A Look at Wireless Networking

Abstract
Over the last several years technology has continued to evolve and grow exponentially. The need for wired and wireless networks has become vital in both individuals lives and in the work environment. There are several factors to consider when discussing wired and wireless technologies such as hardware requirements and security measures needed to ensure a secure network. Wireless network trends are now offering new technology such as cloud computing and simply being able to work from anywhere you want. As you read on you will understand the benefits of wireless technology in our personal lives and in work situations.

A Look at Wireless Networking
Many organizations such as universities, retail centers and your own office depend on the ability to share information in an efficient and useful way. Nowadays networks are an integral part of almost every business and in your own personal life. There are two options for setting up a network — wired and wireless. A wired network uses cables to connect to a computer and a wireless network uses radio frequencies to connect to a computer. The components required to set up a wired or wireless network are somewhat similar with a wireless network needing a few additional pieces.
Wireless networks are allowing individuals and businesses to become more mobile. For example, people are able to work from home these days and can have a better work-life balance. Businesses such as Starbucks, Tim Horton’s and McDonalds now all have free wireless access trying to add value to their customer’s experience. It is important to recognize that with all the benefits of wireless networks and the convenience they offer, there is always security and privacy risks to be taken into consideration. As this paper progresses you will learn how wireless networks have become a crucial component to your life and organizations these days and security risks you should be aware of.
Standards for Wireless Technologies
Wireless networks, as the name suggests, allows a user to connect devices without cables. Instead, a wireless network uses radio frequency waves. In the 1990’s an organization called IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) began to develop industry standards for wireless products. The 802.11 standard can be broken down in to four different types — 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n. The difference between each generation lies in the frequency that they operate on and the speed or bandwidth in which they operate. As newer products are created, they are tested to make sure that they are compatible with previous products that operate on the same frequency. 802.11b would be considered the slowest, operating on a 2.4 GHz frequency and transmitting data at a rate of up to 11Mbps. The 802.11a operates on a 5 GHz frequency with the 802.11g operating on a 2.4 GHz, both being able to transmit data at a rate of 54 Mbps. The newest and fastest standard of 802.11n can transmit data up to 450 Mbps and can operate on both of the previous frequencies mentioned. You may choose which frequency you wish to operate on. (Discover and Learn | Wi-Fi Alliance. n.d.) Taking these standards into consideration, you will sometimes run into issues that may slow down your actual transmission speeds. For example, if within your home network you are operating several computers, gaming consoles or streaming content from your computer to your TV, you will notice a slower connection.
Wired vs. Wireless Networks
The main difference between these two types of networks is that one uses radio frequencies to operate (wireless) and the other uses a hard connection by using network cables (wired). Wired networks offer faster and more secure connections. You can argue that wireless networks are less secure and transmission speeds can be compromised from physical barriers or the number of devices connected to the network. If you have several computers and other Wi-Fi devices such as smartphones, tablets or gaming consoles connected to the network all at once, you will experience slow connection speeds. I know from my own experience that wired networks will have a faster connection. My home wireless network was set up by my ISP, Telus, with my computer and modem using the latest 802.11n technology. I was noticing that while connected to the wireless network, my home computer was not getting the transmission speeds I would expect from this technology. After Telus came back to inspect my setup, it was determined that physical barriers such as the concrete walls in the apartment building may contribute to interference. I was then set up with a wired connection for my computer only to be able to maximize the technology. I still have the wireless network set up to be able to utilize my Wi-Fi devices such as my iPhone and iPad. As you can see one technology isn’t necessarily better than the other, it depends what works for you in your own situation. In my case, a hybrid of wired and wireless is best.
Cost
Some people may be considerate of the cost of each technology. I am fortunate enough for Telus to provide all the products required to set up my networks. If you don’t have an ISP that provides you with the products you need, you will want to be aware that wired networks are generally less expensive than wireless. Wired networks utilize inexpensive Ethernet cables. Wireless technology is a bit more costly. As new 802.11 products become available, the previous standard products will drop in price considerably. A quick look at any electronic store has wireless routers available from $10-$200, depending on the performance you are looking for. Wireless adaptor cards can be found for under $50. Wired routers are available from around $15-50, depending if you are looking for a broadband router. Simple wired cards can be found for under $30.
Flexibility
Wireless networks have the advantage of mobility. Most people have laptops nowadays and you don’t have to be limited to being secured to a wall with an Ethernet cable. You are able to move freely within the range of the wireless network. Unless you are able to have Ethernet cables built into the walls, you are unfortunately going to have to deal with the unsightly and messy looking Ethernet cables. Many businesses may have existing wired networks and can expand using wireless technology without physically disturbing the office. You can re-configure wireless networks more easily and can expand into other areas of an office such as a reception/lobby area or conference room.
Wireless Network Security
When utilizing a wireless network, you will want to be aware of security risks and ways to mitigate security issues. Whether your home or office network, personal and critical information is stored on your devices and is at risk of being compromised. The first step you should take to secure your wireless network is to employ an access control such as a password. All Wi-fi products support encryption controls. Encryption scrambles and then decodes messages sent over wireless networks so they can’t be easily read by humans. You should be aware that connecting to open Wi-Fi networks can put you at a security risk since you don’t know what measures have been take to protect the connection. Wired networks have a security advantage for the simple reason that no one can monitor your traffic like a wireless network or piggyback on your connection.
Wireless Benefits, Trends in Business and Personal Use
General Office Benefits
