Wi-Fi Alliance expands Wi-Fi Protected Access Certification Program for Enterprise and Government Users

AUSTIN, Texas, April 12, 2005 The Wi-Fi Alliance has added four new widely deployed Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) types to its Wi-Fi Protected Access- (WPATM) and WPA2-Enterprise certification programs. These new EAP types further expand the tested interoperability of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ WPA- and WPA2-Enterprise networking products for enterprise and government deployments.

 

The newly-supported EAP types include EAP-TTLS/MSCHAPv2, PEAPv0/EAP-MSCHAPv2, PEAPv1/EAP-GTC and EAP-SIM, joining the currently tested EAP-TLS. In addition, supplicants and authentication servers from Wi-Fi Alliance member companies Devicescape Software and Meetinghouse join existing products from Funk Software, Inc. and Microsoft Corp. in the test bed for the program.

"The robust security enabled by WPA and WPA2 provides the high level of confidence required in large-scale, enterprise-class deployments," commented Wi-Fi Alliance Managing Director Frank Hanzlik. "Expanded EAP testing is a direct response to the ongoing demand for interoperability across authentication methods, and delivers greatly increased flexibility to enterprise IT managers."

The Wi-Fi Alliance has long taken a leadership role with regard to interoperable, standards-based security. Since the launch of the WPA program in April 2003, and the release of WPA2 in September2004, nearly 800 products have undergone WPA and WPA2 interoperability certification.

The Wi-Fi Alliance has also released a new white paper titled, Deploying Wi-Fi Protected Access(WPA) and WPA2 in the Enterprise. This paper, ideal for IT managers planning a Wi-Fi deployment,outlines the seven key steps to successfully deploy a secure Wi-Fi network in an enterprise or government setting. The free white paper is available for download from the Wi-Fi Alliance website at www.wi-fi.org

About the Wi-Fi Alliance

The Wi-Fi Alliance is a global, non-profit industry association of more than 200 member companies devoted to promoting the growth of wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). With the aim of enhancing the user experience for mobile wireless devices, the Wi-Fi Alliance's testing and certification programs ensure the interoperability of WLAN products based on the IEEE 802.11 specification. Since the introduction of the Wi-Fi Alliance's certification program in March 2000, more than 2,000 products havebeen designated as Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™, encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products andservices across the consumer and enterprise markets. For more information, please visit www.wi-fi.org.

For more information, contact:Edelman for Wi-Fi Alliance: Lisa Grantham, lisa.grantham@edelman.com, 650-429-2758 Edelman for Wi-Fi Alliance: Matthew Krebsbach, matthew.krebsbach@edelman.com, 512-334-6326

 

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