This chapter covers
- Applying the CIA triad to wireless communications
- Authenticating wireless LAN clients before allowing them to communicate
- Maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of communications in a wireless LAN
- The WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 security certification programs
Imagine that you are in a room full of people. You have to communicate a private message to your friend on the other side of the room, but all you can do is shout at the top of your lungs. Basically, that’s how communication in a wireless LAN works. Security is a major concern in all networks, but the unbounded nature of the medium means that securing communications in wireless LANs is even more critical.
In this chapter, we will take a high-level overview of wireless LAN security concerns and solutions, covering CCNA exam topic 5.9: Describe wireless security protocols (WPA, WPA2, and WPA3). WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access—a set of security certification programs developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance. To earn “Wi-Fi Certified” status, devices must comply with WPA’s standards. We will first examine the various elements of wireless LAN security and then see how they all fit together in WPA, WPA2, and WPA3.