Wireless access gives you more flexibility, is a nice convenience for visiting suppliers, and can be a valuable service for your customers. It is not, however, an inherently secure method of access. So, you need to add protection to your wireless network if you decide to have one. Here are some tips:
- Establish a totally separate wireless network for suppliers and customers that can't access your business or POS system network. Configure this network for WPA or better (not WEP) encryption and change the password monthly to keep out the riff raff.
- If you are using a wireless network as part of your business system, it will likely need to be on the same network as your business and/or POS system. Configure it for WPA or better (not WEP) encryption and change the password at least every 90 days. In addition, you should configure this network to allow access only to specific devices. Each device has a MAC address. Restrict your wireless access points to only specific MAC addresses. Be sure to update those settings when devices or their owners leave, too.
- Make sure you change the default password on all of your wireless access points (and network modems, routers, and managed switches, too). Most default passwords are readily available online, so if you don't change yours, anyone could get in and change your settings.