Specifications

Table Of Contents

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Cisco Unified Wireless IP Phone 7921G Administration Guide for Cisco Unified CallManager Release 4.1, 4.2, 5.0

OL-10802-02

Chapter 2 An Overview of the Voice Over IP Wireless Network

Understanding the Wireless LAN

To secure voice communications, wireless networks use authentication and

encryption methods. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is the method that was first

introduced for wireless security, but this method is easily compromised. To

address the security problems and weaknesses of WEP, the Wi-Fi Alliance defined

Wireless Protected Access (WPA.)

Wi-Fi Protected Access is a standards-based, interoperable security enhancement

that increases the level of data protection and access control for existing and

future wireless LAN systems. It is derived from and will be forward-compatible

with the upcoming IEEE 802.11i standard. WPA leverages Temporal Key

Integrity Protocol (TKIP) for data protection and 802.1x for authenticated key

management.

Through stronger encryption algorithms, stronger authentication, and rapid key

updates, WPA has significantly improved security compared to WEP. Wireless

clients, such as wireless IP phones, can authenticate at either the access point or

with the network by using a centralized remote authentication dial-in user service

(RADIUS) server.

The Cisco Wireless IP telephony solution provides wireless network security that

prevents unauthorized logins and compromised communications by using these

features:

• Encryption and authentication with Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

• Wireless Protected Access (WPA and WPA2)

• Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)

• Extensible Authentication Protocol-Flexible Authentication via Secure

Tunneling (EAP-FAST)

For additional information about Cisco Wireless LAN Security, refer to

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/prod_brochure09186a

00801f7d0b.html