Enterprise WiFi is a secure and high-speed wireless network. It is built to meet the demands and needs of large businesses and enterprises. However, not all companies need to adopt it.
This article will explain everything you need to know about enterprise WiFi, including its benefits, key security measures, and alternatives on the market.
What Is Enterprise WIFI?
Enterprise WiFi is a type of internet infrastructure used in large businesses and organizations. It provides users with a secure, reliable connection, allowing them to access the WiFi network and other organizational resources. It also offers users a performing connection with high speeds and low latency.
Moreover, enterprise WiFi systems are designed to offer high scalability so that networks can expand in size as needed without compromising performance or reliability. Additionally, enterprise WiFi systems often include support for advanced management tools. These tools allow IT administrators to optimize the networks for maximum efficiency.
The Difference Between Consumer WiFi and Enterprise WiFi
Enterprise WiFi networks differ from consumer WiFi networks. The latter requires specialized hardware, robust security protocols, and an advanced network configuration. However, this type of WiFi infrastructure offers features that most people and small businesses do not need.
Additionally, enterprise WiFi networks are designed to be highly secure to protect proprietary data from unauthorized access or malicious attacks. In addition, enterprise solutions also provide additional features such as:
- Device management
- Guest access
- Mesh Network creation
- Analytics tools for monitoring network performance.
- Bandwidth management
- WiFi Network personalization
- Cloud integration
- Advanced authentication settings
Enterprise WiFi Key Requirements
When planning to implement an enterprise WiFi system, there are a few factors that are useful to consider and evaluate:
- Coverage: A robust and reliable signal is necessary throughout the coverage area. This might require using multiple access points or efficient network settings.
- Capacity: Your system needs enough network capacity to handle many devices and users. This might change depending on the hardware acquired or the provider you choose.
- Management: The enterprise WiFi system of choice has to offer tools to manage the network and troubleshoot issues quickly.
- Security: The enterprise network must offer security measures against unauthorized access and malicious attacks. This requires strong encryption, authentication methods, and frequent software updates.
With that said, which are the best enterprise WiFi solutions? Let’s have a look at a few options.
Best Enterprise WiFi Solutions
Finding the best enterprise WiFi solution for your company depends on several factors, including budget and network requirements.
When choosing a WiFi system for your business, you also have to consider the size of your organization and its specific needs. Larger companies may require more robust solutions that can handle multiple users and different types of devices.
Smaller organizations can get by with guest WiFi management software at lower costs. Additionally, you should consider any special requirements or features you might need. Think of security features like firewalls or advanced user authentication protocols.
Here are the best five enterprise WiFi solutions:
Enterprise WiFi Security Best Practice
With cybercrimes growing worldwide, network and data security have become a significant concern for businesses. In fact, companies are the favorite target of hackers because of the potential for profits. However, companies can do a few things to prevent and limit the attack risk.
Understanding the best practices for keeping an enterprise WiFi network security is essential. Here is a breakdown of the essential steps to secure your network and reduce your risk of becoming a victim of cybercrime.
Practice #1 for Securing Your Enterprise WiFi - Use a Vpn
A VPN is essential for enterprise WiFi security. It protects devices from external threats and offers protection when data travel across the network. This happens because the VPN creates a secure and encrypted connection between devices.
Using a VPN provides several advantages to companies. First, it encrypts all data transmitted over the network. Therefore, hackers cannot easily access sensitive information such as passwords. Additionally, a VPN helps maintain online anonymity by masking your IP address and location.
In simple terms, a VPN is a secure tunnel where data are encrypted, and the location is masqueraded. With such a tool, it will be harder for hackers to decrypt data and gather information for attacks.
Practice #2 for Securing Your Enterprise WiFi - Install a Firewall
A firewall is a critical tool for enterprise WiFi security. It is a barrier to protecting data from malicious actors and security threats. Firewalls use various technologies, such as packet filtering and application layer gateways, to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic. A firewall ensures that only authorized communication can go through.
Firewall configurations can be adjusted to suit specific security needs. For example, a firewall can be set to block a particular type of traffic based on IP addresses or ports.
A firewall can be software or a piece of hardware. However, contrary to a VPN, it requires technical skills to be implemented.
Practice #3 for Securing Your Enterprise WiFi - Upgrade Your Authentication System
Advanced authentication systems are an effective tool against cybercrime. To secure your enterprise WiFi, you cannot rely on passwords only. Moreover, even if passwords are secure, they can be stolen or lost.
To increase the security of your authentication systems, you should opt for two-factor authentication (2FA) systems. To log in to an account, 2FA requires users to provide a password and a code.
Sophisticated authentication systems also include other uncommon measures—for example, IP address verification or biometric authentication, including iris scans or fingerprint recognition.
Practice #4 for Securing Your Enterprise WiFi - Train Your Staff
Training your staff against common attacks is fundamental to keeping your network secure. As the most fragile element in an organization are employees, hackers often target people to gather permission over the network. Therefore, no matter how many tools and infrastructure you implement if your employees cannot recognize an attack.
Therefore, if you want to keep your enterprise WiFi network secure, provide training for your staff at any level.
How To Set up Enterprise WiFi
When setting up enterprise WiFi, things get more demanding than consumer WiFi. There are several actions to complete and manage.
First, you need to plan the deployment of the infrastructure. Therefore you want to define the coverage area and any other specific requirements. You must also purchase the necessary equipment (access points) to deploy the network.
After this phase, you can begin the actual process of deployment. This will include installing the access points throughout the area and configuring the hardware. The last step is setting up the network and customizing the settings.
Knowing that setting up an enterprise WiFi system can be complex is useful. It typically requires specialized knowledge and expertise. Hiring a professional or consulting the vendor may be a good idea if you are uncomfortable with these tasks.
Enterprise WiFi vs. Social WiFi Hotspot
Many business owners need help deciding whether they need enterprise WiFi or a simpler social WiFi hotspot. It all depends on your business needs, customer base, and operations you want to run.
Enterprise WiFi is an advanced solution that suits large businesses and corporations. It offers a solid and smooth WiFi connection within the corporate environment. Moreover, it provides businesses with a high level of security and reliability. The access points used in enterprise networks can also be managed remotely. Therefore, IT admins can monitor usage and quickly detect any potential threats in the system.
On the other hand, social WiFi hotspots are more cost-effective, easier to set up, and offer a variety of marketing automation. WiFi marketing software also comprehends network management features to create a safe environment for customers and employees.
With a WiFi marketing solution, you can:
- Build a list of contacts for email and SMS marketing
- Gather insights and reports on customers’ preferences
- Grow online ratings on local review sites
- Automate network security activities
- Managing your online reputation
All in all, enterprise solutions offer advanced features for network management but rarely provide marketing tools. Therefore, you might need to integrate your enterprise WiFi with a WiFi marketing solution.
Small and medium businesses, instead, can meet their needs with a social WiFi hotspot.
Do you want to learn more about guest WiFi management software? Have a look at Beambox.
Beambox is an all-in-one WiFi marketing solution that allows you to automate most marketing activities and secure your network. You can grow your online popularity while managing your network to provide a smooth internet experience to your customer.
Do you want to give it a try? Start your 30-day free trial today.
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