All enterprise wireless LAN solutions offer this capability as an option, but this option has little value because the SSID can be easily discovered during an association attempt. Many wireless LAN security documents suggest that sending beacons without the SSID is a security best practice, to help prevent potential hackers from learning the SSID. This allows the wireless LAN clients to choose a network to try to associate with. The primary purpose of the beacon is to allow wireless LAN clients to know what networks are available in the area.
The wireless LAN beacon frame contains configuration information about the access point, such as the SSID (service set identifier or the network name), the supported bit rates, and the security configuration for that wireless LAN.
These new security enhancements address the enterprise requirements for confidential communications through the use of authentication and encryption. The 802.11 standard initially had security flaws that were resolved with the introduction of the 802.11i standard update. WEP is the initial security mechanism specified in the original 802.11 standard and was superseded by the 802.11i standard update. The chapter focuses on Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2, but also briefly covers the older Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) feature. This section is intended for system administrators planning an enterprise wireless LAN deployment and provides an overview of the main 802.11 security features currently available. Regulation, Standards, and Industry Certifications.This chapter provides an overview of the 802.11 network security features and contains these sections: Regulation, Standards, and Industry Certifications