Securing Wireless with Cisco WLC

 January 2007 · Reading time: 6 minutes

In early 2007, securing enterprise wireless deployments became a top priority as more users depended on mobility. Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (WLC) brought significant advancements by centralizing management and security enforcement.

Centralized Control

Unlike autonomous APs, Cisco WLCs offer a controller-based architecture that simplifies policy enforcement and reduces configuration errors. All APs connected to a WLC inherit consistent settings for SSID, VLAN mappings, QoS, and security.

802.1X and Dynamic VLANs

WLCs work seamlessly with RADIUS servers to enforce 802.1X authentication, enabling per-user access policies. Dynamic VLAN assignment allows for user-based segmentation based on group membership or device type.

Wireless IDS and Rogue Detection

Built-in Wireless Intrusion Detection Systems (WIDS) in the WLC allow real-time detection of rogue APs and anomalous behavior. Administrators can define containment policies to automatically neutralize unauthorized devices.

Encryption and Integrity

Support for WPA2 with AES encryption ensures strong data confidentiality. Cisco's CCX extensions allow enhanced client capabilities like fast roaming, CCKM, and context-aware access control.

Eduardo Wnorowski is a technology consultant focused on network and infrastructure. He shares practical insights from the field for engineers and architects.