| Many small businesses have considered connecting | | | | meters, wireless repeaters can be installed to |
| computers and other devices to their corporate | | | | boost the signal. These repeaters can also be |
| network via wireless (WiFi) connections, and a | | | | placed so that the wireless signals can be |
| brave few have actually done so. Many of these | | | | accessible from all corners of the building.Wireless |
| early networks required that wireless devices be | | | | Network Security SolvedInstalling a simple wireless |
| carefully placed within the building so that the | | | | network is pretty straightforward, but installing a |
| wireless signal reached all intended recipients. | | | | secure wireless network can be substantially |
| Typically, these networks lacked adequate | | | | more difficult. However, an Ann Arbor company |
| security features, which left them vulnerable to | | | | called Interlink Networks now offers their |
| information and resource theft by unauthorized | | | | LucidLink products, which make installing |
| persons. These two problems have now been | | | | comprehensive wireless network security a snap. |
| largely solved, meaning that it may be time for | | | | Before LucidLink became available, an organization |
| more small businesses to look into the potential | | | | wishing to lock down their wireless network would |
| advantages a wireless network can offer.Wireless | | | | need to hire expensive network security |
| Networking BasicsBuilding a wireless network | | | | consultants to install and manage the wireless |
| requires two distinct types of hardware | | | | portion of the network. LucidLink packages all of |
| components, wireless access points, and wireless | | | | this expertise into a software add-on that is so |
| access cards. The wireless access point is a | | | | easy to use that even a small company's office |
| device, which is attached to an existing computer | | | | manager can easily take control over who is |
| network via a standard Ethernet cable. It has an | | | | accessing the company network via wireless. It |
| antenna on it, which allows it to broadcast and | | | | goes above and beyond simple address |
| receive signals from PCs and other devices. Each | | | | authentication (standard with most wireless |
| device wishing to communicate with the access | | | | routers), and implements what is called a RADIUS |
| point needs a wireless access card, which also | | | | server. RADIUS servers are what large |
| contains an antenna. The current wireless | | | | organizations spend thousands of dollars installing |
| standard, called 802.11g, allows for up to 54 | | | | and maintaining in order to secure their large |
| megabits of data per second to be transmitted | | | | (1000+ node) wireless networks. Until now, |
| between the desired access point and the access | | | | installing a RADIUS server was out of the price |
| card. While not quite as fast as wired networks, | | | | range for all but the largest companies. In |
| which typically run at 100 megabits to 1000 | | | | contrast, LucidLink's product can be purchased for |
| megabits per second, wireless networks offer | | | | as little as $99 for a 3 user Home Office Edition, |
| more flexibility, and can be less expensive to | | | | $449 for a 10 user version, and goes up to |
| install. This is especially true for older buildings | | | | $3995 for a 250 user version.SummaryWhile |
| where installing cable can become cost | | | | there are still issues with making sure that all |
| prohibitive.Cutting CornersWireless networks use | | | | areas of a building are covered, the current WiFi |
| radio frequency waves to transmit information, | | | | standard (802.11g) has a more powerful signal, |
| and thus they are susceptible to being blocked by | | | | meaning less emphasis needs to be placed on the |
| walls and other obstructions in a building. These | | | | locations of attached devices. However, it is still |
| obstructions can cause "dead zones" where the | | | | recommended that a professional site survey be |
| radio waves are unable to reach their intended | | | | done to verify that all required areas of the |
| recipients. Microwave ovens and other radio | | | | building can be reached by the wireless signal. |
| frequency emitting devices can also wreak havoc | | | | Meanwhile, Interlink Networks has finally solved |
| on wireless signals. The solution is to place your | | | | the security problem at a price that is affordable |
| wireless access points strategically around your | | | | for small and medium sized business.Terrence A. |
| building so that interference is minimized. When | | | | Weadock is the President and Founder of |
| the distance from a wireless access point to the | | | | Dominant Systems Corporation, an Ann |
| wireless device is more than a few dozen | | | | Arbor-based computer network solutions provider. |