Between the introduction of Wi-Fi 7 and the transformative power of AI and automation in Wi-Fi and beyond, these are truly exciting times in network planning. With the promise of unprecedented speeds, lower latency, and enhanced capacity, Wi-Fi 7 delivers crucial advancements for supporting ever-growing numbers of connected devices and increasing demands of high-bandwidth applications.
Of course, when it comes to security, there is more to the story. Sure, Wi-Fi 7 can employ WPA 3. But more devices, bandwidth and capacity, and complexity mean more opportunities for attackers. That’s why, on your journey to Wi-Fi 7, it’s essential to reduce the attack surface and strengthen your security posture.
The good news is that with the right combination of capabilities and access control, it is possible to easily and cost-effectively manage the expanded attack surface of Wi-Fi 7. Moreover, there’s no reason to wait as a Zero Trust approach is already critical to adapting to dynamic and emerging threats.
Let’s explore the top Wi-Fi 7 security challenges along with key considerations for improving your overall security posture as you prepare for upcoming network upgrades.
Top 4 Wi-Fi 7 security challenges
- Complex configurations: Advanced features such as Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and wider channels can lead to misconfigurations, potentially creating security gaps.
- Denial of Service (DoS) attacks: Bad actors can exploit the increased bandwidth and capacity of Wi-Fi 7 for DoS attacks, overwhelming the network with traffic and causing disruptions.
- Rogue access points: Bad actors can mimic legitimate Wi-Fi 7 networks, leading to potential data breaches and unauthorized access.
- Device vulnerabilities: More devices connected to Wi-Fi 7 networks open new potential entry points for attackers. And ensuring all devices are secure can be a significant challenge.
Network Access Control: The key to Wi-Fi 7 security
Given today’s constantly evolving threat landscape, any unchecked gap in your security posture creates significant risks for the organization. That’s why effectively addressing the above challenges on Wi-Fi 7 networks will require a mandatory combination of:
- Robust security policies
- Continuous monitoring
- Leveraging advanced security protocols like WPA 3
For Wi-Fi 7 networks, a robust Network Access Control (NAC) solution is particularly important. NAC can help organizations establish a strong foundation for Zero Trust security and increase protection against cyber threats, delivering better visibility and control over network access. NAC solutions enforce security policies by performing checks and validations before allowing access to the network, complementing the broader Zero Trust approach.
From overly complex to simple and mission critical: The evolution of NAC
If you’ve worked with legacy NAC solutions, you might be feeling apprehensive at this point. After all, legacy solutions are not without challenges. Most require on-premise hardware, which is not only difficult to scale, but also complex to manage. For instance, software updates and security patches typically require network downtime, leaving network administrators hesitant to make changes.
Considering the expanded attack surface for emerging Wi-Fi 7 networks, and the dynamic always-on nature of today’s enterprises, legacy NAC solutions fall short. Modern IT environments demand the convenience of cloud-based solutions, complemented by AI and automation, to simplify NAC at scale. This approach can enable end-to-end visibility and efficient management of the end-user experience across the network, driven by identity and policy.
The benefits of modern access control
Between already overstretched teams, budget constraints, and ongoing challenges with finding in-demand skills, enterprises cannot afford another cumbersome security solution. Juniper has taken a different approach to NAC by architecting it with a microservices cloud environment to ensure scalability and flexibility. Leveraging our deep expertise in AI and automation, we have eliminated cumbersome manual processes. Our comprehensive Juniper Mist Access Assurance solution not only harnesses the advanced capabilities of Wi-Fi 7 but also significantly enhances an organization’s overall security posture, providing numerous benefits.
- Identity-based NAC: User and device identities are verified before granting access. This ensures that only authorized users and devices can connect to the network, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
- Zero Trust network access policies: These policies are continuously enforced by verifying users, devices, and their privileges to connect to the network and access specific resources.
- Simplified IT operations: A full suite of access controls within a flexible authorization policy framework reduces complexity associated with traditional NAC solutions and ensures seamless integration with the existing IT infrastructure.
- Granular identity fingerprinting: Based on X.509 certificate attributes and other identity provider (IdP) information, this allows for more precise control over network access and enhances the ability to enforce security policies.
- High availability and geo-affinity: Multiple regional cloud instances ensure reliable, low-latency network access control. This is crucial for organizations with multisite deployments, providing consistent security regardless of location.
AI, ML, and security posture
In a recent Spotlight Paper, IDC notes that cloud-based AI-driven access controls, such as Juniper Mist Access Assurance, can dynamically adapt to emerging threats and provide real-time insights into network activity. By leveraging AI and machine learning (ML), Juniper Mist Access Assurance can deliver:
Enhanced security and posture check: By continuously monitoring network traffic and user behavior, it can detect and respond to threats and anomalies more quickly and accurately.
Streamlined compliance: Detailed logs and reports on network access and activity help meet regulatory requirements efficiently.
Scalability and flexibility: As organizations grow and their network needs evolve, the cloud-native architecture ensures that new features and updates can be deployed seamlessly, eliminating the need for extensive on-premises infrastructure.
Start your journey now
Whether you’re getting started on your journey to Wi-Fi 7, or are looking to improve your current security posture, Juniper Mist Access Assurance is a powerful tool. By providing identity-based network access control, enforcing Zero Trust policies and leveraging AI-Native insights, Mist Access Assurance addresses the unique challenges of modern network environments. Access Assurance is essential when it comes to staying ahead of emerging threats and ensuring robust, scalable, and efficient network security.
Read the IDC Spotlight Paper, How Cloud-Based and AI-Driven Access Control Accelerate Zero Trust Network and Security Convergence, to learn more about the benefits of a modern AI-Native NAC.
Learn more about Juniper Wi-Fi 7 solutions.
