Plan, Set and then Go

Wireless networks are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among
enterprises. But realizing the potential benefits of wireless technology
requires careful planning, and this planning is an important phase in the
network lifecycle.

Because many enterprise organizations are more familiar with traditional
network infrastructures than with wireless, they should focus on six vital
areas: availability, capacity, reliability, manageability, scalability, and
security.

Availability and Capacity: If mobile users cannot connect to the network at
will, then they are likely to abandon the very wireless tools that might have
otherwise increased their productivity. To avert such problems, it is
recommended that enterprises limit wireless coverage to target areas. This
allows intended users to get fast, transparent, secure access to the network
while preventing access in connected areas such as parking lots or nearby homes
and businesses.

Reliability: Wireless networks present certain challenges that organizations
do not face with traditional wired infrastructures. For instance, the very
nature of a wireless network means that maintaining or extending coverage areas
and blocking sources of access interference can be problematic in certain
locations. By proactively addressing such challenges enterprises can avoid such
performance problems.

Planning: The critical phase in Network Lifecycle

One significant factor that is often overlooked or inadequately considered is
that enterprise-class wireless networks are not as simple to deploy as home
wireless networks. This can result in connectivity problems related to laptop
and security profile configuration errors or performance problems related to
enterprise platform and security requirements.

Manageability challenges: Wireless networks are more challenging to manage
than wired networks because the former tend to require more network nodes,
device types, network types, and network layers.

Careful network management planning-integrating wireless network management
into existing processes, developing or modifying operational processes to meet
the needs of a wireless environment, and so on-can help enterprises maintain
optimal network health, control costs, and effectively manage large numbers of
nodes, devices, and networks.

Scalability and security: Given the expense involved in creating a wireless
network, enterprise organizations must consider the critical issues of
scalability and security early in the lifecycle. For example, by proactively
ensuring that the hardware-switches, number of access points, etc-have
sufficient capacity to support new users, organizations can grow their networks,
without the need for the expensive and time-consuming redesign efforts.

Enterprises must work to create a robust security architecture that balances
user friendliness with strict user, device, and network security rules. The
security measures, however, should be appropriate to the given environment-implementing
an excessive security model that unnecessarily increases client configuration
and support expenses might actually raise the total cost of ownership.

Gary B Moore, senior VP,
Cisco Advanced Services