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Wireless Networks
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Article 7: Wireless Considerations
When considering a wireless
network for your small business, balance gains
in productivity, long-term savings and
convenience against your immediate costs. And
don’t forget to factor in security.
Chances are, if your office has little exposure
to outsiders or visitors carrying laptops and
NIC-equipped handheld devices, your security
risks will be minimal. The WEP (Wireless
Equivalent Privacy) encryption built into most
state-of-the-art WLAN systems is adequate to
prevent snooping by amateurs.
On the other hand, if you have a high exposure
to outsiders, such as serving computer savvy
customers on your premises, you should be aware
that professional hackers could circumvent WEP.
You’ll want to make sure you have proper
safeguards. The good news is that additional
security software and access points with beefed
up security barriers are available. For strong
security, consider employing mechanisms like
virtual private networking (VPN).
The greatest attractions of WLANs are the ease
in setting them up and the ease of adding new
computers, handhelds or peripherals to the
network. Even relative computer novices should
find these tasks manageable. But if all you know
about computers is how to turn them on, consider
hiring a consultant to step you through the
basic how-tos.
If you expect to move or make changes to your
office often, a WLAN can definitely save money
and time. A WLAN is particularly cost effective
for someone using a notebook in more than one
location, such as back and forth from home to
office. But if you have little need for mobility
and simply want to network a printer to a few
desktop PCs, the less costly wired LAN may be
for you.
For companies that need real time access to
centralized databases like price lists or
product inventories, wireless networks are
great. Sales personnel equipped with handhelds
can quickly access data no matter where they may
be in the store or office. Warehouse settings
also benefit from mobile instant access, as do
dynamic businesses in which employees don’t have
dedicated workspaces, but need to communicate
quickly.
If your office is located in an older building
that requires extensive remodeling or otherwise
poses great difficulty for stringing wires
through walls and ceilings, wireless LANs are a
viable option.
The bottom line: Evaluate your needs in light of
what you gain and what you must give up, which
for the most part is a few more dollars than for
a wired network. Next, factor in how important
secure access is to your network, and whether
you’re willing to pay slightly more to move
beyond basic built-in encryption protection.
Finally, consider whether it may be better to
wait on inevitable refinements in wireless
networking before taking the plunge.
A less concrete consideration—but just as
important for many cutting-edge entrepreneurs—is
the “cool factor.” There is a certain status
associated with the newest technology. Remember
the first time you saw a broadband connection to
the Internet? Who among us didn’t long to
immediately trade in our dial-up modem for that?
Wireless networking can be impressive to
employees and customers. And besides, it’s
really cool.
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