Implementation of a Secure Wireless Communication Technology in a Highly Mobile Organisation: Challenges and Issues

Wireless Technology is growing at an alarming rate with increased security being the main challenge for developers and end users. This study presents after tackling initial challenges and issues faced during the implementation of wireless technology, how security issues and wireless application were implemented at Sydney Airport – a highly mobile organization. The decision to deploy and manage the wireless spectrum throughout the Airport campus meant the wireless LAN will be a shared medium with public users, tenants and aircraft communications, sharing the same available bandwidth. Therefore to protect unintended users from breach of existing security policies adopted by their corporate network a comprehensive security solution needed to be established. This study focuses on how Sydney Airport undertook the WLAN architecture and security challenges of implementing a common use wireless infrastructure. Authentication and data privacy challenges are also presented. The complete WLAN connectivity for tenants, public and corporate usage is presented.