More businesses are finding ways to integrate wireless technology in daily operations to benefit both the employee and customer. I believe the main benefit of wireless technology is you are rarely out of touch. You simply need a device like a laptop or smartphone and you can become instantly connected. No need to carry around cables on a business trip and have to worry about making a hard connection. Before wireless technology gained the popularity that it has, employees were limited to doing their jobs from the office. When employees are out of town on business or out in the field productivity is not being maximized. Employees with a laptop, smartphone, tablet or any other wireless devices are able to connect to their work instantly which saves time, and in the end saves money and increases productivity. You are then able to dedicate more time to the client in the end. Physically, wireless networks have a better advantage in the workplace. If you need to re-configure space and add new users or move desks this can be done easily compared to a wired infrastructure.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is a wireless trend that is starting to fast emerge on the technology scene. The new Apple iCloud would be the most known form of cloud computing right now. Many people have several Apple devices, computer, iPad, iPhone iTouch — they can all be connected using iCloud. I can take a picture on my iPhone and it will automatically connect wirelessly to the cloud and sync and appear on all my other apple devices without having to plug my iPhone into the computer to transfer the picture. I can share music, documents, photos etc. with all my devices. iCloud saves the hassle of keeping each device up-to-date separately and can give you the peace of mind knowing your data is backed up.
Another cloud computing application I have recently become acquainted with is Dropbox. Dropbox is also a form of cloud computing and can be installed on any device you want. When you place a file in the Dropbox folder, it automatically appears on any device. You can also give authority to other people with Dropbox to view certain folders within your own box. I can share pictures easily with family and friends. Some applications now have Dropbox integrated; a good example would be the Blackboard application. I have the Blackboard app installed on both my iPhone and iPad, I can then download any course material whether power point or word documents into my Dropbox and have them appear on my devices as well as my computer which I also have Dropbox installed on. It saves the hassle from having to transfer a file to a USB stick to move files to different devices. It’s also very handy to have my iPad in class with course material available at my fingertips. Dropbox has also been helpful to me at work. I have a client who is a land developer and I handle the sale of the individual lots to builders. There are hundreds of lots that I need to have a separate file open for each one. Instead of wasting time asking the client for documents such as the Lot Purchase Agreements, I was simply given access to their Dropbox folder with all documents related to each builder and each lot. This saves both of us time and has increased my productivity immensely.
There are some great benefits to cloud computing, but users will want to be aware of security risks. Any data travelling between your device and the cloud is at risk of being compromised if you are using a shared network. You should evaluate what kind of data you are storing in the cloud; you may want to re-think storing sensitive information. Dropbox was recently hacked and a small number of users began receiving spam mail. Since those attacks, Dropbox did a thorough investigation and implemented new security measures such as a new page on your home screen that lets you see recent activity on your account and two-factor authentication. (Kerr, D. 2012, July 31)
The cloud computing trend will no doubt increase tremendously over the next few years. Everything you could want will be available at your hands instantaneously but you will want to educate yourself on the security risks cloud computing faces.
Benefits in the Food, Tourism and Health Industries
Wi-Fi is fast becoming a standard service that customers expect from many businesses. If you want to encourage customers to continue to do business with you, free Wi-Fi is a must. Personally, I take note of what establishments offer free Wi-Fi, especially when travelling. When cell phone providers charge so much for international data roaming, I’m more inclined to find a free Wi-Fi hotspot — my go-to place is Starbucks. I can easily use m iPhone or iPad to keep connected with family and friends. I can also usually count on a mall having free Wi-Fi which is a good strategy to lure customers in. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, City Hall has set a standard for food outlets to have free Wi-Fi for customers. When applying for a licence to open a new food establishment, the owner must agree to provide Wi-Fi for free or for a reasonable fee. (Said, H. 2012, January 2) Another large industry in which Wi-Fi is becoming a standard is the hotel industry. When I travel and need to book a hotel, I always check if the hotel has Wi-Fi. This past April I was in Mexico for my friend Dan’s wedding. His sister was unable to be there because she was nine months pregnant. Because the hotel had Wi-Fi, I was able to use my iPhone to FaceTime his sister and she was then able to watch the wedding in real time which was invaluable to them. With websites like www.tripadvisor.com, Facebook and Twitter pages, I was able to leave positive feedback and tell my experience and gave others the idea to do the same thing for their destination weddings.
Besides tourism, another industry I came across that the wireless revolution is affecting is health care. I came across an article in the Wall Street Journal that discussed new wireless trends in the health field. The article discusses how the smartphone has and will continue to shape the industry. Windslow’s interview (2012) found the following:
You can get an add-on to a smartphone which does eye refraction and then texts the prescription to get your glasses made. If you’re an optometrist, you might be worried about that. You will be able to take a DNA sequence on a USB port and pop it into your smartphone and get data out of it. (R.7)
The possibilities in the medical field are going to be endless. Using apps and tools to gather your own information before an appointment can speed the process along when patient wait times are unbearably long. In the future Dr. Topol predicts that many appointments will be done in person anymore, but rather by FaceTime or Skype from the comfort of your own home. (The Wall Street Journal
Being connected to the Internet is second nature for most of us these days. Businesses must keep up with this trend to stay relevant and keep the customer coming back.

References

Discover and Learn | Wi-Fi Alliance. (n.d.). Wi-Fi Alliance. Retrieved from http://www.wifi.org/discover-and-learn
Said, H. (2012, January 2). Eateries to offer Wi-Fi service in April - Central. New Straits Times. Retrieved from http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/eateries-to-offer-wi-fi-service-in-april-1.26479
Winslow, R. (2012, Apr 16). Innovations in health care (A special report) --- the wireless revolution hits medicine: Eric Topol talks about the upheaval that's coming as the digitization of health care meets the smartphone. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1000397473?accountid=1343
Kerr, D. (2012, July 31). Dropbox confirms it was hacked, offers users help | Security & Privacy - CNET News. Technology News - CNET News. Retrieved October 28, 2012, from http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57483998-83/dropbox-confirms-it-was-hacked-offers-users-help/