Wi-Fi Network Security: 5 Essential Tips for Business

With these tips, you can enjoy Wi-Fi productivity, mobility, and security

These days, free Wi-Fi for employees and customers is essential for every business to remain competitive, but equally as important is your Wi-Fi network security.

The mobility and productivity boost a wireless network provides are undeniable, and these days, vital. But Wi-Fi is also a proven attack vector for hackers, making Wi-Fi security for business critically important to the integrity of your wireless network. Is it possible to provide Wi-Fi but also securely lock your wireless network?  The short answer is “yes” assuming it is deployed correctly.

Here are 5 best practices for workplace Wi-Fi network security

• Change the default login credentials

Wi-Fi devices will come with default login credentials to allow you to initially configure your device for your network. These credentials represent a major security risk as they rarely differ between devices. Anyone with a list of default credentials can log on to your Wi-Fi devices if they haven’t been changed. Perhaps most concerning is the fact that these credentials can be easily found online.

Bottom line: change your default login credentials for optimal Wi-Fi network security.

• Keep guest Wi-Fi separate from the rest of your network

Most businesses provide a guest Wi-Fi network for visitors or staff to access with their own devices. It’s important to separate guest Wi-Fi networks from the rest of your network. Segmenting with firewalls also helps ramp up the defenses between your sensitive data and potential external breaches.

• Use a virtual private network or VPN

A VPN provides additional Wi-Fi security for businesses. A VPN will hide all of the connection details of PCs and devices on your network, making it significantly harder for hackers to find a flaw in your defenses.

Using a VPN is especially important for businesses such as hotels, coffee shops, and other shared Wi-Fi locations.

• Enable WPA2 encryption

If your Wi-Fi network is not encrypted, the data being transferred over it is open to external parties. And that’s worrisome when it comes to Wi-Fi network security.

As a business, it’s a given that the data transferred over your network will be sensitive. Your data includes customer data, payroll information, emails and so much more. By enabling WPA2 encryption on your network, your data will be scrambled as its transmitted. As a result, anyone ‘listening in’ will be unable to exploit the data.

• Stay on top of updates

Your Wi-Fi device should receive firmware updates regularly to improve performance and, more importantly, patch any potential security issues. Unfortunately, many businesses put these updates on the back burner as the installation processes and necessary reboots are bothersome.

However, the inconvenience of updates pales in comparison to the risks of having a vulnerable Wi-Fi network.

Need help with Wi-Fi network security for business?

Wi-Fi is vital to your business and chances are your customers love it too. But it’s important to remember that it comes with some critical risks to your network. Being proactive and vigilant with the best practices for Wi-Fi security for business can help you reap both benefits and peace of mind.

Need help with Wi-Fi network security for your workplace? Locknet Managed IT offers essential Wi-Fi network security for businesses as part of our Blockade® product suite. Contact a Locknet Account Executive today, at 844-365-4968.