Policies & Procedures → Policy for Deployment, Management and Security of Wireless Networks

Policy for Deployment, Management and Security of Wireless Local Area Networks, Access Points and other Wireless networks or devices

Rationale and Purpose

  1. To ensure the technical coordination required to provide the best possible wireless network access for the University of Missouri -Kansas City (UMKC), UMKC Information Services (UMKC IS) will be solely responsible for the deployment and management of Wireless Local Area Networks and other wireless access points or devices on the campus. No other departments may deploy, install, manage or network wireless access points or other wireless devices.

  2.  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 insure the appropriate levels of security for UMKCnet and the university community.

  3. Wireless in the Local Area Network is a fast emerging technology based on existing radio frequency technologies. 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 and UMKCnet as a whole.

  4. Wireless access points must be tied to authentication security services provided by UMKC IS. Access points which have not been installed by UMKC IS are a security risk by permitting unauthenticated public use of the access point.

  5. Wireless networking technology shares frequency assignments with other consumer products (subject to FCC regulations). Frequency interference may be an issue on campus. UMKC IS will work with all parties involved to arbitrate the issue and seek the best solution in the University’s interest.

Scope

The Wireless Policy provides guidelines regarding the following:

  1.  The central deployment by IS of all wireless devices and related wireless equipment.

  2. The provision of wireless service by UMKC IS for campus departments.

  3. The management by IS of all wireless devices and related wireless equipment.

  4. The management by IS of shared (unlicensed) frequency spectrum on campus.

Policy

  1. UMKC IS deployment of wireless devices and related wireless equipment- UMKC IS will be solely responsible for the deployment and management of all wireless devices and related wireless equipment on the campus. No other departments may deploy wireless devices, equipment or access points. Any unauthorized device (unauthorized wireless device) will be disabled and removed from the network.

  2. Provision of wireless service by IS- UMKC IS will offer a standard wireless deployment plan that will meet the needs of most UMKC departments wishing to construct and operate departmental wireless services. Departments requiring a different wireless deployment plan should contact IS for department or building specific wireless services. IS 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 and there may be fees for some additional services.

  3. Management by IS of wireless devices and related wireless access points or equipment- UMKC IS will ensure that all wireless services deployed on campus will adhere to campus-wide standards for access control. IS 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, using Active Directory, will centralize the process of determining identity, authentication, and appropriate levels of security for access to and use of wireless technology. UMKC IS reserves the right to minimize interference to the common wireless network.

  4. Future wireless technologies- This policy will apply to future wireless technologies that allow any type of sharing of network services. This policy will be updated as needed to address new technologies, as they become available and impact UMKCnet.

Procedures and Guidelines

  1. UMKC IS will inform the CIO or designate on wireless plans, deployment strategies, and management issues.

  2. Any units requiring additional wireless coverage should contact the Call Center at 816-235-2000 to start this process.

  3. All sensitive data being transmitted across a wireless network must be encrypted in transit using additional encryption technologies beyond WEP, such as IPsec, SSL, or encrypted VPN technologies.

  4. Sensitive data that must be encrypted in transit would include, but is not limited to:

Responsible Organization

The CIO will be responsible for this policy and for any appeals of UMKC IS decisions relating to wireless deployments. This policy will be reviewed as needed by the CIO. Changes will be authorized by the approval of the Provost or designate. UMKC IS will review LAN wireless access technology and standards on a regular basis and recommend changes to this policy as needed.




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