The security in Enterasys’ wireless switch system

Enterasys this week introduced the RoamAbout wireless switch system - with access points, a wireless switch and management software. The system has several interesting capabilities.

You can get details on the wireless switch, plus more on a stackable switch Enterasys is introducing and other vendors’ newest products in our Interop preview, written by Network World’s Phil Hochmuth:
http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2005/042505-interop.html?nl

I’d like to focus on several capabilities of the wireless switch system that Enterasys touts to address security concerns, which top the list of IT managers’ concerns when it comes to wireless.

The first is Acceptable Use Policy, where network managers can implement policies that affect individual devices or users, based on their roles. This is a way for authorized users to access what they need to while preventing access to information they don’t need. A key feature is that it works whether a user is connected via the wired network or via WLAN.

Another capability is Dynamic Intrusion Response - by the name, you can infer that the technology reacts in real time to threats to your network. This feature has been around in Enterasys products since last year:
http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0223enterasys.html?nl

In the new system, DIR can detect rogue access points and disable the network ports connecting to them. Its role in the new system is to detect security threats on the wireless side before they can affect the wired side.

Lastly, there is Trusted End-System, which prevents any computer that might be infected with a virus - or that might be vulnerable to outside threats - from connecting to the network.

On a related note, WLAN security is a tricky thing - the practices that were thought to be best a couple of years ago may not be anymore,  and that means IT managers have to stay current. Joel Snyder points this out in his column this week that could be a real eye-opener:
http://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2005/042505snyder.html?nl