AT-TQ2403 Management Software User's Guide

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Chapter 9: Configuring Security

The following sections describe how to configure Security settings on the AT-TQ2403 Management Software:

∙Understanding Security Issues on Wireless Networks

∙How Do I Know Which Security Mode to Use?

∙Comparison of Security Modes for Key Management, Authentication and Encryption Algorithms

∙Does Prohibiting the Broadcast SSID Enhance Security?

∙Navigating to Security Settings

∙Configuring Security Settings

∙Updating Settings

Understanding Security Issues on Wireless Networks

Wireless mediums are inherently less secure than wired mediums. For example, an Ethernet NIC transmits its packets over a physical medium such as coaxial cable or twisted pair. A wireless NIC broadcasts radio signals over the air allowing a wireless LAN to be easily tapped without physical access or sophisticated equipment. A hacker equipped with a laptop, a wireless NIC, and a bit of knowledge can easily attempt to compromise your wireless network. One does not even need to be within normal range of the access point. By using a sophisticated antenna on the client, a hacker may be able to connect to the network from many miles away.

The AT-TQ2403 Management Software provides a number of authentication and encryption schemes to ensure that your wireless infrastructure is accessed only by the intended users. The details of each security mode are described in the sections below.

See also the related topic, “Appendix A: Security Settings on Wireless Clients and RADIUS Server Setup”.

How Do I Know Which Security Mode to Use?

In general, we recommend that on your Internal network you use the most robust security mode that is feasible in your environment. When configuring security on the access point, you first must choose the security mode, then in some modes an authentication algorithm, and whether to allow clients not using the specified security mode to associate.

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) with Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) using the CCMP (AES) encryption algorithm provides the best data protection available and is clearly the best choice if all client stations are equipped with WPA supplicants. However, backward compatibility or interoperability issues with clients or even with other access points may require that you configure WPA with RADIUS with a different encryption algorithm or choose one of the other security modes.

That said, however, security may not be as much of a priority on some types of networks. If you are simply providing internet and printer access, as on a guest network, setting the security mode to None (Plain-text)may be the appropriate choice. To prevent clients from accidentally discovering and connecting to your network, you can disable the broadcast SSID so that your network name is not advertised. If the network is sufficiently isolated from access to sensitive information, this may offer enough protection in some situations. This level of protection is the only one offered for guest networks,