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Cisco Beefs Up Wireless LAN Security |
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Written by Adam Gosling
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Monday, 19 February 2007 |
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The need to meet Regulatory Requirements for Network Security has led Cisco to unveil a new wireless solution that sees business critical
applications and data better secured on corporate WLANs. The Cisco Secure Wireless Solution brings Self-Defending Network capabilities to the WiFi World.
Organizations which have to meet stringent government
regulations are in need of a more reliable wireless infrastructure and Cisco says its latest and greatest is a significant milestone toward that end.
The Cisco Secure Wireless Solution is an architectural design that
builds on the Self Defending Network framework bringing together a Cisco
Unified Wireless Network and one of Cisco's NAC
Appliances and some other features to deliver IT
administrators "a comprehensive set of advanced security features
for their wireless LANs".
"Truly integrated wired and wireless network security is a No. 1
requirement for our customers as they move toward pervasive wireless
networks," said Brett Galloway, vice president and general manager of
Cisco's Wireless Networking Business Unit.
"Today's Secure Wireless
Solution takes that fear factor away by mitigating network threats and
allowing a business to realize wireless-enabled mobility benefits
without compromising regulatory compliance," he said.
Cisco's new Secure Wireless Solution supports the following applications:
- Unified wired and wireless intrusion detection (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) by way of inspecting traffic flow for harmful applications and blocking malicious client access at the physical layer before network connection can occur;
- Comprehensive client validation, posture assessment and remediation for wireless users, which helps ensure wireless clients are up to date with the latest security policies and which mitigates the spread of viruses from uncontrolled wireless networks;
- Single sign-on capabilities and 802.1X integration that provides for integrated encryption of wireless client applications and streamlined password management control;
- Integrated firewall services for guest access, which helps business provide non-employees and contractors with access to the Internet, while protecting the company's network;
- Host intrusion prevention, which prevents wireless clients from being exploited as a bridge into the network and helps protect clients from suspect content and potential hackers;
- Rogue detection and containment to proactively help eliminate potential wireless threats from ad hoc client associations and rogue access points.
"With the Cisco Unified Wireless Solution, we have built a best of
breed security architecture," said Erik Parker, certified information
systems security professional and senior wireless infrastructure
analyst of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
"The security features are
an included functionality in our Cisco powered enterprise class
wireless network and greatly reduce the total cost of ownership for
maintaining a secure wireless LAN."
Business and Security Compliance Provided by Cisco Secure Wireless Solution
Protecting sensitive business and customer data is the driving force
behind the latest regulatory requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA and
PCI.
For publicly traded companies, Sarbanes-Oxley requires that
companies maintain internal control structures and procedures, and
HIPAA requires safeguards to ensure integrity and maintained
confidentiality of patient information. With the Cisco Secure Wireless
Solution, companies and healthcare providers can deploy pervasive
wireless, knowing that they are meeting these requirements.
Likewise, for retailers, the PCI standard requires that any merchant
that uses payment cards must build and maintain a secure network,
protect and encrypt cardholder data, and regularly monitor and test its
network.
PCI compliance is accomplished with the Cisco Self-Defending Network, providing retailers a superior end-to-end wired and wireless solution.
Go here for more information about Cisco Wireless security.
www.cisco.com
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