Sonicwall Sonicpoint Ideal Solution For High-performance Business Class Wireless Networks

By Author: Ki Grinsing
Total Articles: 82
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SonicWALL SonicPoint-N Access Point Devices meet all the security requirements you need in implementing the wireless networks in your businesses. Supports dual-band Exceptional Wireless Performance with business class features including WPA/WPA2, SSL VPN, Wireless Intrusion Detection Services (WIDS), wireless firewalling, secure Layer 3 wireless roaming, and integrated Wireless Guest Services (WGS).

Implementing wireless access in business class networks needs a thorough risk assessment regarding the security issues that may arise. This is reasonable since, unlike wired security which is physically secured, wireless networks are not confined to the inside of buildings. Wireless security is inherently easier to crack than wired networks because there's no need for a physical connection to your network. Data transfer occurs over the airwaves, and that makes accessing it easier.

Firewall with the intrusion detection systems are typically deployed in each of the perimeter networks which face direct to the internet. Firewalls control the flow of traffic between the private networks and the un-trusted / public networks. ...
... All the traffic from the public networks are controlled, authenticated, filtered, and logged according to the policies set.

In traditional wireless access points, generally the wireless connection is protected by the latest industrial security encryption Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2). Any traffic which is successfully authenticated will flow to the private networks no matter whether the traffic contains harmful packets or not. Business / corporate networks require strong security protection for all the traffic flow from both wired and wireless connections. Wireless traffic must also be controlled and treated in the same way as those wired traffic by such kind of firewall and even filtered by such kind of intrusion detection system. Therefore, business class wireless networks need special wireless access point devices which are specifically designed with strong security in mind. Consider SonicWALL SonicPoint-N.

What this Product Does

SonicWALL SonicPoint-N Access Point Devices are designed with business class features with strong security protection. SonicWALL SonicPoint-N Access Point devices are powered by the latest wireless industrial standard 802.11n with dual-band technology to support either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency bands, and are compatible with 802.11b/g legacy clients.

Combined with the multiple-input multiple-out (MIMO) technology that applies multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver, the SonicWALL SonicPoint enhances throughput and reliability. The APs support 40 MHz channel bonding and packet aggregation to support physical data rates of up to 300 Mbps.

Business Class Security Features

Like other wireless access point devices, SonicWALL SonicPoint-N supports industrial wireless security WPA/WPA2 and also WEP to support legacy clients. And to support your business class networks, the SonicWALL SonicPoint features wireless Intrusion Detection Services (WIDS), wireless firewalling and secure Layer 3 wireless roaming to allow all the wireless traffic to be controlled and filtered based on the security policy sets.

Not just that, SonicWALL SonicPoint-N integrates Wireless Guest Services (WGS) to allow you create security boundary to enforce password access for customers and other third-party guests. With this WGS feature, you can provide wireless guest Internet access through the auto-generation of guest accounts without compromising the integrity of your private network. And with the VAP (Virtual Access Point) features, you can enable up to 8 SSIDs to provide logical segmentation of secure wireless network traffic and secure customer access while sharing the same physical infrastructure. Users can roam from one SonicPoint to another SonicPoint while maintaining secure access to your complete wireless networks.

Flexible Deployment

Deployment is very flexible; you can deploy easily even without the availability of the power outlet because the device supports the 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE). Options include 3 removable external antennas with optional TNC connectors to support other 802.11 wireless antennas; wall or ceiling mounting.

If you have already deployed any types of SonicWALL security appliances such as TZ Series, NSA or E-Class NSA series, you can centrally administer the SonicWALL SonicPoint with them without pre-configuration. And the good thing is that the system can detect and identify any rogue access points on either the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands.

SonicWALL SonicPoint devices are ideal solution for implementing wireless networks in businesses when you demand high-performance networks and business class strong security features based on the security policy set.

By Ki Grinsing

Ki Grinsing was graduated from technical college (ITS-Surabaya) and with the additions of MCSE and CCNA professional certifications, he has prolonged years of working experiences in IT projects. Please visit SonicWALL SonicPoint and TZ-100 network security appliance