Policy for Deployment and Management of 802.11 and Related Wireless Standards
Wireless Policy March 16, 2005
Approved by:
Susan Wheeler, Director, Technology Services
Rationale and Purpose of Policy
To ensure the technical coordination required to provide the best possible wireless network for Illinois Central College (ICC), Technology Services will be solely responsible for the deployment and management of wireless access points on the campus. No other departments may deploy 802.11 or related wireless standards access points without consultation and approval of this department.
This policy provides the structure for a campus-wide solution for the implementation of wireless technology, which includes centralized determination of identity and authentication to the end of the provision of the appropriate levels of security.
Wireless technologies are by nature easy to deploy, but highly sensitive to overlapping frequencies. Because of these characteristics, all wireless use must be planned, deployed, and managed in a very careful and centralized fashion to ensure basic functionality, maximum bandwidth, and a secure network. It is not feasible to allow individuals to install their own access points without centralized management, due to the resulting signal interference and greatly degraded performance to the common wireless network.
Access points which have not been installed by Technology Services are a security risk by permitting unauthenticated public use of the access point.
Wireless networking technology shares frequency assignments with other consumer products. Frequency interference may be an issue on campus. Information Services will work with all parties involved to arbitrate the issue and seek the best solution in the college's interest.
Scope
The Wireless Policy provides guidelines regarding the following:
The central deployment by Technology Services of 802.11 and related wireless standards access points
The provision of wireless service by Technology Services for campus departments
The management by Technology Services of 802.11 and related wireless standards access
The management by Technology Services of shared (unlicensed) frequency spectrum on campus
Policy Technology Services deployment of 802.11 and related wireless standards access points:
Technology Services will be solely responsible for the deployment and management of 802.11 and related wireless standards access points on the campus. No other departments may deploy 802.11 or related wireless standards wireless access points.
Provision of wireless service by Technology Services:
Technology Services will offer a standard wireless deployment plan that will meet the needs of most ICC departments wishing to construct and operate departmental wireless services. Technology Services will work with departments to accommodate any special needs they may have within the technical constraints of the wireless technology, understanding that all requests may not be technically feasible.
Management by Technology Services of 802.11 and related wireless standards access points:
Technology Services will ensure that all wireless services deployed on campus will adhere to campus-wide standards for access control. Technology Services will manage the wireless spectrum in a manner that ensures the greatest interoperability and roaming ability for all departments wishing to use wireless technology, and will centralize the process of determining identity, authentication, and appropriate levels of security for access to and use of wireless technology. Technology Services reserves the right to minimize interference to the common wireless network, and will work with departments to reconfigure or shut down any departmental wireless networks that interfere with the common wireless network.
Procedures and Guidelines
Technology Services will advise the appropriate administrative personnel on wireless plans, deployment strategies, and management issues.
Any department wishing to deploy wireless access must contact Technology Services by phoning the Help Desk to begin the process.
All sensitive data being transmitted across a wireless network must be encrypted.
Responsible Organization
Technology Services will report this policy to the Technology Planning Committee. Technology Services will be responsible for this policy and for any appeals may be brought before the Technology Planning Committee regarding decisions relating to wireless deployments. This policy will be reviewed yearly by Technology Services.