Business gets the wireless message

UK businesses are picking up on the benefits of wireless networking but are worryingly clueless when it comes to securing the technology, according to a survey from security vendor SonicWALL.

Over 70 per cent of the 400 companies surveyed said they had, or were planning to, install wireless local area networks (Lans) in their offices. Over two thirds cited the increased flexibility offered by the technology as the main reason for installation.

But despite security being the biggest worry over wireless networking, a third of those surveyed had no way of checking whether their wireless connection was secure, while less than half had ever had their wireless security audited.

"Many companies have taken onboard the message that they need to have enforced security policies," said Mike Smart, European product manager at SonicWALL.

"The next phase will be to audit those policies, and deploy technologies like intrusion prevention to better enable firms to determine when the wireless Lans are breached.