Round up those wireless devices before they cause trouble

So security must not be obvious. It has to lurk stealthily in the background where users don't notice it. And with the increasing use of consumer IT, this is forcing a change in network design.

These users - and their properly managed devices - can be allowed to play with the grown-ups and their devices treated as full-blown members of the network. They can use data locally on the device and their connection point into your network can occur behind the front-line defences.

As most of the consumer devices brought into workplaces are mobile, the obvious choice is 802.11n Wi-Fi points. But, 4G usage is picking up, which means that very before long a goodly chunk of your network accesses will be coming across your internet links as then.

They will be streaming media all day long - often the prime motivator behind consumerisation schemes in the first instance - and using their local systems to perform internet research in other words "faster" and "more familiar" when done on their personal device.

Big bandwidth draw

This means that each of these devices is going to be a big bandwidth draw. Combined with the increased internet demand from staff and clients, the edges of our networks will see an increased demand for capacity.

The day where we can demonstrate a real need for intrusion detection, firewall and packet inspection gear overseeing edge networks running at 10Gbit Ethernet is upon us. This requires an upgrade to our perimeter systems and an overhaul of the network to cope with demand.