2THIS CHAPTER COVERS THE EXAM OBJECTIVE “PLAN SECURITY FOR WIRELESS NETWORKS

4.2

This chapter covers the exam objective “Plan security for wireless networks.” As broad asthat topic might seem, the focus of wireless network security is on measures that can beemployed once the wireless connection has been made.The sections that follow describe indetail how wireless clients are managed through Group Policy, how they authenticate, andhow network traffic is encrypted and monitored.

Using Group Policy for Wireless Networks

One of the new features of Windows Server 2003 is the integration of wireless networkconfiguration to Group Policy.Wireless Network (IEEE 802.11) Policy can be defined forthe entire domain, individual OUs, domain controllers, and individual computer accounts.As shown in Figure 9.7, within the Group Policy module of MMC,Wireless NetworkPolicy is located at [Group Policy Target (Domain, Domain Controllers,Organizational Unit)] | Computer Configuration | Windows Settings | SecuritySettings | Wireless Network (IEEE 802.11) Policies.

Figure 9.7

Managing Wireless Network Configuration Through Group PolicyThis might sound ridiculously obvious, but there are no default settings for WirelessNetwork Policies until you’ve created a Wireless Network Policy by clicking WirelessNetwork (IEEE 802.11) Policies, right-clicking anywhere in the right pane of theMMC window, and left-clicking Create Wireless Network Policyin the context menu,as demonstrated in Figure 9.8.This series of steps launches the Wireless Network Policywizard to create a Wireless Network Policy with default settings.

Figure 9.8

Creating a New Wireless Network PolicyThe Wireless Network Policy Wizard creates a generic policy and prompts you tospecify a name for it. All other configuration and customization can be performed later, asexplained in the Welcome screen shown in Figure 9.9.

Figure 9.9

Launching the Wireless Network Policy Wizard