Wireless networks can extend your network where wired networks can’t easily reach – like outside or throughout your warehouse. Public hotspots can allow you to connect to the Internet when on the road and from your favorite café. In some cities, Wi-Fi also has become an integral part of emergency responder and municipal communications. We’ll assume you know what Wi-Fi is. This month we’ll take a look at how Wi-Fi can help your small business and which security issues should concern you.
Network Devices
Aside from desktop and notebook computers with Wi-Fi adapters, manufacturers are now creating devices for integration into your wireless network. These include Wi-Fi certified printers, scanners, digital cameras and camcorders, televisions, MP3 players, game consoles, PDAs, phones, smartphones and more. (A full list of certified devices is available at wi-fi.org). These devices can help streamline your operations and save you money. A few issues back, I talked about Voice over IP. Now providers like Skype and Vonage sell VoIP cordless phones at affordable costs that operate and connect via Wi-Fi.
The Access Point and Protocol
The base component of your wireless network is your access point. Often bundled with router technology, these devices serve as the bridge between your wired and wireless network. Currently, Wi-Fi uses the 802.11 protocol. The most popular of the 802.11 protocols is 11b, followed by 11g. These devices operate at 2.4 GHz, which is a frequency range shared with many other devices including cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens, etc. The earlier 11a operates at 5 GHz, making it a faster, more reliable connection – but with a shorter range. Newer 11n series devices are capable of using both frequencies simultaneously.
Most access points are omnidirectional, therefore centralizing your placement can increase your coverage area.
Security
Wireless encryption is always important, not only when you’re using a guest network, but for your own internal network as well. Imagine someone sitting outside your warehouse with a high-powered laptop and a packet-sniffing tool, snooping on all the information going around your network. Proper use of encryption can greatly reduce your risk.
Often, companies use an older, depreciated protocol called “Wired Equivalent Privacy” or WEP. An experienced hacker can break WEP keys in about 2 minutes. You’ll want to use at least WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) – which is currently the closest you can get to wired security on a wireless network. You also want to use a randomly generated access key, at the highest level of complexity – containing letters, numbers, and symbols. Your best bet is to use a random key generator (https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm).
Additional measures you can take to protect your network are to incorporate Access Control Lists (ACL) which are programmed on your access point to authenticate only users connecting from approved computers.
Reliability and Privacy
You must be aware that even if you are on a secured network, vulnerabilities exist. Also, interference is also a factor with wireless networks. Remember, you can get 100/1000 Mbps speeds using a wired network, and only 54Mbps on wireless. Therefore, servers (especially those used for financial transactions) should be put on your wired network.
Final Thoughts
The Wi-Fi Alliance is a trade group that owns the trademark to Wi-Fi. The alliance controls the “Wi-Fi Certified” logo which is given to devices that have undergone rigorous testing and have met a number of certification standards. Look for this logo when purchasing Wi-Fi certified devices.
On a related note, I’m often asked for a brand preference and have always been a fan of Linksys routers, switches, and access points. When Linksys was acquired by industry leader Cisco Systems in 2003,
I started using only Linksys (and for higher end applications Cisco) networking equipment.
Wireless Networking is one of the fastest-growing, emerging fields in technology. Keep up to date by visiting the Wi-Fi Alliance at wi-fi.org.
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