Think twice! Uncover the hidden risks of Wireless Networks

This article describes in detail the failure of the wireless network and provides some detailed suggestions. I believe this article will help you.

When planning wireless network installation, you must carefully assess and solve risks. Otherwise, unforeseen problems, such as RF interference, poor performance, and security vulnerabilities, will cause serious damage. By solving the risks in the early stages of wireless network deployment, you will greatly increase the chances of successful wireless network deployment.

The following are common risks to consider:

Unclear requirements

If you deploy a wireless network without clarifying your requirements, the wireless network may not meet your needs. In fact, imperfect or even problematic demands are often the cause of the failure of information system projects. Therefore, before in-depth deployment, clear requirements must be defined.

For example, you can install the 802.11g network today to enable a moderate number of users to access emails and browse Web pages. However, after 10 months, your organization may increase the number of users or use multimedia applications, which requires a solution with higher performance. Therefore, your organization is subject to the decision to migrate to 802.11n. Therefore, consider your needs and select the right technology from the very beginning.

RF interference

Some devices, such as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz cordless phones, microwave ovens, and adjacent wireless networks, can cause destructive RF interference and reduce the performance of wireless networks. To minimize the risk of RF interference, the Unit should investigate the location of the wireless network, find possible interference, and define countermeasures before installing the AP.

RF interference is not always controllable. For example, you can deploy a 2.4 GHz 802.11n wireless network in an office, but three months later, next to your company, another company installs the same wireless network on the same channel. This causes two networks to conflict with each other. One way to reduce this risk is to use a targeted antenna to ensure that the transmission and receipt of your wireless network is limited to the facility of the unit. This will limit the impact of mutual interference between wireless networks. You can also specify the 5 GHz 802.11n, which provides better flexibility when selecting channels that do not conflict with other networks.

Security Vulnerabilities

Unauthorized personnel may access enterprise information, which is a major threat to wireless networks. Eavesdroppers can use wireless network analysis tools such as Wireshark to receive and view the content of 802.11 data frames for free. It is conceivable that this risk may expose credit card numbers, passwords, and other sensitive information.

You should carefully evaluate Wireless Network Vulnerabilities to avoid risks, and then define effective security policies based on the value of the information you need to protect. In some cases, you may only need firewall protection. Other applications may require an effective form of encryption. Port-based 802.1x authentication also provides more security.

Application Interface

In some cases, application interfaces on various hosts and servers can cause serious problems when using a wireless network. Transient loss of Network Connections due to RF interference or too small coverage may lead to errors in some applications. This problem occurs especially when some old applications lack error recovery mechanisms for wireless systems.

To avoid such risks, you need to carefully define the application types of wireless user devices that will use their related interfaces. If necessary, consider using wireless middleware (such as NetMotion) solutions to provide adequate recovery mechanisms related to wireless networks.

By identifying and solving these potential risks, your wireless network deployment will be more successful. However, you should further analyze and define the risks of a wireless LAN Based on your business characteristics.