Wireless Network Security Solutions from SECURE COMPUTING®
Protecting your Wireless LAN
The wireless network is rapidly replacing wired options, especially as new standards for wireless broadband are being implemented by networking vendors. Wireless networking brings great benefit in areas like temporary installations, in buildings where wiring is logistically difficult, or in locations such as college campuses or airports where users are not likely to do all of their computing in one fixed spot. Secure wireless networks have also become common in healthcare applications, transportation, supermarkets and warehousing. Wireless network security must, however, be a primary concern when rolling out a wireless network.
A wireless network setup is easier to use, and less costly than a traditional LAN, but there are some serious security issues that must be addressed. Appropriate wireless network security will overcome these limitations, which include:
- Unencrypted radio traffic can be snooped or hijacked
- Severe flaws with the radio data encryption algorithm compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the data
- The lack of a scalable user authentication model makes enterprise deployment difficult
There have been several well-documented cases of "war driving," or driving around with a wireless scanner in an attempt to intercept traffic. When this traffic is unencrypted, it is easy to snoop.
There are several ways to impose wireless network security, and the place to start is with access control. Secure wireless access and user authentication and authorization is a major challenge in any wireless security system. Secure Computing®'s SecureWire™ remote access appliance provides identity and access control for wireless networks. The SecureWire Wireless Package includes the Secure SnapGear wireless appliance for small and midsized businesses/enterprises, to provide a complete wireless network security and access management system. An all-in-one small business security appliance, Secure SnapGear is the ideal "must-have" security device for SMBs/SMEs (small and midsize businesses and small and midsize enterprises). Literally a "network in a box," Secure SnapGear can be deployed as a firewall, a VPN, a UTM security appliance, and contains all the wide area network tools needed to serve remote offices and small businesses. Secure SnapGear is highly affordable, containing many features normally only found in enterprise-level appliances at enterprise-level prices.
Secure Computing's Secure SafeWord, a strong authentication solution, can be used to impose access control over your wireless LAN. Working with the SecureWire appliance, Secure SafeWord enhances wireless network security with strong, two-factor authentication, and one-time passwords that cannot be guessed or stolen. Secure SafeWord also enhances wireless network security by interoperating with VPNs, allowing you to create a secure wireless tunnel from a user to a trusted network.
Wireless network security is complete in every way with the Secure SnapGear SG565 wireless network gateway security appliance. You can create instant wireless security with the SnapGear Internet appliance. Complete wireless security systems also include VPN security; and Secure SnapGear functions as a VPN endpoint for both the Secure Computing Secure Firewall (Sidewinder) and SecureWire (SSL-VPN) appliances.
An important element of wireless network security is to provide strong authentication and access control at the application layer. Wireless network security and wireless networks are still comparatively young, and many organizations are still struggling with these security issues. Secure SafeWord's strong authentication, and Secure SnapGear's wireless gateway security appliance builds on your wireless network security, providing a high level of access, ease of use, and foolproof authentication to make your wireless network an unbreakable one.
For more information, please download our Wireless Security Solutions for Small Businesses and Remote Branch Offices white paper.
Information on Secure SafeWord and SecureWire
View our white papers here or visit www.securecomputing.com
