Corporate or SOHO wireless networks require a level of security that goes beyond the basics. They have an obligation to protect their business proprietary and customer data. There are many different technologies that can be utilized to accomplish this. WiFi Protected Access (WPA) addresses many of the flaws inherent in WEP. WPA can utilize the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to encrypt wireless network transmissions.

Corporate wireless networks should never be deployed without a virtual private network. There are countless commercial VPN products available. Reef Edge Dolphin is a freeware wireless gateway that can be deployed with VPN capabilities. For SOHO users that don t have the time, or the technical staff to deploy and configure a product like Dolphin, Linksys has developed the WRV54G VPN-Broadband Router. The WRV54G provides many enhanced security features. Designed specifically with the small business in mind, the WRV54G provides complete VPN support using IPSec tunnels.

802.1X was originally developed to provide a method for port-based authentication on wired networks. However, it was found to have significant application in wireless networks. With 802.1X authentication, a supplicant (a wireless workstation) needs to be authenticated by an authenticator (usually a RADIUS server) before access is granted to the network. The authentication process takes place over a logical uncontrolled port that is used only for the authentication process. If the authentication process is successful, access is granted to the network on the logical controlled port.

802.1X relies on the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) to perform the authentication. The preferred...