Wireless Security Architecture Planner

What Is Wireless Security Planning

Wireless security planning designs the authentication, encryption, and access control framework for Wi-Fi networks to protect against unauthorized access, eavesdropping, and network-based attacks. As wireless networks have become the primary connectivity method for most organizations, securing them is as critical as securing wired infrastructure — but more challenging because radio signals extend beyond physical boundaries.

A wireless security plan addresses protocol selection (WPA3, WPA2-Enterprise), authentication architecture (802.1X, RADIUS), network segmentation (guest, corporate, IoT), and monitoring for rogue access points and wireless attacks.

Wireless Security Protocols

Protocol	Encryption	Authentication	Security Level	Status
WEP	RC4 (broken)	Open/Shared Key	None — crackable in minutes	Deprecated, never use
WPA	TKIP (weak)	PSK or 802.1X	Low — TKIP vulnerabilities	Deprecated
WPA2-Personal	AES-CCMP	Pre-Shared Key (PSK)	Medium — PSK can be cracked offline	Acceptable for home/small office
WPA2-Enterprise	AES-CCMP	802.1X (RADIUS)	High — per-user authentication	Recommended for organizations
WPA3-Personal	AES-CCMP	SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals)	High — resistant to offline attacks	Recommended when supported
WPA3-Enterprise	AES-256-GCMP	802.1X with 192-bit security	Very High — CNSA-aligned	Recommended for high security

Network Segmentation Strategy

Network	Purpose	Security Controls
Corporate	Employee devices with full network access	WPA2/3-Enterprise, 802.1X, certificate auth, NAC
Guest	Visitor Internet access only	WPA2-Personal or captive portal, isolated VLAN, no internal access
IoT/OT	Cameras, sensors, building systems	Dedicated VLAN, MAC filtering, no Internet access unless required
BYOD	Personal employee devices	Separate SSID, limited access, MDM enrollment required

Common Use Cases

• New office deployment: Design a comprehensive wireless security architecture for a new facility, including AP placement, SSID strategy, and authentication infrastructure
• Security upgrade: Migrate from WPA2-Personal (shared password) to WPA2/3-Enterprise (per-user authentication) with RADIUS integration
• Guest network design: Create a secure guest Wi-Fi network that provides Internet access without exposing internal resources
• IoT security: Design isolated wireless networks for IoT devices that cannot support enterprise authentication
• Compliance requirements: Plan wireless security that meets PCI DSS (Requirement 4.1), HIPAA, or CMMC wireless requirements

Best Practices

1. Use WPA2-Enterprise or WPA3 minimum — Pre-shared keys (WPA2-Personal) should only be used for home networks. Enterprise environments should use 802.1X authentication with RADIUS.
2. Segment wireless networks — Never put guest, IoT, and corporate devices on the same network. Use VLANs and firewall rules to enforce separation.
3. Disable WPS — Wi-Fi Protected Setup has known vulnerabilities that allow PIN brute-forcing. Disable WPS on all access points.
4. Monitor for rogue APs — Regularly scan for unauthorized access points that could provide backdoor access to your network. Use Wireless Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (WIDS/WIPS).
5. Rotate PSKs regularly — If any network uses pre-shared keys, rotate them quarterly and whenever an employee with knowledge of the key departs. Better yet, migrate to 802.1X.