Keeping your eye on the ball

After deployment, WLANs require maintenance and monitoring. Here, your network and system management tools can play an important role in security. For example, controllers can push AP firmware to quickly apply security patches, while AD Group Policy Objects can ensure that WLAN connections comply with security policy.

For security monitoring, some enterprises rely on WLAN infrastructure capabilities ? for example, using controller reports to document usage or flag rogue APs. If you need more visibility, deploy a Wireless IPS (WIPS).

An overlay WIPS uses a purpose-built server to analyze observations gathered by dedicated sensors, feeding alerts to a dashboard, database, and upstream Network Management System. An embedded WIPS is (to some degree) integrated with WLAN infrastructure ? for example, APs placed into monitor-only mode.

As link security improves, more attacks are taking advantage of lax client settings and user attraction to unknown APs. These risks can be addressed by deploying another piece of client software: a host-resident WIPS agent. Available from vendors like AirDefense and AirTight Networks, these agents can be used alone (alerting users directly) or in conjunction with a WIPS server (forwarding alerts to a central system).

Back on Build Secure Enterprise WLAN Network here

Related posts of this article:

Building Secure Enterprise WLAN Network

New WLAN Prepare To Deploy

Security Between WLAN And APS

Security from Doorway to Desktop: Tying Together Physical Access Systems and IT Networks

WLAN Protocol And RF Spectrum Analyzer

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