Business Challenges Addressed by Wireless Networking

Wireless networking addresses several challenges thanks to its inherent ability to allow network access without the hindrance of cables. The most obvious benefit is that areas considered for WLAN deployment do not require a cable run to each desk or print station. This is a major savings in time and effort. Moving cables and activating sockets is a considerable burden in any installation, office move, or reshuffle. With WLAN, there is no need to worry about cabling. You can put desks and network printers wherever you want. There is also a significant cost savings, particularly in new installations where the savings on Ethernet cables alone can be substantial.

Other important benefits respond to some less obvious business challenges. These benefits relate to the WLAN's ability to provide network access over a large area, which allows freedom of movement and unrestricted access to all areas within coverage. The challenge is to cover the whole workplace in such a way that users can roam from one area to another without dropping a signal or losing a session. This is very similar to the way mobile phone users can roam from one cell coverage area to another with a seamless radio handover of the call. The goal of IP mobility is to provide the ability to roam while maintaining network access anywhere on the premises and on any WLAN- (commonly referred to as Wi-Fi) enabled device.

Note : A Wi-Fi device is generally any device based on the IEEE 802.11 standard. But the term is often used to describe any WLAN-capable device (most of which are 802.11 compatible). The terms Wi-Fi and WLAN are often used interchangeably. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) develops global standards for a wide range of technologies. The 802 standard pertains to local area networks and the .11 extensions define standards for WLAN.

The benefit of this mobility is more obvious in some industries than in others. For example, in the retail sector, wireless-enabled tablets or smartphones allow shop-floor assistants to move about the store assisting customers while retaining an active mobile data and Internet connection. This gives them immediate access to stock information, prices, and all the relevant data they require anywhere in the store, greatly improving both efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Logistics is another example. In logistics, mobility makes stocktaking in large warehouses far easier, as workers have data entry and stock lists at their fingertips on tablets or smartphones. This ability to provide a data access connection anywhere, whether temporarily or permanently, makes Wi-Fi the perfect solution to data access and connectivity needs.

Moreover, WLAN and wireless access make communications more effective and provide workers with greater access to network resources while outside the office. Wi-Fi hotspots are commonplace. Combined with mobile phone technology such as 3G and the like, access is available practically anywhere, and for a wide range of devices from laptops to tablets to smartphones. Now employees can access and respond to e-mail or use network resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without having to go into the workplace. This may not be great for employees' work/life balance, but it's a big win for business productivity.

Along with productivity and efficiency improvements, wireless access makes possible improved collaboration, impromptu data sharing, and brainstorming sessions within informal groups. Typically, this would have required finding a suitable meeting room or free desk with the required number of network ports. (This alone might normally be enough to stall the initiative!) However, with WLAN technology, team members can simply find a free table nearby or in the cafeteria and use their laptop wireless connections.

Additionally, comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage in the workplace has made Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) a more efficient communication tool. Users are no longer restricted to a wired IP desk phone or fixed computer VoIP soft phone. With Wi-Fi access, an administrator can configure a user's smartphone as a VoIP internal extension phone. The IP private branch exchange (IP PBX) software can then track it as the user roams around the workplace. That way, the user will never miss an important call, whether internal or external. When the user steps outside the WLAN's boundaries, the IP PBX can automatically redirect calls to the user's mobile (cell) phone number.

These are some of the more obvious ways that WLANs remove barriers to effective communication, impromptu collaboration, and brainstorming sessions. This makes communication and innovation more efficient and effective within the workplace.

Certain aspects of WLANs that were once seen as security issues—namely the access control and authentication techniques found on all WLAN controllers (discussed later in this chapter)—have been robustly addressed and are now the envy of any fixed network administrator. By moving access control and configuration from the wireless access points to a central controller, vendors have given administrators much greater control over smaller pieces when creating, implementing, and administrating access and authentication policy. The result is that as the technology has matured, elements of wireless networking that network administrators once considered major drawbacks have become strengths.

 Taken from : Wireless and Mobile Device Security