Glossary What is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)?
By null / 1 Jan 2023 / Topics: Networking
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) , gives devices the ability to connect to the internet or to communicate with other devices wirelessly. Those devices are wirelessly connected to a wireless access point, which is hardwired into a network. In a WLAN, data packets are sent via radio waves with labels and instructions, along with a unique Media Access Control (MAC) to direct the data to its endpoint. To create a WLAN, basic infrastructure must be configured, including a wireless router as the base, an internet connection and the devices you want to connect to the network.
Mesh networks extend WLAN reach and performance by using numerous access points that connect wirelessly while managing routing to improve performance.
Wired networks are considered more secure than WLANs because hackers need direct connection to access the network. In contrast, WLANs are vulnerable to attacks as users can access them from within range. To ensure WLAN security, data can be encrypted using Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and user authentication can be required using Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).
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