Wireless LAN Security

Wireless LANs provide mobility. Who does not want to be able to carry their laptop to the conference room down the hall and still have complete network access without worrying about network cables? Manufacturing companies are even using wireless LANs (WLANs) to monitor shop-floor machinery that is not traditionally accessible by network cabling. Increased mobility and accessibility improves communication, productivity, and efficiency. How much more productive could a team meeting be if all participants meeting in the conference room still had access to the network and the files relating to the project being discussed? Wireless LANs can also provide a cost benefit. Installing and configuring wired communications can be costly, especially in those hard-to-reach areas. Ladders, drop ceilings, heavy furniture, knee pads, and a lot of time are often necessary to get all components installed and connected properly. By comparison, wireless LAN installations are a breeze. Plug in the access point, install a wireless NIC, and one is all set. An access point is the device that acts as a gateway for wireless devices. Through this gateway, wireless devices access the network. See Exhibit 1 for an illustration. The increased mobility and cost effectiveness make wireless LANs a popular alternative. The Gartner Group has predicted that wireless LAN revenue will total $487 million in 2001, and the value of installed wireless LANs will grow to $35.8 billion by 2004. The Cahners In-Stat Group has predicted that the wireless LAN market will grow 25 percent annually over the next few years, from $771 million in 2000 to $2.2 billion in 2004. While these estimates are quite different, they share one P A Y O F F I D E A