Many corporates are reluctant to entrust their sensitive information to wireless LANs (WLANs), mainly because of concerns surrounding the security of their data protection, user authentication, and unauthorised intrusions, explains business unit manager for ProCurve Networking by HP, Lorna Hardie.
"Added to this is the often contradictory information about the rapidly developing WLAN market segment; a market that is flooded by products and differing WLAN technologies," she explains.
"A further point of concern is navigating the confusing marketplace of numerous vendors, many of whom are not supported by trusted brands, offering warranties and full back-up services."
Hardie believes that most corporates are not well informed about their WLAN set-ups. "WLANs have for the most part not operated in union with wired networks, and corporates have been left to their own devices as they often purchase a WLAN and a wired LAN as two separate 'tracks', even though they can and should work in tandem with each other," says Hardie.
With the continuing trend towards mobile workforces, an increasing number of organisations are beginning to rely on their WLANs even though they have wired LANs, she says. Companies are starting to be more particular about security, ease of deployment, session persistence, quality of service and, most importantly, ease of management, she adds.
"Today's organisations need an approach to network infrastructure that can significantly boost their ability to compete effectively in the face of rapid change. These networks need to be adaptive to users, applications and organisations, fortifying security, increasing productivity and reducing complexity across the organisation," explains Hardie.
She believes it is important to ensure all organisations' needs are securely met by a series of mobility offerings that unify wired and wireless networking in ways not previously possible.
"This holistic approach would enable an organisation to manage all its mobility options consistently with one another, as well as with wired network solutions. Most companies need secured access control, which will make it easier to deploy and centrally manage a secure, yet flexible, multi-service network that can lead to better return on IT investment.
"Open standards, strengthened by industry-leading warranties and robust service and support, allow organisations to adapt easily to changing needs, and incorporate future applications into the same infrastructure. Integrating the wired LAN with a WLAN needn't be a mammoth and costly task. Combining both networks should be a 'plug-and-play' affair, with simple installation, deployment and scalability," concludes Hardie.
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