Guide to Wireless Network Security

1. INTRODUCTION With the increasing deployment of wireless networks (802. 11 architecture) in enterprise environments, IT enterprises are working to implement security mechanisms that are equivalent to those existing today for wire-based networks. An important aspect of this is the need to provide secure access to the network for valid users. Existing wired network jacks are located inside buildings already secured from unauthorized access through the use of keys, badge access, and so forth. A user must gain physical access to the building in order to plug a client computer into a network jack. In contrast, a wireless access point (AP) may be accessed from off the premises if the signal is detectable (for instance, from a parking lot adjacent to the building). Thus, wireless networks require secure access to the AP and the ability to isolate the AP from the internal private network prior to user authentication into the network domain. Furthermore, as enterprises strive to provide better availability of mission-critical wireless data, they also face the challenge of maintaining that data's security and integrity. While each connection with a client, a supplier or a enterprise partner can improve responsiveness and efficiency, it also increases the vulnerability of enterprise wireless data to attack. In such an environment, wireless network security is becoming more important every day. Also, with the growing reliance on e-commerce, wireless network-based services and the Internet, enterprises are faced with an ever-increasing responsibility to protect their systems from attack.

The steady growth of WiFi in the enterprise demands that corporate IT teams learn and adopt new security methodologies tailored to the unique requirements and weaknesses of wireless networks. Network and security staff must first evaluate a potentially confusing set of authentication and encryption mechanisms to be used in the network. Depending on the security selected, IT will then need to establish and document the enterprise WLAN security policy, including mechanisms to validate user compliance and monitor for inherent network vulnerabilities. With a defined policy in place, IT staff can turn their attentions to protecting the network from snooping and an ever-expanding list of wireless attacks. The Guide to Wireless Network Security addresses each of these areas in detail and identifies the real-world best practices needed to deploy and maintain a secure wireless network.

Guide to Wireless Network Security is an authoritative,clearly presented guide to key foundation topics and technology frameworks for designing and maintaining secure, reliable operations. From basic concepts to designing principles to deployment, all critical concepts and phases are clearly explained and presented. This guide includes coverage of wireless security testing techniques and prevention techniques for intrusion (attacks).

Guide to Wireless Network Security is designed for a professional audience composed of researchers and practitioners in industry and wireless networks administrators. This book is also suitable for graduate-level students in computer science and electrical engineering.