Wireless LAN security

Lynn Haber CNet

Published: 17 Apr 2002 13:39 BST

Despite the security and network management shortcomings, the WLAN market is growing, according to industry figures. Gemma Paulo, industry analyst at Cahners In-Stat Group, reports that worldwide shipments of WLAN access points and NICs to the enterprise marketplace are expected to reach 10.3 million units this year, up from 7.5 million in 2001.

"Security may be a concern but it isn't slowing down shipments," she says, adding that vertical markets such as healthcare, retail, and education make up the bulk of WLAN deployments today. However, she believes that enterprises will roll out more WLANs once they're more familiar with how third-party solutions improve security and management.

Although these tools increase a WLAN's bottom line cost, they ultimately decrease total cost of ownership, says Phillip Redman, research director at the Gartner Group. "WLAN management software not only decreases support costs, in the same way that network management software decreases TCO for the wired infrastructure, but it removes the security fears of deploying WLANs," he says. The Bluesocket WG-1000, for example, handles about 100 users and retails for about $6,000.

Jackson says that the ease of management and improved security of the Bluesocket product allows the university to deploy more WLANs because the staff can focus on new installations rather than management or security issues.

Today, most IT managers accept that WLANs offer ROI through freedom of movement, anytime/anywhere access, reduced wiring costs, network backup, and temporary LAN access. But security and network management have lagged behind. Now that third-party solutions are picking up the slack, businesses can deploy WLANs with the same confidence as deploying wired networks.

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