Let’s move to the most advanced level of network security so that you will know how to protect your machines and data, albeit, you might not be willing to implement the maximum protection.
WPA and WPA2 encryption configuration
WPA and WPA2 encryption are configured typically in the same way. With these two, it may appear filled with options, but effectively you can set them up in two ways, one WPA/WPA2 which is Personal/Pre-shared key (PSK) or Enterprise. For WPA/WPA2 personal is the most common solution for small, home networks. For enterprise, that is way more complex and requires extra equipment and is only used in the most serious and secure wireless networks.
With the personal option selected, you may find some sub-selections such as Mixed mode, which is a WPA-2 encrypted WAP that supports WPA. You may see PSK ( Pre-Shared Key ) or just the personal in the configuration options. If you have the option to choose the WPA2 encryption for the WAP as well as the NICs in your network, straight of your choose the option and stay with maximum guard.
Advanced security for networks
Enterprise level WPA2 settings meaning you are required to enable authentication by using RADIUS server. Big businesses need advanced security than a single network-wide password can offer. For such large business security often require individual users to log in with their own credentials.
Wherever only a user name and password is used to implement security is called a single-factor authentication. This is because both of them are something you know. More advanced authentication implementation requires more robust solution like Multifactor Authentication systems which require your face, fingerprint or other ways to verify yourself.
Establishing the most powerful security for your networks
To setup such heavy security, the networks uses authentication protocols like RADIUS and TACACS+ to verify and authenticate each users with a dedicated authentication server. RADIUS stands for Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) and TACACS+ Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System Plus (TACACS+) are protocols for authenticating networks users and managing what resources they have access to. RADIUS is generally partly encrypted and uses UDP protocol ( User Datagram Protocol) whereas, TACACS+ is completely encrypted and uses only TCP ( Transmission Control Protocol).
This method especially using TACACS+ is extremely useful for larger business operation and provide heavy security. With this method implemented, business will allow only people with the proper credentials to connect to their WiFi networks. Generally, for the home users, personal version of WPA3/2/A is good enough. Always ensure you use the best encryption available.
For home networks, you just simply leave the channel and frequency of your WAP’s factory default. Yet, if you have an environment with overlapping WiFi signals, you want to adjust one or both of the frequency and channels. You Should find the configuration for these available in your WAP’s web application.
With all of these settings, you are good to go and deploy a heavy layered security for home or enterprise level wireless networking environment.