Be alert to security risks that extend wireless network coverage

The following four suggestions help you expand the network coverage while ensuring its security.
The coverage of a wireless network refers to the effective coverage area and the physical area that can be effectively accessed. In most cases, expanding the wireless network is a good thing, even if it is just used to brag. A larger scope means more flexible network access. From a certain point of view, you want your wireless network to have a larger range, the better. Obviously, a wider range can cover more areas and provide better availability.
On the other hand, increasing coverage also increases the risk of malicious attacks on the network. The coverage of a network is more or less affected by Access Point configuration. For intruders, the first entry to WLAN is, of course, the Access Point AP ).
This is why the two factors, security risks and coverage expansion, need to be balanced frequently in the management network coverage. Simply put, expanding network coverage will inevitably increase security risks. Therefore, when you expand your network, you must remember to pay enough attention to security issues.
With the expansion of your network, some work must be standardized by the system:
Reduce informal network expansion
When you need to add an AP, you should follow the normal program to add them:
Add a request with a coverage.
Evaluate the user load that the AP will process.
Evaluate the risk of local environment leakage and potential signal interference.
Authorize someone to take responsibility.
Detailed records of AP installation and testing.
It is too easy to extend the wireless network through the AP, so this is a very powerful temptation. But the problem is, if we expand our network coverage to an office building, what problems and risks will it bring to us?
Control local AP coverage
Your network has coverage, and so does the AP. The following are some rules to help you prevent information leakage while providing better signal coverage:
Try to keep the AP farther away from the window as much as possible.
In the room, try to install the AP on a height.
Make sure that the AP is not too close to the other RF source. The computer itself may cause interference. Do not connect two APs .)
Careful Antenna Selection
Different types of antennas are applicable in different environments. The principle is to keep the signal in your office area and ensure high-quality network connections in this area, while preventing connections externally. Below are some good suggestions:
For centralized distribution of APs, a full-direction antenna is used.
Make the antenna straight up.
Use a directed antenna around the office area to prevent signal leakage. If you cannot change an AP antenna near the office area, point it to the center of the office area.
Maintain a proper user/AP Ratio
Another problem about network coverage control is the utility of the independent AP. It is important to maintain a proper user/AP ratio. Is the upper limit of the proportion I think. Remember the effective range of the AP. In a physical room, signal interference is unlikely to occur outside 150 feet. Calculate the number of required APS based on this principle and design their distribution.
Written at the end
When you increase the AP signal strength to improve the efficiency of the wireless network, remember to consider security issues at the same time. The signal is enhanced. In the office area, of course, higher quality network connections can be provided, but at the same time, enhanced signals may also be leaked to the highway outside. Your attention to these details can help you prevent malicious user intrusion.
Remember that the coverage of an illegal AP is not planned or controllable. One principle of control system theory is that you cannot control what you cannot observe. Because illegal AP may always slide into a wireless network that is even well designed, the solution is to persistently monitor the network. You can use a lot of free software to find illegal APs.

Related Articles]

• Why pay more attention to the security of wireless networks?

• Intrusion detection technology and Test Results Based on Wireless Networks

• Wireless Network Solution