Securing your wireless systems

A local area network (LAN) connects computers, printers and other devices so that data and resources can be shared. LANs are limited to coverage of one location, typically a building, and usually use network cables for connections.

However, needing wires to connect devices can be inconvenient, especially in older buildings. As the name suggests, a wireless LAN (WLAN) needs no wires and instead allows connections to be made using radio waves instead of wiring, therefore making it more flexible.Despite this convenience, in business environments a WLAN is often combined with a wired LAN. This is largely because wireless networks are not as fast as standard wired ones. Therefore, wireless network access should be reserved for situations where mobility is more important than speed.

The components that make up a WLAN are:Wireless access point - this is a small box with one or more aerials. It has a connector to attach it to the rest of your wired LAN. You may need more than one access point to cover a building, depending on its range and the composition of any walls/floors between the access point and wireless network card. Access points handle the receiving and transmitting of data to all the wireless devices in their area. They can handle many different connections between different devices all talking to each other simultaneously, but the more devices you have working with an access point, the slower they will operate.

Wireless network card - this card acts as the radio receiver/transmitter for a specific computer. Many modern laptops have this built-in, but with desktop PCs you will probably need to install one.These components need to work together. This is possible because they comply with a set of standards intended to enable devices from different manufacturers to inter-operate. See the page in this guide on WLAN standards