An appliance aimed at improving your network accessibility and performance, knowing how to manage a wireless access point (WAP) is crucial. That’s just the surface of what it focuses on, as it delivers a lot more support for your network overall.
It requires more than just installing it in the corner of your office. Factors like proper configuration, placement, and licensing are all crucial as well. In this article, you’ll get a straightforward understanding of WAPs, from setup to licensing.
Getting Started With Wireless Access Points
While tech specs in WAPs will vary depending on the model, how to set up wireless access points comes with some universal steps. You’ll start by focusing on the hardware itself and how you’re going to integrate it into your existing network infrastructure.
Here are a few important steps to getting set up with your WAP:
- Optimize your frequency and channels to help mitigate interference
- WAPs work best with a centralized placement that isn’t surrounded by many obstructions
- Helps to enhance network security through encryption and MAC filtering
- Firmware updates are common for access to the latest security features
- Flexibility with integrating one or more WAPs, depending on how much ground you need to cover
Investing in your first wireless access point can seem like a foreign idea if you’re new to network security. The truth is that sourcing a reliable WAP isn’t hard, but many people overlook how to manage a wireless access point.
How to Manage a Wireless Access Point
You can always customize how you approach managing your WAP, but there are also several angles you don’t want to overlook. Thankfully, most, if not all wireless access points come with an easy-to-use interface. From cloud-based to web-based platforms, you can easily tweak performance settings or configuration no matter where you are.
Other core aspects of WAP management include optimizing bandwidth control, regularly analyzing data usage, and adjusting performance settings. Like any other appliance in network security, they require a close eye for the long term.
Here’s a better look at what proper management looks like with a WAP from an all-encompassing view:
- Distribution and Configuration: Your access points should be placed in a centralized location that’s able to serve overall network requirements. Configuration considers business needs, the size and structure of the building, and any potential interferences. Finding an optimal location might take some trial and error.
- Security: It’s crucial for WAPs to be consistently monitored for security reasons, as well as identifying vulnerabilities. The last thing you want is your WAP to be the access point for a cybersecurity threat. Effective security protocols, such as WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3), can help with this.
- Usability: With the help of simple SSIDs (service set identifiers), multi-factor authentication, and load balancing, you can ensure everyone on the network has a seamless experience.
- Centralized Management: This is primarily important for organizations that manage more than one WAP. Through the help of a wireless LAN controller (WLC), businesses can manage every access point from a single interface.
- Expert Opinions: Working alongside IT teams can be very helpful in WAP management, but not every business has a dedicated team for this. It can be very advantageous to consult with industry experts on WAP technology to help point you and your business in the right direction.
Always make sure to keep your firmware up to date, and do your best to implement multi-layer security measures. This is especially true if you plan on working with a hybrid or remote workforce. Aside from managing the hardware itself, you’ll need the right license to reflect the needs of your operation.
Licensing for Your WAP
Generally offered in either one or three-year intervals, licenses are a must if you want the benefits of a top rated wireless access point. Remember that you’ll always have numerous models to choose from. The licensing that’s best for your business comes down to your network demands and what the WAP can bring to the table.
You also want to consider the different types of licenses that are available, depending on where you look. Some focus on cloud-managed services and features, while others are strictly for on-premise interactions only. Always read the fine print, and whichever license you decide to go with, make sure it has you covered on data compliance and regular updates. In the table below, you can get a look at some of the best wireless access points on the market.
| Manufacturer | License Type | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Fortinet | 24x7 FortiCare Contract | - One to five-year licenses - Cloud-managed WLAN options - Scalable for growing businesses - UTM protection - Wireless controller built into the FortiOS operating system |
| SonicWall | Secure cloud wi-fi management & support | - One and three-year licenses - Valid for one access point per license - 802.11ac Wave 2 support |
| WatchGuard | Standard and USP wi-fi management | - Native cloud management - 24/7 support - Diagnostics and inventory management - VPN configuration - Advanced PSA integration |
| Sophos | Access point support | - One-month to three-year licenses - 24/7 phone support - Unified oversight of all access points - Proactive updates - Limited lifetime warranty |
Of course, these aren’t the only options on the table, but they’re some of the easiest to integrate. Every manufacturer mentioned above has a wide variety of licenses available for WAPs. You simply have to compare your organization’s network requirements with the features in these licenses to find exactly what you need.
Let’s Wrap Up
WAPs are relatively easy to understand, but knowing which model is the perfect fit for your business is another challenge. Most people here aren’t interested in too much trial and error.
If you’re looking to get started with the right equipment from the jump, you might benefit from a little expertise. Come talk with our team at Firewalls to see how we can identify the best possible WAP model for your current network demands.
