Description

4 credit/unit hours – Four hours of lecture weekly; one term

This course introduces the learner to the fundamentals of securing wireless networks. Students focus on creating and implementing an organization’s enforceable security policies by following applicable regulations, standards, and accepted effective practices. Students also identify and mitigate threats to the wireless network. Lastly, learners use various tools and procedures to ensure the ongoing security of the network.

This course also helps prepare students for the Certified Wireless Security Professional (CWSP) certification exam (CWSP-206).

Updated: May 30, 2024

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course the learner will be able to:

  • Describe the various approaches used by attackers to compromise wireless networks;
  • Define wireless local area network (WLAN) security requirements;
  • Design a secure wireless local area network (WLAN);
  • Select and implement appropriate encryption solutions;
  • Implement a wireless monitoring solution;
  • Implement authentication services;
  • Describe and perform risk analysis and risk mitigation procedures; and
  • Discuss security life cycle management.

Main Topics

1.0 Security Policy

  • Define WLAN security Requirement
    • Evaluate and incorporate business, technical, and applicable regulatory policies (for example, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GPDR)
    • Involve appropriate stakeholders
    • Review client devices and applications
    • Review WLAN infrastructure devices
  • Develop WLAN security policies
    • Translate security requirements to high-level policy statements
    • Write policies conforming to common practices including definitions of enforcement and constraint specification
    • Ensure appropriate approval and support for all policies
    • Implement security policy lifecycle management
  • Ensure proper training is administered for all stakeholders related to security policies and ongoing security awareness

2.0 Vulnerabilities, Threats, and Attacks

  • Identify potential vulnerabilities and threats to determine the impact on the WLAN and supporting systems and verify, mitigate, and remediate them
    • Use information sources to identify the latest vulnerabilities related to a WLAN including online repositories containing CVEs
    • Determine the risk and impact of identified vulnerabilities
    • Select appropriate actions to mitigate threats exposed by vulnerabilities
      • Review and adjust device configurations to ensure conformance with security policy
      • Implement appropriate code modifications, patches and upgrades
      • Quarantine unrepaired/compromised systems
      • Examine logs and network traffic where applicable
    • Describe and detect possible, common WLAN attacks including eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle, cracking, phishing, and social engineering attacks
    • Implement penetration testing procedures to identify weaknesses in the WLAN
      • Use appropriate penetration testing processes including scope definition, information gathering, scanning, attack, and documentation procedures
      • Select and use penetration testing tools including project documentation, scanners, hardware tools, Kali Linux, protocol analyzers, WLAN auditing tools (software and hardware)
    • Implement network monitoring to identify attacks and potential vulnerabilities
      • Use appropriate tools for network monitoring including centralized monitoring, distributed monitoring, and Security Information Event Management (SIEM) systems
      • Implement mobile (temporary), integrated and overlay WIPS solutions to monitor security events
  • Describe and perform risk analysis and risk mitigation procedures
    • Asset management
    • Risk Ratings
    • Loss expectancy calculations 2.2.4 Develop risk management plans for WLANs
    • Develop risk management plans for WLANs

3.0 WLAN Security Design and Architecture

  • Select the appropriate security solution for a given implementation and ensure it is installed and configured according to policy requirements
    • Select and implement appropriate authentication solutions
      • WPA/WPA2-Personal (Pre-Shared Key)
      • WPA/WPA2-Enterprise
      • WPA3-SAE and 192-Bit enterprise security
      • 802.1X/EAP
    • Understand the capabilities of EAP methods including EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, PEAP, EAP-FAST, EAP-SIM, and EAP-GTC
    • Guest access authentication
  • Select and implement appropriate encryption solutions
    • Encryption methods and concepts
    • TKIP/RC4
    • CCMP/AES
    • SAE and 192-bit security
    • OWE
    • Virtual Private Network (VPN)
  • Select and implement wireless monitoring solutions
    • Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS) – overlay and integrated
    • Laptop-based monitoring with protocol and spectrum analyzers
  • Understand and explain 802.11 Authentication and Key Management (AKM) components and processes
    • Encryption keys and key hierarchies
    • Handshakes and exchanges (4-way, SAE, OWE)
    • Pre-shared keys
    • Pre-RSNA security (WEP and 802.11 Shared Key authentication)
    • TSN security
    • RSN security
    • WPA, WPA2, and WPA3
  • Implement or recommend appropriate wired security configurations to support the WLAN
    • Physical port security in Ethernet switches
    • Network segmentation, VLANs, and layered security solutions
    • Tunneling protocols and connections
    • Access Control Lists (ACLs)
    • Firewalls
  • Implement authentication and security services
    • Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
    • Certificate Authorities (CAs)
    • AAA Servers
    • Client onboarding
    • Network Access Control (NAC)
    • BYOD and MDM
  • Implement secure transitioning (roaming) solutions
    • 802.11r Fast BSS Transition (FT)
    • Opportunistic Key Caching (OKC)
    • Pre-Shared Key (PSK) – standard and per-user
  • Secure public access and/or open networks
    • Guest access
    • Peer-to-peer connectivity
    • Captive portals
    • Hotspot 2.0/Passpoint
  • Implement preventative measures required for common vulnerabilities associated with wireless infrastructure devices and avoid weak security solutions
    • Weak/default passwords
    • Misconfiguration
    • Firmware/software updates
    • HTTP-based administration interface access
    • Telnet-based administration interface access
    • Older SNMP protocols such as SNMPv1 and SNMPv2

4.0 Security Life Cycle Management

  • Understand and implement management within the security lifecycle of identify, assess, protect, and monitor
    • Identify technologies being introduced to the WLAN
    • Assess security requirements for new technologies
    • Implement appropriate protective measures for new technologies and validate the security of the measures
    • Monitor and audit the new technologies for security compliance (Security Information Event Management (SIEM), portable audits, intrastructure-based audits, WIPS/WIDS)
  • Use effective change management procedures including documentation, approval, and notifications
  • Use information from monitoring solutions for load observation and forecasting of future requirements to comply with security policy
  • Implement appropriate maintenance procedures including license management, software/code upgrades, and configuration management
  • Implement effective auditing procedures to perform audits, analyze results, and generate reports
    • User interviews
    • Vulnerability scans
    • Reviewing access controls
    • Penetration testing
    • System log analysis
    • Report findings to management and support professionals as appropriate