenticating to the network. This is analogous to having to re-dial a cell phone call as you move between cell towers. This limitation defeats the purpose of having a WLAN true mobility.

For more information, to schedule a site survey, or get a cost proposal, please contact:

TSR Solutions, Inc.
Wireless Representative
wireless@tsrnet.com
(262) 512-4100