Wired networks aren’t going away.
For one thing, most enterprise-sized organizations have invested too much in them to be completely replaced with Wi-Fi. For another, wireless comes with its own problems to be solved.
So while Wi-Fi is a great addition to an existing network, adding capacity and extending the reach of the LAN into new buildings and spaces, wired networks will be with us for a while.
So Network World U.S. has a useful compendium of ways to improve wired networks that should be considered if you been taking for granted the cables that snake around your building.
To start, it recommends auditing and mapping the network, including listing the vendor, model, location and basic configuration of firewalls, routers, switches, Ethernet cabiling and ports and wireless access points. Then add the servers, PCs, printers and anything else connected.
This hunt can be aided by discovery tools — some of them free — from companies like SolarWinds, SoftPerfect, Spiceworks and others.
Ensure the network is physically secured — that no one can, for example, plug in a wireless router.
The author also suggests administrators consider MAC address filtering as a first layer of security, as well as virtual LANs to segment traffic.
There are five more suggestions that are worth considering that will improve your wired network’s security if you haven’t implemented them yet.