Benefits and risks of using Wi-Fi in companies

We all know that, generally speaking, wifi can be very practical for surfing the web without the need for cables. But what specific benefits and risks can its use entail for companies? At our  IT maintenance Barcelona  company, we review both aspects.

Advantages of wifi in the company

• Mobility: this type of connection offers excellent mobility for users to connect to the Internet or even the intranet during working hours. This will make it easier to move from the desk to meeting rooms, for example. Naturally, to take full advantage of mobility, you will need devices that allow it, such as laptops or mobile devices.
• Ease of use: anyone who wants to connect to the office wifi can easily do so by simply clicking on the icon provided for that purpose and entering the password. Also, you only need to do this once, since devices save the networks they connect to via wifi and the next connection will be made automatically.
• Cost savings: the cost of installing a wifi network in the company is much more economical than that of a wired network because you save on the cables themselves as well as other connections. You also do not need any specific software.

Risks of its use

Properly configured, a wifi network for businesses should pose no risk to your company, but since this is not always the case, we highlight here a series of points to keep in mind so you can avoid them:

If you use the router provided by your telephone operator, you must change the default access password and, if possible, also the name assigned to the wireless network (SSID) because, in addition to always being very simple, they tend to use the same on all devices.

You should encrypt your connections using the strongest and most reliable system, which is WPA2-PSK, to prevent someone outside your business from obtaining the access password using the corresponding tools, which is not difficult with encryption systems more vulnerable than the one we recommend.

It would be appropriate for you to have an access control system for your wifi network that limits connection to only those users and devices previously authorized by you, so that identification is completely individual. The simplest way to do this is through MAC filtering, which can usually be configured in the same router.

In addition, if you want your clients to be able to access the Internet when they are in your company, you should create two wifi networks: one for the company and another for guests. This way, you strengthen security by preventing unauthorized access to your company's internal data.