Security

The number one concern in the world of wireless enterprises is security. Wireless networks are one of the easiest to hack into and most security measures may not be adequate to prevent this intrusion. There are several vulnerabilities in the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) security features provided in the 802.11b standard. The goal of WEP is to provide data confidentiality in wireless networks at the same level as one that is wired. However, despite having well-known encryption mechanisms, namely the Ron’s Code 4 (RC4) cipher, WEP is vulnerable to attacks, both passive and active. This opens up the wireless network to malicious parties to eaves-drop and tamper with wireless transmissions. Key management and robust authentications are also open problems with the 802.11b security features. The IEEE is scheduled to release a more secure version of WEP in the near future.

Bluetooth comes equipped with security measures such as encryption and authentication, but these measures may not be very sophisticated for an enterprise environment. Organizations that have invested in a wireless network need a strong security solution today. One way to secure an enterprise infrastructure that includes a wireless network is to build it separate from the intranet, and set up a firewall to protect communications. Implementing a robust virtual private network (VPN) solution is also useful. The security features available with the VPN solution along with additional authentication, and access control features, secure the users whether they are on a wired or wireless network.

Enterprises must also ensure that all devices are virus free and that they do not act as carriers of malicious code. Access to the network from mobile devices must be authenticated, and only authorized users should be allowed access.

Management

Like a wired network, the infrastructure that supports a wireless network also needs to be managed. Some of the components that must be managed include access points, mobile devices, wireless application servers, and others.

Management of the network increases performance and allows the administration team to respond to issues quickly. Besides providing a real-time view of the wireless network, the management solution must also provide a future view, so that proactive measures can be taken to prevent problems before they occur.

Corporate assets need to be accounted for. Therefore, each mobile device should come under the eye of enterprise management. Automatic transfer of relevant information, applications, and updates (like the latest antivirus signatures) should be made possible. In addition, data on the mobile devices must be backed up without causing any impediment to normal processing, and must be automatically moved to the server unobtrusively when on a wired network.

It is important to understand that wireless systems do not operate in a vacuum; they integrate into the IT infrastructure. Therefore, management of the wireless infrastructure must be in the context of the overall enterprise infrastructure. Point solutions for wireless networks are unable to effectively integrate wireless management information without first monitoring the rest of the enterprise to promptly identify and resolve problems. Wireless management solutions must be integrated, comprehensive, and reliable.

Information Access

Enterprises with large data resources have volumes of untapped intelligence just waiting to be put to use. With a growing mobile workforce, it is essential to make this business intelligence available to them at their point of need and equip them to make profitable decisions. Mobile employees must also be able to access the business processes critical to their job function.

Enterprise portals provide a viable dissemination tool for organizations today. Wireless access to these portals is no longer a “nice-to-have” feature, but an absolute requirement. Organizations are also looking for ways to leverage legacy resources and make them available to mobile devices. With the emergence of Web services, the need for a reliable solution to extend applications to mobile devices is ever on the rise.

Return on Investments

As the demand for wireless support from the workforce grows, enterprises need to act quickly and provide the necessary services in order to promote success. For example, the Gartner Group predicts that more than 70% of mobile applications deployed at the start of 2004 will be obsolete by the end of 2004. Keeping this analysis in mind, it is important to make the right decisions to promote application longevity, while at the same time being open to new, improved solutions. For enterprises that are contemplating a mobile e-commerce strategy, the following points are worth considering:

1. Develop your mobile e-commerce strategy with an enterprise-wide focus.

2. Ensure your wired enterprise infrastructure is in order first.

3. Choose the right partner.

4. Anticipate change and be prepared to leverage new technologies