Wireless LAN (802.11):
Secure, reliable access for the anywhere workforce

Once an option, 802.11 is now an essential part of the LAN.

Just a few years ago, wireless access in most organizations was considered an optional convenience, used by a small subset of network users. Reliability, performance, security, and coverage of early 802.11 networks were best effort. That situation has changed: Today’s increasingly mobile workforce demands access to the Internet, corporate intranet, email, and file shares from anywhere in the building and all across the corporate campus. The range of 802.11-enabled devices has expanded from laptops to include smart phones, netbooks, notebooks, and tablets. The technology has evolved as well: 802.11n is now the standard, replacing 802.11g.

These changes have added to the complexity of wireless LAN deployments, putting pressure on overworked IT staffs to keep them secure and operating at peak efficiency. New build-outs are an even more daunting challenge—the expertise required to manage an existing wireless network is far less than what is needed to design and deploy a new one. Wireless security is a specialty all to itself—few IT professionals have experience defending against sophisticated cracking methods, rogue access points, or wireless denial of service attacks.

As wireless access enters the mainstream, IT departments are looking for help with 802.11 technology. TorreyPoint has the depth of knowledge and breadth of hands-on experience to take on this vital task.

TorreyPoint’s wireless LAN (802.11) solution is a proven, cost-effective way to deploy new wireless LANs, expand and upgrade existing wireless installations, and train in-house staff to deliver the high levels of security, performance, reliability, and coverage needed for today’s demanding enterprise deployments.

Turn your wireless network into a strategic asset.

Wireless LANs offer a number of benefits compared to wired networks:

• Greater efficiency: High-performance 802.11n networks speed the exchange of information with partners, customers, and other employees
• Increased productivity: Users can move freely in the workspace and across campus without losing access to business-critical information
• Lower capital and operating costs: Wireless LANs are in most cases less expensive to install and maintain than wired networks

Designing a wireless network to fully realize these benefits, however, requires in-depth understanding of the 802.11n protocol as well as the full range of off-the-shelf wireless products available today. For example, while 802.11n is rated at a much higher top speed than 802.11g (600 Mbps versus 54 Mbps), achieving that speed requires multiple data streams—in other words, both the routers and the user devices need to have several antennas. As more employees rely on wireless access, more confident information moves over the wireless LAN, necessitating much more robust security such as wireless intrusion detection systems (WIDS), wireless firewalls, and virtual private networks (VPNs).

TorreyPoint has the expertise to install—or upgrade—your 802.11n wireless LAN.

Based on our experience with a number of high-complexity wireless deployments, TorreyPoint has developed a methodology for evaluating and specifying the right wireless configuration. Our process considers factors such as:

• Coverage: Determine the area where access is needed and the number of concurrent users.
• Scalability: Build out additional capacity at the aggregation points to allow for expansion and extension of coverage.
• Connectivity: Assess the optimal connection points between the wireless and wired networks.
• Security: Audit the organization’s threat landscape and the potential risks of information loss, and design a security subsystem that provides adequate protection.
• Management: Develop a knowledge transfer and training plan to ensure that the in-house IT group knows how to manage and maintain the wireless network using industry best practices.
  

The wireless LAN is no longer an afterthought, but a vital part of your communication infrastructure. TorreyPoint can help you achieve the high level of wireless operations that the organization needs—without overburdening the IT staff.