Wireless Security
TERM PAPER
Wireless LAN Security
Enabling and Protecting the Enterprise
INSIDE
INSIDE
∆ Wireless LAN Technology
∆
∆
∆
Benefits of Wireless LANs
Security Risks and Technical Challenges
Recommendations
WIRELESS LAN SECURITY
Contents
Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Wireless LAN Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Benefits of Wireless LANs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Simplified Implementation and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Extended Reach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Increased Worker Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Reduced Total Cost of Ownership and Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Security Risks and Technical Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
“Leaky” Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Unapproved Deployments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Exposure of Wireless Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Signal Interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Evolving IEEE Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Establish Wireless LAN Security Policies and
Wireless LAN Security
Enabling and Protecting the Enterprise
INSIDE
INSIDE
∆ Wireless LAN Technology
∆
∆
∆
Benefits of Wireless LANs
Security Risks and Technical Challenges
Recommendations
WIRELESS LAN SECURITY
Contents
Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Wireless LAN Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Benefits of Wireless LANs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Simplified Implementation and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Extended Reach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Increased Worker Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Reduced Total Cost of Ownership and Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Security Risks and Technical Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
“Leaky” Buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Unapproved Deployments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Exposure of Wireless Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Signal Interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Evolving IEEE Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Establish Wireless LAN Security Policies and
References: John Cox, “LAN Services Set to Go Wireless,” Network World, August 20, 2001 (http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2001/0820wireless.html) Andy Dornan, “Emerging Technology: Wireless LAN Standards,” 2/6/02, NetworkMagazine.com (http://networkmagazine.com/article/NMG20020206S0006) Dave Molta, “The Road Ahead for Wireless,” Network Computing, July 9, 2001 (http://www.networkcomputing.com/1214/1214colmolta.html) 14. Peter Rysavy, “Break Free with Wireless LANs,” Network Computing, October 29, 2001 (http://www.networkcomputing.com/1222/1222f1.html) 17. “Wireless Within Corporate Reach” eWeek, May 3, 2000 (http://techupdate.zdnet.com/ techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2530201-1,00.html)