Exam Objectives in this Chapter:

Introduction

Over the past several years, wireless technologies have become more popular as the prices associated with wireless solutions have dramatically decreased. Many companies rely on wireless technologies to give them the freedom they need to become "mobile" within their new environments. As the speed and capabilities of wireless technologies increase and the cost decreases, wireless will in some cases completely replace wired technologies.

In Windows Server 2003, wireless technologies will play a large part in how you manage your network environment. In order to properly manage a wireless environment, you need to familiarize yourself with the technologies available to wireless users, the risks associated with wireless, how to secure a wireless connection, and how to properly configure Windows for use with wireless connectivity. In Windows Server 2003, Microsoft has added several tools and configuration options to make it easier to add a wireless network to your environment.

In this chapter, we begin with a discussion of general wireless concepts. We cover topics such as how wireless works, what a typical wireless architecture might look like, and the protocols and standards associated with wireless technologies. As you have seen throughout this book thus far, security has become a major focal point for Microsoft and its development of the Windows Server 2003 operating system. For that reason, it is important to understand the vulnerabilities and exploits that exist in a wireless environment and what you can do to prevent them...