[December 6, 2002]

Newbury Networks Delivers Location-Enabled Security Application For 802.11-Based WLANs

Newbury Networks announced WiFi Watchdog security solution for wireless LAN (WLAN) implementations. WiFi Watchdog is a non-intrusive, server-based application that seamlessly works with any standard WLAN implementation to detect the location of all 802.11b traffic within range of the network, identifying both unknown devices and rogue access points, provisioning network access and alerting administrators to specific intrusion attempts

The new security solution is the latest addition to the Newbury Networks packaged application family of location-enabled network solutions. WiFi Watchdog works in conjunction with Newbury's LocaleServer -- the first of its kind application management platform for enabling a new breed of applications that leverage locations and services available to those running on 802.11-based WLANs, and Newbury's LocalePoints -- the industry's first WiFi monitoring devices (access points) for passively detecting all 802.11b traffic regardless of manufacturer or channel.

"One of the greatest challenges of deploying WLANs within the enterprise setting has been the IT staffs' inability to determine where and when WiFi network activity is occurring," said Michael Maggio, president and CEO for Newbury Networks. "WiFi Watchdog leverages our industry leading location-enabled technology to overcome this challenge. It enables organizations to immediately identify and cut-off any and all unauthorized use by intruders."

"Wireless LANs are quickly gaining widespread popularity with our customers throughout many vertical markets," said Joe Batista, Director and Chief Creatologist, Hewlett-Packard. "However, companies inherent concerns about security risks are limiting 802.11-based WLANs from reaching more mainstream enterprise markets such as healthcare, federal agencies and traditional corporate campuses. Newbury Networks is addressing this problem head-on with a unique solution to detect WLAN vulnerabilities before an attacker can exploit them. These capabilities, combined with Newbury's industry leading location enabled technology provide a significant value proposition that enterprise clients need to entertain."

WiFi Watchdog's key features include the following:

• Live Monitoring -- WiFi Watchdog is equipped with a real time "dashboard" to help IT professionals visualize all user or device traffic. This provides unprecedented security capabilities by first pinpointing potential unknown users' physical locations to facilitate granting or denying access based on their profiles.
• Intrusion Detection System --Whenever a device or user is identified in a WLAN environment, WiFi Watchdog immediately determines if it's an unknown "intruder." Once this intruder is flagged, WiFi Watchdog automatically triggers an alert containing the location, device information and MAC address to the network or system administrator to take action.
• Rogue Access Point Detection -- Using similar identification patterns from the Intrusion Detection System, WiFi Watchdog helps IT professionals quickly and easily locate and target rogue APs -- a key source of WLAN security breaches -- down to exactly where they reside in or outside the building.
• Path and Pattern Reporting -- WiFi Watchdog includes useful reporting and analysis tools to assist IT professionals in identifying patterns highlighting unsecured areas, strangers or undesirable guests all by location over a WLAN.
• Open, Standards-Based Architecture -- WiFi Watchdog integrates and leverages existing network and system infrastructures such as application and proxy servers, firewalls, operating systems and databases.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]