What Is Enterprise Wi-Fi, and Does Your Business Need It?
About Symmetry Electronics
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics, a Division of Braemac, is a global distributor of electronic components and systems. Combining premier components and comprehensive value-added services with an expert in-house engineering team, Symmetry supports engineers in the design, development, and deployment of a broad range of connected technologies.
Exponential Technology Group Member
Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is a proud Exponential Technology Group (XTG) member. A collection of specialty semiconductor distributors and engineering design firms, XTG stands alongside industry leaders TTI Inc., Mouser Electronics, and Sager Electronics. Together, we provide a united global supply chain solution with the shared mission of simplifying engineering, offering affordable technologies, and assisting engineers in accelerating time to market. For more information about XTG, visit www.xponentialgroup.com.
Is your business Wi-Fi secure? You might think that using a randomly generated passkey for your network is enough to deter data compromise. But what about all those who already have the passcode, like clients, guests, or past employees?
A simple solution might be to change the passkey. But if this was done every time someone left the building, employees will have a difficult time keeping track of what the new passkey is.
We’ll be going over the basics of WPA2-Enterprise, the solution for business-suitable Wi-Fi. Keep on reading to find out what WPA2-Enterprise is, and whether WPA2-Enterprise is right for you.
But first, what is WPA2-PSK?
Also known as WPA2-PSK (pre-shared key), WPA2-Personal is what you would find installed for most homes, where users of the network are trusted individuals. This type of network works well in private settings, but using this type of network in a public setting, like the office, will inevitably lead to a large number of users with the passkey.
Don’t be mistaken, WPA2 is very safe, and using personal Wi-Fi for your business does not make you an easy target for hackers to break into your network. In fact, with WPA2 protocol the standard for most networks and with the Wi-Fi Alliance announcing the release of the WPA3, Wi-Fi is more secure than ever against malicious attacks.
A WPA2-Personal network, however, lacks an important part of security that WPA2-Enterprise provides: authentication. No company wants to leave the security of their online data up to chance, and Enterprise Class Wi-Fi brings that peace of mind to the table.
WPA2- Enterprise lets you know WHO is trying to connect
WPA2-802.1X, often referred to as WPA2-Enterprise, differentiates itself from WPA2-Personal by introducing a process of authentication. Rather than using a simple passkey to access the network, users must use a form of authorization specific to that user. This can come in the form of a username and password, or through a signed certificate on your computer.
By authenticating each user that connects to your network, you can distinguish who each user is and control who has access.
So, do you need WPA2-802.1X? Well, it depends.
Deploying a WPA2-Enterprise solution does require a RADIUS server, which is often the obstacle that many small businesses face. If you run a small office that primarily consists of close friends and family, then an enterprise solution may not be necessary.
Otherwise, if you need to know WHO is connecting to your network and want to stop former employees from accessing the network after they leave the company, then a WPA2-Enterprise solution would help you accomplish just that.
For more articles on wireless and technology, check out a few of our other blog posts:
The Future of Medical Technology – Part 5: Wi-Fi Modules
Bluetooth 5 versus Bluetooth 4.2, what’s the difference?
Tech 101 from Symmetry Electronics: What is IoT?
Tech 101 from Symmetry Electronics: What is Zigbee?
About Symmetry Electronics
Established in 1998, Symmetry Electronics, a Division of Braemac, is a global distributor of electronic components and systems. Combining premier components and comprehensive value-added services with an expert in-house engineering team, Symmetry supports engineers in the design, development, and deployment of a broad range of connected technologies.
Exponential Technology Group Member
Acquired by Berkshire Hathaway company TTI, Inc. in 2017, Symmetry Electronics is a proud Exponential Technology Group (XTG) member. A collection of specialty semiconductor distributors and engineering design firms, XTG stands alongside industry leaders TTI Inc., Mouser Electronics, and Sager Electronics. Together, we provide a united global supply chain solution with the shared mission of simplifying engineering, offering affordable technologies, and assisting engineers in accelerating time to market. For more information about XTG, visit www.xponentialgroup.com.