Questions to ask Wi-Fi monitoring vendors

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: JOANIE WEXLER ON WIRELESS IN THE
ENTERPRISE
08/22/05
Today's focus: Questions to ask Wi-Fi monitoring vendors

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Considerations in Wi-Fi IDS/IPS
* Links related to Wireless in the Enterprise
* Featured reader resource
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MOOCHING WI-FI

Have you ever connected to an open wireless network that you
knew was not yours? Aside from the moral question, identity
theft, eavesdropping and virus attacks could be real security
concerns when connecting via an open access point. Find out why
the debate rages over mooching Wi-Fi. Click here:
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110671
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Today's focus: Questions to ask Wi-Fi monitoring vendors

By Joanie Wexler

Human nature being what it is, you pretty much have to run
wireless monitoring for intrusion detection and prevention even
if you have a "no-Wi-Fi" policy. You need to make sure that no
one has plugged an unauthorized access point into your wired
LAN, through which attackers could conduct misdeeds.

Wireless LAN monitoring systems allow you to continually scan
the 802.11 airwaves for security and performance purposes.
Because this product area is getting quite competitive, vendors
are working aggressively to stay a step ahead of one another -
so the systems are growing pretty sophisticated at detecting
intrusions and taking automated action to prevent them.

These systems come in various shapes and sizes from companies
such as AirDefense, AirMagnet, AirTight, BlueSocket, Network
Chemistry, Newbury Networks and several of the Wi-Fi systems
vendors. Here are a few points to think about when considering a
Wi-Fi monitoring solution for your network:

* Do you prefer an overlay Wi-Fi monitoring network or one in
  which the Wi-Fi access points you use for traffic forwarding can
  double as monitoring sensors?

* Where does the processing of security events take place - in
  sensors at the distributed sites, in a centralized server, in
  some combination of these locations, or elsewhere? There are
  possible bandwidth limitations associated with sending all
  distributed information back to a central location for
  processing. But there are also potential event-correlation
  drawbacks to having all processing conducted in the remote
  sites. Have potential suppliers talk you through these issues.

* Can the system automatically disable rogue devices that are
  connected to your network? Can it do so both using location
  tracking and wired switch-port tracing and shutdown?

* In what format do you receive reports about wireless
  conditions and activity? Are the reports usable and digestible
  to you - or do you need a degree in physics to read them?

* There are vendor wars going on about how many alerts each
  system can support. Determine whether the sheer number of
  available alerts, or the number of alerts balanced with the
  level of automated preventive activity supported by the system,
  is more important.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Google goes berserk
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir5271>

2. Cisco to juice 6500 switch
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir5270>

3. Windows worm beginning to spread
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir5493>

4. IT staff shortage looming
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir5273>

5. Test: CipherTrust tops encryption field
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir5272>

Today's most-forwarded story:

Cisco to juice 6500 switch
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwir5274>
____________________________________________________________
To contact: Joanie Wexler

Joanie Wexler is an independent networking technology
writer/editor in California's Silicon Valley who has spent most
of her career analyzing trends and news in the computer
networking industry. She welcomes your comments on the articles
published in this newsletter, as well as your ideas for future
article topics. Reach her at <mailto:joanie@jwexler.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Nokia
What are the Benefits of an Enterprise Mobility Strategy?

ROI, reduction in costs, a more efficient workforce and growth
in revenue. Analysts forecast that almost 40% of salaried
employees spend half of their working time away from their
desktop. The implementation of a mobility solution is more than
a nice-to-have and increasingly a must-have solution for
enterprises. Download this case study today!
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=110611
_______________________________________________________________
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FEATURED READER RESOURCE
WIRELESS LANS BUYER'S GUIDE: THE GOODS ON 185 PRODUCTS

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