Published November 2004

Going wireless:
secure, low cost

By Lionel Contreras
Guest Columnist

In the fast-paced world of small, flexible businesses, going “wired” can sometimes be the wrong thing to do. Wireless networks for small groups are more flexible, allow for convenient floor layouts and enable the office to deal with limited space demands.

One of the most common comments I hear from folks uncertain about wireless technology is that “wireless networks are so vulnerable, you get people driving around till they find your signal and, wham, they’re in.”

The truth of the matter is, there are signals all over. The stories you hear are about “entry points,” which are wireless networks that don’t have any security on them, enabling anyone to hop in.

It takes very minimal effort to password protect and enable security options on your wireless network, so those trolling for entry points pass you up.

With that misconception out of the way, here is how wireless will power smaller offices better then fixed, category-5 networks — those “slightly larger then phone jack” cables that plug your computer to a network.

Small outfits like advertisers, studios, architectural firms or any other business that needs large areas to lay out blueprints, hard-copy designs, drafting tables and such, and where space is at a premium, would benefit the most from a wireless network.

The network itself works with any computer — it doesn’t matter if it is a laptop, desktop, PDA or gadget. Simply give your users the security access and off you go.

Another added feature is peer-to-peer usage, in which the computers can communicate directly to each other while leaving everyone else out, so during heavy file transferring it can keep the general network freed up for other users.

The cost for having a wireless network is less than the cost of having your office wired, and if you have constant requirements for physical space or shifting positions, this will definitely cost you less then rewiring for every change.

A wireless network also gives your company the look of clean professionalism without those wires dangling down all over from the ceilings. Going wireless can be secure, clean and low cost.

Lionel Contreras is an information systems technician with The Herald.

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