Access Control Procedures

There are a number of practical steps you can take to ensure control of
who accesses your WLAN. It is important to make certain that you create
and maintain a secure 802.11 wireless LAN. When you implement a
set of access-control procedures, you acquire a higher level of security
for your WLAN.

First, create an organizational security policy that utilizes wireless
802.11 protection features. You must then make certain that all the
users on your WLAN understand and can use the security features and
functionality that prevent the risks associated with wireless networking.


One way to offer an added level of protection is to perform a “risk
assessment” that allows you to comprehend how important your data
assets are and how they require protection. You should also make certain
that your wireless client network interface card and access point
are capable of supporting firmware upgrades and security patches. Both
these elements are important; they help you protect yourself against
hacker exploits as they become known.

Security assessments must be comprehensive and complete in order
to afford sufficient protection. They must be completed at specified
intervals and include a sufficient level of validation of all access points
connected to your systems. Access controls can be seriously compromised
when rogue access points are installed within transmission range
of your wireless workstation clients. All this information is crucial in
order for you to maintain adequate access control to all the devices on
your wired and wireless networks.

In order to maintain proper access mechanisms, you must also carefully
examine the external boundaries of your corporate network. Wireless
networking devices can have a transmission range that goes beyond
buildings. Thus, it is essential that you define the secure areas of your
wireless corporate network. If you are careful about the range of your
wireless networking devices, you can operate with relative certainty
that unauthorized hackers will be unable to access your network by
operating a mobile device in the fringe area of wireless transmission
without your knowledge.