Link to the home page.
Print from PDF version
Wireless Security Practices PDF Document
 

Wireless Security Practices

Picture of Wireless Laptops

How to Use This Document

This wireless document is a companion resource to Applying Security Practices to Justice Information Sharing (Applying Security Practices).  In most cases, the reference material in the Applying Security Practices document is relevant to the wireless perspective.

This wireless document contains expanded information regarding wireless overviews and guidelines for secure information sharing.  Additional content specifically relevant to wireless environments has been used to expand upon the information that was previously written for security disciplines that span the important elements of an information security architecture.  Only issues unique to wireless deployments have been addressed.

This document is not intended to suggest a standard security approach, nor is it intended to provide an in-depth security solution for any particular system.  It is also not intended to provide a detailed technical reference for system administrators. 

Many of these suggested practices are low-cost in that they require users to be educated about security practices and suggest awareness and evaluation of the security threat.  Other practices require capital investment and continued maintenance to ensure their effectiveness.  However, doing nothing can have unacceptable associated costs. 

Recognizing the trend of law enforcement to utilize commercially available wireless hardware, networks, and services, the Global Security Working Group (GSWG) will continue to identify security policies required to safeguard information in those environments. The policies encompass (but are not limited to) areas such as access control, audit and accountability, certification, accreditation, security assessments, identification, authentication, physical and environmental protection, system and communications protection, and system and information integrity. 

Current standard wireless technologies include (but are not limited to) IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20 (Mobile Broadband Wireless Access), microwave and satellite, IEEE 1451.5 (Wireless Sensor Standards), and third-generation mobile standards, such as TIA CDMA2000 1x (1xRTT), 1xEV-DO (1x Evolution-Data Optimized), and 1xED-DV (Evolution-Data/Voice).  Third-generation mobile and wireless technologies are being researched for security and vulnerability.