Wireless network security specialist AirMagnet, which became part of Fluke Networks in August this year, has announced a new version of AirMagnet Enterprise specifically designed to help drive 802.11n network deployments, management and security. The tool allows network managers both to troubleshoot 802.11n networks and to optimize their performance.
Dedicated monitoring has now become standard practice among enterprise WLAN operators, to enable them to detect complex attacks from hackers. Ensuring security has become a serious problem as network users increasingly send sensitive data such as credit card information over WLAN networks, and the integrity of the networks has become 'mission critical'. At the same time the explosion of consumer WiFi devices means that friendly devices need to be readily recognised and allowed onto the network, without compromising the ability to detect rogue devices.
Most WLAN security toolsets are essentially passive, simply telling network managers of the existence of a network problem. The new version of AirMagnet Enterprise provides advanced WLAN security and management capability by not only notifying managers of a problem, but also giving them the hands-on tools and detailed guidance to allow them to solve real-world problems. 802.11n connection optimization tools in AirMagnet Enterprise allow the user to look into any AP-client connection and immediately see how it can be improved to maximize throughput and performance, and to see in real-time how actual 11n performance compares to the best-case theoretical scenario for a particular connection or device configuration
AirMagnet Enterprise now features full 11n support, and includes the latest generation of intelligent sensors, which include hardware-accelerated spectrum analysis. The new 5200 series of SmartEdge sensors come in two hardware form factors – a version with external antennas, and a version with internal antennas with a sleek design that allows them to blend in with their environment. The new sensors are fully backward compatible with all previous sensor accessories, including mounting brackets and power options, ensuring a simple update process for existing AirMagnet customers looking to migrate to 11n sensors.
AirMagnet's intelligence engine, AirWise, has been enhanced to provide expert 802.11n guidance, a new policy builder sandbox and 40 new security and performance alarms, covering threats like KARMA, the SkyJack vulnerability (first discovered by AirMagnet), TKIP vulnerabilities, denial of service (DoS) techniques including MDK Destruction Mode, 11n-specific issues and much more. Administrators can set conditional thresholds for these alarms, target notification on a per-user basis and assign individual preferences including email, pager, IM, SMS, print, etc.
"The 11n standard – just recently ratified by the IEEE – provides a framework that makes high performance wireless networks possible. However, much of that potential can easily go untapped if network managers do not understand how to leverage 11n in a unique AP and client environment," said Chia-Chee Kuan, VP of engineering at AirMagnet.
"IT organizations need tools that help them take a proactive and comprehensive approach to ensuring overall network health if they want to achieve true 24x7 safety and reliability of the WLAN," he added. "That means visibility into every device, from every vendor, and over every 802.11 standard and part of the spectrum. AirMagnet has designed the architecture of the new Enterprise to easily integrate all this new information around 11n so network managers can easily deploy, secure and manage the ongoing performance associated with this new standard."
