How to put good WLAN security in place

Despite all the continued hype about the need to be mobile and provide users with data anywhere they are, many enterprises are still shying away from full adoption of wireless local area networks (WLANs). The most commonly cited reason is always security, despite the fact that great progress has been made and better tools are hitting the market each year. Experts explain there are no real obstacles to deploying a good sturdy stable wireless network infrastructure if you plan ahead, investigate required user needs and follow specific steps to avoid any potential security headaches. The first step is knowing that your security levels must meet your user requirements--security measures are directly tied to what must be protected and what doesn't need to be protected. Then it's time to make the financial business case for both the WLAN and the security measures. While hard numbers are tough to pin down, those companies that have deployed WLANs say the payoffs are easily identified. The third step is mapping out an in-depth user policy when it comes to wireless computing and involving users as security endpoints. You also have to realize that the wireless network isn't going to replace your current networking capabilities or needs, and that it should be viewed as an additive to your business operations. Then, finally, it's time to lay down the two security walls: encryption and authentication measures. Article