Even before the much-hyped
WiMax
wide area wireless networking gets off the ground experts are warning of
security issues affecting the technology.
Analyst firm
ABI
Research noted that, contrary to many users' expectations, WiMax does have
"a number of security vulnerabilities".
"They say that if you don't learn from the past, you are doomed to repeat it,
" said ABI vice president Stan Schatt.
"Early Wi-Fi consumers enjoyed a false sense of security until there were
some well-publicised hacking exploits.
"The
WiMax
Forum has emphasised how much more secure WiMax is than early Wi-Fi. As a
result, there may be WiMax customers who are similarly lulled into a false sense
of security."
Schatt warned that the flaws should begin to show themselves once the first
big WiMax rollouts begin.
Gaps in WiMax security fall into three categories: user terminals; intrusion
detection; and connectivity service networks. User terminals will need
encryption acceleration to handle AES processing demands.
In addition, access service networks at the edge of WiMax networks offer the
ideal place for vendors to add intrusion detection and protection software and
hardware.
The ABI report stated: "Connectivity service networks, as part of carrier
back offices, will require stateful firewall software or robust firewall
appliances, as well as additional Radius servers to handle the extra load
imposed by roaming clients on WiMax authentication."
The study added that, with the exception of a few large corporations such as
Motoro
la,
Nortel and
Alcatel,
few WiMax vendors have the internal expertise to fill all these gaps.
However, ABI noted that this lack of security support leaves the field open
for smaller specialised developers to create and supply solutions.
"To some extent, WiMax security specialists will attempt to sell solutions
directly to end-users," said Schatt.
"But the lesson learned from Wi-Fi is that these products are most attractive
to customers when tightly integrated. So most WiMax security solutions will be
offered through partnerships with WiMax equipment vendors.
"Like the early prospectors in the California gold rush, WiMax vendors may or
may not strike it rich.
"But, like the merchants who sold miners their picks, shovels and necessary
supplies, the providers of WiMax security tools - companies such as
Cavium
Networks,
AirTight
Networks and
Redline
Communications - will almost certainly prosper."
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