In the digital age, wireless networks have become essential for both organizations and individuals, enabling seamless connectivity across devices and environments. However, this convenience comes with substantial security risks that demand a deeper understanding of wireless technologies, potential vulnerabilities, and the methods to safeguard them.

The course "Securing Wireless Networks", offered by the British Academy for Training and Development, delivers a comprehensive, structured framework for professionals responsible for implementing and maintaining secure wireless infrastructures. It blends technical depth with a strategic approach to ensure wireless networks are robust, resilient, and resistant to both external and internal threats.

Who Should Attend?

• Network engineers and IT professionals responsible for wireless deployments.

• Cybersecurity officers and infrastructure managers.

• Systems administrators managing enterprise-level wireless services.

• Security auditors and compliance consultants.

• Professionals pursuing wireless security certifications.

Knowledge and Benefits:

After completing the program, participants will be able to master the following:

• Understand the foundational principles of wireless communication and related security challenges.

• Identify vulnerabilities specific to wireless protocols and hardware.

• Implement layered defenses for WLAN and Wi-Fi environments.

• Configure wireless access points and controllers securely.

• Analyze wireless traffic to detect potential intrusions.

• Apply encryption, authentication, and monitoring strategies effectively.

• Develop wireless policies aligned with organizational security objectives.

• Assess and mitigate risks from rogue devices and unauthorized access.

• Evaluate emerging threats in next-gen wireless technologies.

• Wireless Network Architecture

  • Types of wireless networks (WLAN, WPAN, WMAN)

  • Infrastructure vs. ad hoc modes

  • Roles of access points and clients

• Wireless Standards Overview

  • IEEE 802.11 families and differences

  • Frequency bands and spectrum usage

  • Range and throughput considerations

• Signal Behavior and Interference

  • Propagation characteristics

  • Common interference sources

  • Signal attenuation and multipath issues

• Security Fundamentals

  • Confidentiality, integrity, and availability

  • Concepts of authentication and authorization

  • Principles of secure communication

• Wireless Threat Landscape

  • Passive and active attacks

  • Eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle threats

  • Credential theft and session hijacking

• Designing for Security

  • Importance of defense in depth

  • Network segmentation strategies

  • Secure design lifecycle in wireless projects

• WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA3

  • Evolution of encryption standards

  • Key weaknesses and known exploits

  • Transitioning to modern protocols

• EAP and RADIUS

  • Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) types

  • Role of RADIUS in enterprise authentication

  • Secure EAP implementations (PEAP, EAP-TLS)

• Key Management

  • Symmetric vs. asymmetric key usage

  • Key distribution and rotation practices

  • Secure storage of credentials

• MAC Filtering and ACLs

  • Limitations of MAC address filtering

  • Role of access control lists in wireless

  • Enhancing access control with dynamic policies

• Role-Based Access

  • Assigning access by user role or device type

  • Policy enforcement mechanisms

  • Integrating with identity providers

• Network Access Control (NAC)

  • Device posture checking

  • Endpoint compliance enforcement

  • Guest and BYOD access restrictions

• Securing Access Points

  • Changing default configurations

  • Controlling broadcast settings

  • Updating firmware and patching vulnerabilities

• Wireless Controller Security

  • Centralized management considerations

  • Secure communication with APs

  • Role-based admin access controls

• Physical Security Measures

  • Preventing unauthorized physical access

  • Securing network closets and equipment

  • Detecting and removing rogue devices

• Wireless Intrusion Detection Systems (WIDS)

  • Architecture and deployment options

  • Common detection techniques

  • Challenges in wireless environments

• Traffic Analysis Techniques

  • Capturing and interpreting wireless packets

  • Identifying suspicious patterns and behaviors

  • Use of open-source and commercial tools

• Alerting and Incident Handling

  • Configuring thresholds and alerts

  • Responding to real-time threats

  • Integrating WIDS with SIEM platforms

• Identifying Rogue Devices

  • Active vs. passive scanning

  • Recognizing unauthorized broadcasts

  • Locating rogue access points physically

• Mitigation Techniques

  • Disconnecting rogue APs safely

  • Isolating suspicious traffic

  • Containment best practices

• Policy and Prevention

  • Creating a no-tolerance wireless policy

  • Educating users and administrators

  • Regular audits and environment sweeps

• Policy Development Essentials

  • Defining scope and applicability

  • Clear guidelines for users and IT staff

  • Policy approval and ownership

• Acceptable Use Guidelines

  • Device usage rules

  • Network resource access controls

  • Sanctions for violations

• Compliance and Legal Considerations

  • Regulatory frameworks (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA)

  • Data retention and protection mandates

  • Audit readiness and reporting standards

• Segmentation and Isolation

  • Separating guest and internal networks

  • VLANs and SSID segmentation

  • Containment of high-risk zones

• Zero Trust in Wireless

  • Applying zero trust principles to wireless

  • Continuous verification strategies

  • Micro-segmentation implementation

• Cloud-Managed Wireless Security

  • Benefits and risks of cloud controllers

  • Role of APIs and automation

  • Securing communication with cloud services

• Next-Generation Wireless (Wi-Fi 6/6E/7)

  • Improvements in speed, security, and capacity

  • New encryption capabilities

  • Backward compatibility concerns

• IoT and Wireless Security Challenges

  • Explosion of connected devices

  • Authentication limitations in IoT

  • Lightweight encryption approaches

• AI-Powered Wireless Attacks

  • Role of automation in threat evolution

  • Behavior-based detection and its limits

  • Preparing for adaptive attack scenarios