WiFi security is a growing concern for enterprises, with Symantec reporting that 83% of all network attacks in 2020 occurred through WiFi. The SonicWall Cyber Threat Report also confirmed a 68% increase in enterprise attacks in 2020 compared to the previous year, and Ponemon Institute’s 2021 survey revealed that 82% of organizations reported at least one incident related to unprotected WiFi networks.
Passpoint has emerged as a crucial technology for addressing these challenges, providing encryption and authentication protection for users connecting through Hotspot 2.0-certified devices in vulnerable spaces like public-facing locations.
As such, network managers must prioritize the inclusion of Passpoint as a critical component of their overall WiFi security framework to effectively safeguard the enterprise networks against the significant threat posed by cyber attacks.
Introducing Passpoint
Passpoint is a Wi-Fi Alliance certification program that enables devices to authenticate and connect to WiFi networks automatically. It uses a set of standardized protocols and security mechanisms to ensure that devices can securely connect to WiFi networks without the need for user intervention. Passpoint is designed to provide a secure and seamless WiFi experience for users while also simplifying network management for IT teams.
Passpoint as foundational layer to a WiFi security framework
Authentication and access control mechanisms, encryption, and network segmentation are essential components of any WiFi security framework.
Passpoint uses EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) to provide strong authentication between devices and WiFi networks. EAP-TLS is the recommended authentication method for Passpoint, as it provides mutual authentication between the device and the network. Access control can be implemented using RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) servers, allowing network managers to define device authorization and access policies.
Passpoint also uses WPA2-Enterprise with AES encryption to ensure that data transmitted over the WiFi network is secure. WPA3 is the latest WiFi security standard that provides stronger encryption, but it has yet to be widely adopted. Network managers can implement additional security measures such as IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) to provide end-to-end encryption for data transmitted over the network.
Finally, Passpoint supports VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) and network virtualization, which allow network managers to segment the network into smaller zones for easier management and better security. This can also help to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and resources, limiting the potential impact of security incidents on the WiFi network.
Prioritizing WiFi security: the role of network managers
With the ever-growing risk of data breaches, network managers should make sure to include Passpoint-based capabilities into their WiFi security framework in a timely manner. Doing so can help decrease the possibility of malicious cyberattacks and ensure maximum protection for confidential information.
To effectively monitor and secure WiFi networks, network managers should utilize network management tools like Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). This can enable them to identify suspicious traffic patterns and potential security threats, detect rogue devices that could be used for attacks or eavesdropping, and quickly detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts on the network.
Network managers should also provide ongoing training and awareness campaigns for employees and users to make sure they’re aware of the risks involved with unsecured networks, as well as best practices when it comes to protecting devices and data from unwanted intrusions or malicious attacks – thereby reducing the incidence rate of security issues.
Getting started with a powerful WiFi security framework
With Passpoint technology, network managers have access to a comprehensive WiFi security framework. By embracing the benefits that this solution can bring, adopting powerful network management and monitoring tools, and increasing awareness of its capabilities among their staff and users, network managers can protect WiFi networks from malicious actors and mitigate data breaches.
Cloud4Wi provides a Passpoint-based solution that helps enterprises offer secure and seamless WiFi services across all their locations – without any additional workload for IT staff. Ready to power your WiFi security framework? Request a demo now
