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6
System Configuration
Security
Client Support
Mechanism
WPA over
Requires WPA-enabled
802.1x Mode
system and network card
driver
(native support provided in
Windows XP)
WPA PSK
Requires WPA-enabled
Mode
system and network card
driver
(native support provided in
Windows XP)
Although a WEP static key is not needed for WEP over 802.1x, WPA over
Note:
802.1x, and WPA PSK modes, you must enable WEP encryption through the
web or CLI in order to enable all types of encryption in the access point.
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
WEP provides a basic level of security, preventing unauthorized access to the
network and encrypting data transmitted between wireless clients and the access
point. WEP uses static shared keys (fixed-length hexadecimal or alphanumeric
strings) that are manually distributed to all clients that want to use the network.
WEP is the security protocol initially specified in the IEEE 802.11 standard for
wireless communications. Unfortunately, WEP has been found to be seriously
flawed and cannot be recommended for a high level of network security. For more
robust wireless security, the access point provides Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
for improved data encryption and user authentication.
6-50
Implementation Considerations
• Provides robust security in WPA-only
mode (i.e., WPA clients only)
• Offers support for legacy WEP clients, but
with increased security risk (i.e., WEP
authentication keys disabled)
• Requires configured RADIUS server
• 802.1x EAP type may require
management of digital certificates for
clients and server
• Provides good security in small networks
• Requires manual management of
pre-shared key
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