The Benefits of Wireless Networks

It seems these days that wireless networks are everywhere.With Wi-Fi capabilities built into most new laptop computers, and with relatively inexpensive network adapter cards, Wi-Fi is within reach of most PC users.

The freedom and benefits of an un-tethered connection to your network are very compelling:

• Create your network when wiring isn’t practical. Many office and warehouse spaces find it very difficult or impossible to lay wire for networking. Wi-Fi is a cost-effective and convenient alternative to a wired network.
• Expand your network with no additional wiring costs. This is especially beneficial in home offices that aren’t pre-wired for Ethernet, or for small businesses that are rapidly expanding, or frequently reconfiguring their office layouts.
• Information at your fingertips anywhere you work. The ability to access your e-mail, the Internet, and network-based applications in a conference room or another office gives you additional degrees of productivity and convenience.
• Doctors can carry patient records on a laptop or tablet PC to each exam room and stay connected all the time.
• Lawyers can bring their lap tops into depositions and conferences and fact check or access networked data instantly.
• Project members can collaborate in team meetings each with instant information available across the wireless network to accelerate decisions with immediately available information.
• Wireless at home means delivers the ability to work anywhere in the house, or deck. The ability to be around your family when you’re catching up on e-mails is truly convenient.

Beware the Dark Side

Despite the benefits, there is a dark side to wireless. Without the proper security measures in place, your business and personal information can easily be retrieved over the wireless network. With a $100 directional antenna and free software available on the internet, hackers can access your network traffic and PC data from as far as a mile away.

In June 2004, a world-wide “war drive” event among the hacker community uncovered over 230,000 wireless networks and posted their positions on the Internet. A startling 61.6% of all the networks they surveyed had no security whatsoever, and the majority of the other networks had the weakest form of security that can be cracked in under 15 minutes.

Wireless Security has tremendous benefits, especially when secured and properly managed. Pay attention to the security and gain the benefits without the risks.