CWNA is on the Top 10 list of entry level IT certifications

[David Coleman]

Hot off the press from the November, 2006 issue of Certification Magazine:

CWNA is on the Top 10 list of entry level IT certifications:

1. Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA)

2. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

3. CompTIA A+

4. CompTIA Network+

5. CompTIA Security+

For more information follow this URL:

Certification Magazine Top 10 Lists Article

[zimbo]

hmm that is interesting! Has wireless taken off that well in the uk?

[Baba O'Riley]

Not where I work. If they knew I used wi-fi when working from home they'd have kittens. Something about the "inherent insecurity" of wireless.

On the other hand, I think there is both a big corporate and domestic wireless user base in the UK. The only thing we're a little short of is public Wi-Fi hotspots (unless you want to pay over £5 per hour which I think is a bit on the much side).

[Bluerinse]

David, I realise that you have a vested interest in the CWNA but from your link I cannot work out how you can say it's #1

A quote from your link..

— we attach no particular importance to the order in which items appear in these lists. In fact, we present the lists in alphabetical order in this version just to emphasize the arbitrary nature of an item’s place in any given list.

[David Coleman]

Originally Posted by Bluerinse

David, I realise that you have a vested interest in the CWNA but from your link I cannot work out how you can say it's #1

Good point Bluerinse.... I missed that completely! I edited my post. CWNA is in the TOP 10 of entry level certs!

[David Coleman]

Originally Posted by Baba O'Riley

Not where I work. If they knew I used wi-fi when working from home they'd have kittens. Something about the "inherent insecurity" of wireless.

Security is always the #1 topic when it comes to wireless networking. It has been my experience that large businesses that forbid wireless at the workplace have their head in the sand. Most companies have wireless and do not even know it. (Rogue devices). In the enterprise it is much better to have control over the wireless infrastructure and deploy a wireless IDS. Mobility = Productivity.

As far as you having wireless at home, every company should implement a "remote access wireless policy" whether thwy have Wi-Fi deployed in the enterprise or not.

[Bluerinse]

Originally Posted by David Coleman

Good point Bluerinse.... I missed that completely! I edited my post. CWNA is in the TOP 10 of entry level certs!

No worries - thanks!

I took the liberty of editing the thread title for you to reflect the amendment.

[simongrahamuk]

I have to admit that is one cert that really interests me.

Perhaps someday......

[zebulebu]

Originally Posted by David Coleman

Most companies have wireless and do not even know it. (Rogue devices).

Amen. Working in security, I have to say this is the first job I've ever had where I haven't discovered a rogue WAP within the first six months. I perform a sweep every two months and haven't found any yet - woe betide the person responsible for the first one found!

[Baba O'Riley]

Originally Posted by David Coleman

As far as you having wireless at home, every company should implement a "remote access wireless policy" whether thwy have Wi-Fi deployed in the enterprise or not.

Do you mean allowing home Wi-Fi access or disallowing it?

Originally Posted by Zeb

Amen. Working in security, I have to say this is the first job I've ever had where I haven't discovered a rogue WAP within the first six months.

Zeb, is it usually IT types that plant the rogue WAPs or your normal users? I'm surprised it's that common. Were the ones you've found for malicious reasons or was it just some dozy exec who wanted to be able to use his laptop on his leather sofa instead of his desk?

[zebulebu]

Originally Posted by Baba O'Riley

Zeb, is it usually IT types that plant the rogue WAPs or your normal users? I'm surprised it's that common. Were the ones you've found for malicious reasons or was it just some dozy exec who wanted to be able to use his laptop on his leather sofa instead of his desk?

Babs

Its a real mixture, depending on the environment I've worked in. For instance, I found that whenever I was called in to consult in the city, unsanctioned WAPs were rife - one place I was called in to look at I found seven in 45 minutes with Kismet - only one of which the user had bothered to make a rudimentary attempt at cloaking by not broadcasting the SSID. This is despite the fact these tw@ts were all informed of the company AUP which expressly forbade Wireless, even for IT staff. I think it was one of those 'who are you to tell me what to do, I earn 100k a year, I'll do what I like'.

other places, you usually tend to find that they're installed either by the IT department, BY the IT department for a mate in Marketing or, more problematically, by a geek 'fifth columnist' (someone in a non-technical role who thinks they have technical knowledge). This third kind is often responsible for serious security breaches as they do stupid things like try and find their way round proxy servers, try using instant messengers and, of course, install WAPs that they bought from PC World.

[David Coleman]

Originally Posted by Baba O'Riley

Do you mean allowing home Wi-Fi access or disallowing it?

The thing things I recommend for a "remote access" Wi-Fi policy are:

1) IPSec VPN
2) Personal firewall
3) Consider deploying a wireless policy enforcement siftware such as Air Defense Personal:

http://www.airdefense.net/products/adpersonal/index.php

Originally Posted by Baba O'Riley

is it usually IT types that plant the rogue WAPs or your normal users? I'm surprised it's that common. Were the ones you've found for malicious reasons or was it just some dozy exec who wanted to be able to use his laptop on his leather sofa instead of his desk?

Most rogues are not malicious and are usually installed by end-users. That being said, they are still dangerous and malicious rogues are becoming more commonplace. Medium size businesses often discover rogue devices in the dozens. I know of one situation at a hospital here in the states where hundreds were discovered.

[Baba O'Riley]

Thanks guys.

[Wassup]

mmmm, another cert makes it onto the "to-do" list

[Boycie]

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