Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

Infineon Security Platform

Infineon Security Platform Solution

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)

With the Security Platform Solution you can protect the private keys of certificates used for WLANs (IEEE 802.11 EAP-TLS) and wired LANs (IEEE 802.1X EAP-TLS). This is done by using one of the Cryptographic Service Providers (CSP) included in the Security Platform Solution.

This topic focuses on WLANs.

Introduction to WLAN

A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) uses high-frequency radio waves rather than wires to communicate between nodes. WLANs do not require line of sight between sender and receiver. Wireless access points (base stations) are wired to an Ethernet network and transmit a radio frequency over a radius of some distance. Wireless LANs function like cell phone systems. In systems designed for office use, users can seamlessly roam between access points without dropping the connection.

The standard IEEE 802.11 (wireless fidelity, "Wi-Fi") specifies the technologies for wireless LANs. The standard includes the encryption methods Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP).

1

WLAN client
Your Security Platform PC.
The Trusted Platform Module protects your certificate's private key.
WLAN Clients have a wireless connection (A) to an access point.

2

Access point
Also called "base station".
The WLAN access point connects WLAN clients to an wired network (B).

3

RADIUS server
For example, the Internet Authentication Service (IAS) included in Microsoft Windows 2003 Server.
The RADIUS server manages your authentication.

More basic information

More basic information in WLANs is available in the Internet:

Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) and Microsoft Windows Help (search for "wireless networking")

Wi-Fi Alliance

Wireless LAN Association (WLANA)

Securing your WLAN with the Security Platform Solution

Preconditions:
Apart from the hardware and software required by WLANs, your WLAN client has to be a Security Platform PC with a Trusted Platform Module.

You need to enroll a certificate protected by the Security Platform.

WLAN Step by Step

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1	WLAN client	Your Security Platform PC. The Trusted Platform Module protects your certificate's private key. WLAN Clients have a wireless connection (A) to an access point.
2	Access point	Also called "base station". The WLAN access point connects WLAN clients to an wired network (B).
3	RADIUS server	For example, the Internet Authentication Service (IAS) included in Microsoft Windows 2003 Server. The RADIUS server manages your authentication.