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With the explosion in “WiFi” wireless networks, a new and very real threat to companies has emerged,
against which most are as yet unprotected. Many organisations are introducing this new and very useful
technology to their networks without fully understanding the security implications.
Recent intruder activities such as “warchalking” and “wardriving” have captured the media’s attention and
increased awareness of wireless network security risks. These risks are basically:
2. Using encryption
A basic encryption is available in WiFi. Using this will stop an intruder from accessing your wireless
network in the short term. It will also stop a casual intruder from seeing data on your network.
There are some further precautions you might consider taking, such as:
4. Monitoring WiFi traffic
Software is now available to allow a WiFi network owner to monitor cards that have access to the network.
This can alert the network owner if an intruder gains access.
Wallace & Partners is a full service law firm with around thirty staff based in central London. Computers
and ICT are vitally important to their daily work for document production, e-mail and data storage, with
reliability and security top priorities. Historically they had employed a full-time IT manager, but this
presented management problems including absence cover, plus the challenge of trying to keep up with
ICT best practice.
Bridge Partners provided Wallace & Partners with a dedicated team of ICT staff to cover the needs of the
whole firm. The team is on site for around half the working year, with instant remote access on demand for
the remainder. The team handles all aspects of ICT strategy and infrastructure, including:
• Server management
• PC management
• Advice on new ICT investments, such as telephone systems
• Security and anti-virus software
• User training
• Suggestions for productivity improvements
Once Bridge Partners had carried out a complete audit, made recommendations and executed the new
strategy, the firm had fully automated server management and the ICT function now more or less runs
itself with very little intervention, freeing partners and staff up to focus on client services.
The outcome
Wallace & Partners are very happy with the new arrangements. “We are absolutely delighted to have a
team of professionals handling our IT, rather than trying to do it ourselves” said Managing Partner Rex
Newman. “It means we not only have advice and practical help on hand whenever we want it, it also
means we can concentrate on our own clients’ needs without unnecessary distractions. As Bridge Partners
spend a lot of time working with other businesses, we can also benefit from their broad knowledge of ICT
best practice and new technologies.”