Write a 250-300-word synopsis of the provided Cisco White Paper, IEEE 802.11ax: The Sixth Generation of Wi-Fi White Paper (See Module Readings).
- Highlight any foreseeable issues, or challenges with Wi-Fi 6, as it relates to wireless security within an organization.
- How will it affect the business units (e.g., asset management or compliance)?
- Will it affect the security posture of the organization?
MODULE READING:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/white-paper-c11-740788.html
Synopsis of IEEE 802.11ax: The Sixth Generation of Wi-Fi White Paper
The white paper “IEEE 802.11ax: The Sixth Generation of Wi-Fi” by Cisco provides an overview of the emerging standard for Wi-Fi, known as 802.11ax or Wi-Fi 6. The paper highlights the need for increased wireless capacity and reliability to support bandwidth-hungry applications and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the future.
802.11ax builds upon the strengths of its predecessor, 802.11ac, by adding flexibility and scalability. It allows new and existing networks to power next-generation applications and supports higher-grade services for older applications. The standard enables access points to support clients in dense environments, providing a better wireless experience compared to typical wireless LAN networks. It also powers advanced applications such as 4K video and Ultra HD wireless.
One of the key benefits of 802.11ax is its ability to extend battery life for client devices through flexible wake-up time scheduling. This improves the battery life of smartphones and IoT devices, reducing contention and increasing overall efficiency.
The standard achieves these benefits through three dimensions: denser modulation using 1024 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) for faster speeds, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)-based scheduling to reduce overhead and latency, and robust high-efficiency signaling for better operation with lower signal strength.
In terms of market dynamics, the white paper highlights the growing need for Wi-Fi to support 4K/8K video, augmented and virtual reality, IoT devices, and enterprise collaborations using AR/VR technologies. It also emphasizes the importance of deterministic wireless service for IoT devices and low-latency applications.
While Wi-Fi 6 brings many advantages, there are foreseeable challenges with wireless security within organizations. The increased adoption of real-time applications and the convergence of operational networks onto IT networks may introduce new security risks. Business units responsible for asset management and compliance will need to ensure that Wi-Fi 6 implementation aligns with security policies and controls. It may require additional measures such as network segmentation, authentication mechanisms, and encryption protocols to maintain a strong security posture.