WLAN Security Market Heats Up With Product Launches

The already competitive wireless local area network (WLAN) security market heated up with product launches from Highwall Technologies and AirTight Networks. Highwall announced the release of the latest version of its Enterprise WLAN security management solution, and AirTight followed with the launch of a new Wi-Fi network security appliance.

Highwall Enterprise 3.0 includes improved wireless monitoring hardware linked to a centralized management application that can keep track of an unlimited number of antennas and monitors. In the new version, the user interface provides a snapshot displaying potential security risks right across an enterprise WLAN. Enterprise 3.0 also offers visibility across multiple networks and premises to allow users to address security risks wherever they appear.

"Few companies have the time or resources to chase rogue access points or troubleshoot performance issues with a handheld solution," Highwall CEO Rich Swier said in a statement. "Highwall Enterprise 3.0 simplifies the deployment and management of a wireless monitoring solution by employing smarter and more powerful sensors that communicate with a centrally-managed software platform for a better response against wireless threats and exposures."

AirTight's recently released SpectraGuard WLAN security appliance provides threat detection and notification and takes a pro-active approach to network security by scanning the user's airspace in real-time and automatically classifying devices as authorized or unauthorized users based on their MAC addresses and advanced algorithms.

SpectraGuard assumes that unknown devices are unauthorized users until notified otherwise. According to AirTight chairman and CEO David King, this saves enterprises the hassle of responding to every individual access request in environments crowded with Wi-Fi networks. "If you're alerted to something on your neighbor's wireless network every 20 seconds, you're constantly being asked to deal with alerts that aren't your problem," King said in a statement. "We don't bother you with unnecessary alerts and alarms."SpectraGuard also includes AirTight's SpectraPlan mapping software that generates a digital diagram of a company's wireless network from information gathered by network sensors. SpectraPlan has been available up to now as a stand-alone application

Highwall Enterprise 3.0 is available now, with pricing starting at $4,995. Pricing for the AirTight SpectraGuard starter kit, including a policy management server and two sensors, starts at $7,500.