Although wireless network technologies offer significant benefits, they also provide unique security challenges over their wired counterparts. The coupling of relative immaturity of the technology with poor wireless network security standards, flawed implementations, limited user awareness, and lax security and administrative practices forms an especially challenging combination. In a wireless environment, data is broadcast through the air and organizations do not have physical controls over the boundaries of transmissions or the ability to use the controls typically available with wired connections. As a result, wireless network data may be captured when it is broadcast. Because of differences in building construction, wireless frequencies and attenuation, and the capabilities of high-gain antennas, the distances necessary for positive control for wireless technologies to prevent eavesdropping can vary considerably. The safe distance can vary up to kilometers, even when the nominal or claimed operating range of the wireless device is less than a hundred meters.

To protect your information when you are using a wireless network you must develop a set of security standards that are specifically designed for the challenges of a wireless environment. The first step in wireless network security is to use all of the hardware encryption provided by your access points when you setup your network. These features are normally disabled by default so you will need to enable them and setup the correct set of keys to enable them. You should also obtain and download the latest patches for all your wireless network hardware. Keep in mind that security flaws are found all the time and the manufactures are always working to provide timely updates to fix problems. One if the biggest problems today with wireless network security is the fact that administrators fail to correctly fix system vulnerabilities. Finally, you should maintain strict control over all encryption keys. Treat these keys as the most valuable part of your wireless network security infrastructure. You should rotate your keys often, and keep them secret with access only by key personnel.