[July 5, 2000]

3Com Introduces Layer 3 Wireless LAN Security Solution

3Com Corporation announced a simple yet powerful solution for securing data transmitted over a wireless local area network (LAN). The company's wireless secure tunneling solution adds seamless Layer 3 tunneling, authentication and encryption to the 3Com AirConnect 11Mbps Wireless LAN to address the needs of commercial customers who must deliver secure wireless connectivity to hundreds or thousands of users.

Protecting against data interception and theft has long been a concern of corporate wireless LAN customers. Some vendors have attempted to solve pieces of the security puzzle with Layer 2 encryption and access control techniques that are difficult to implement and manage. In contrast, 3Com's wireless secure tunneling offers a simple and scaleable Layer 3 solution that seamlessly integrates wireless LAN security into a company's existing network infrastructure.

3Com's solution works in conjunction with a company's existing remote access management systems -- such as RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) and MPPE (Microsoft Point to Point Encryption) support built-in to today's leading operating systems.

By implementing the 3Com SuperStack II Router 400 between the wired network infrastructure and wireless LAN workgroups, and enabling MPPE on wireless workstations, customers can deliver robust, secure access for mobile workers. Wireless LAN users simply log-on to the wireless network just as they would during dial-up remote access. Authenticated against the company's RADIUS database in a matter of seconds, the user's data is encrypted between the PC and the SuperStack II Router.

"Security is not only an essential element of wired networking, but will be a crucial factor to the widespread commercial adoption of wireless LANs," said Paul Fulton, vice president and general manager of 3Com's Wireless Connectivity Division. "3Com's network security and wireless expertise led to the industry's most comprehensive security solution, providing customers with the most simple and scaleable way to add wireless LAN security to the corporate network without the headaches of creating brand-new security systems."

Network managers will enjoy the seamless management and scalability of 3Com's wireless security solution. Each SuperStack II Router 400 supports up to 256 simultaneous secure Layer 3 tunnels, enabling IT managers to support hundreds of wireless users without significant investments of time or money. Since the system uses existing security infrastructure, companies can easily manage the authorization of both dial-up remote access and in-building wireless LAN users with the same familiar tools.

3Com's solution extends and enhances the security that already exists in its AirConnect Wireless LAN. The AirConnect solution currently features Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) -- a standards-based Layer 2 encryption technique that secures data transmitted between wireless access points and PCs -- as well as access control using wireless network card (MAC layer) addresses. While WEP is adequate for smaller wireless installations, it is not sufficiently scaleable to meet the security needs of large corporate networks.

However, 3Com's wireless secure tunneling solution has significant advantages for businesses with hundreds or thousands of network users spread across multiple buildings. First, Layer 3 tunneling utilizes private keys that are automatically negotiated and frequently changed, rather than manually-entered shared keys as supported by WEP. Secondly, 3Com's solution provides better security management than access control schemes based on MAC addresses. Such techniques force IT managers to create and manage additional databases to link usernames to client devices -- lists that mush be updated anytime a client card is damaged, lost or stolen. Instead, 3Com's security solution utilizes the username/password facilities that already exist on the network to automatically manage secure communications.

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