Technology might be good for the bottom line but security and safety concerns persist
The desire to access the Internet and e-mail while on the go is the driving force behind the move to wireless fidelity (wi-fi). Wireless Internet service providers have created wireless hot spots in many locations, including airports, hotels, libraries and coffee shops. Several municipalities have been debating the benefits of creating entire citywide hot spots that can make access to the Internet available to everyone. However, the advent of a wireless-everywhere world raises a few questions. The issues include data security, work-life factors and even potential health risks.
Wi-fi 101
www.wi-fiplanet.com.
The Wi-fi Planet site is a good starting place to access a wide variety of information and articles on on wireless developments. Scroll down the home page, which is divided into several sections: news, insights, reviews and tutorials. There’s also a forum for those interested in getting in touch with others about wi-fi issues. The tabs at the top of the home page offer links to events, research, products and a glossary. Click on the HotSpots tab, which allows users to input an address to find the closest hot spot.
The business case for wireless
www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_25/b3938612.htm
The shift toward mobility is changing the way we work, states this BusinessWeek article, “Wherever you go, you’re on the job.” Wireless Internet signals aren’t yet available everywhere, “but the build-out continues.” The potential resulting gains in productivity haven’t been calculated, but analysts and businesses believe it will be big. “Early corporate adopters of mobile technology say they win twice over: Employees tend to work more for the same pay, and the company can slash overhead at headquarters. That’s because many employees can now work from home, and managers can do more scut work for themselves via their gadgets, meaning fewer administrative employees are needed to assist them.”
Keep hackers out
www.icsfl.com/Downloads/rfs_wireless_security.pdf
This PDF white paper, “Wireless security: It’s like securing your home,” provides an overview of wireless local area network (WLAN) issues in very simple terms. It’s a sobering look at how easily hackers can break into a system. “The issue is not that hackers (burglars) can break security measures, but that they can walk right in and take what they want.” The paper claims that only a small number of people use security appropriately — many haven’t turned security on and others have turned it off due to a lack of understanding. The paper also looks at the amount of security needed, which varies depending on the type of business. If the fact an employee punched in 10 minutes late is the most important piece of data, the paper says only basic security is needed. “But if your firm handles customer credit card information or personal health records, protecting that data may be critical to your company’s very existence.”
Uncertain health effects
www.computerworld.com/networkingtopics/networking/story/0,10801,110567p2,00.html
Much has been written about whether or not wireless devices pose a health risk, but there’s still no final verdict on the issue. This Computerworld article, “Is wireless hazardous to your health?” states up front that no one knows for sure. After reviewing an enormous amount on the subject and consulting with physicians and physicists, the author concluded “consumer-grade wireless will not cause disease in most people. I have to allow that certain people might have a genetic proclivity to developing cancer or another illness from some amount of exposure, but I’ve never seen anything published on this topic.” The article goes on to say that studies that do get published are often sensational or result from “poorly executed research featuring too many variables or too small a sample.” The article says the issue should be studied more carefully, “but for now, my feelings are that our attitude should be one of prudence, not paranoia.”
A city goes wireless
www.cips.ca/news/national/news.asp?aID=2195
This article on the Canadian Information Processing Society’s site, “Best practices in IT: Wi-fi network transforms Fredericton into a hot zone for mobile business and lifestyle,” outlines the city’s efforts in creating Fred-eZone, a free, community-wide network that gives residents, visitors and businesses mobile broadband access across the city. “By delivering high-speed (minimum 100 Mbps) and low-cost connectivity, the new network brought many benefits to the municipal government and to local businesses and institutions.” One benefit cited is that “local business people, as well as those visiting, can stay connected, free of cost and hassle, thus contributing to Fredericton’s reputation as an easy place to do business.”
Ann Macaulay is a freelance editor and regular contributor to Canadian HR Reporter. Her Web Sight column appears regularly in the CloseUp section.
Wi-fi 101
www.wi-fiplanet.com.
The Wi-fi Planet site is a good starting place to access a wide variety of information and articles on on wireless developments. Scroll down the home page, which is divided into several sections: news, insights, reviews and tutorials. There’s also a forum for those interested in getting in touch with others about wi-fi issues. The tabs at the top of the home page offer links to events, research, products and a glossary. Click on the HotSpots tab, which allows users to input an address to find the closest hot spot.
The business case for wireless
www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_25/b3938612.htm
The shift toward mobility is changing the way we work, states this BusinessWeek article, “Wherever you go, you’re on the job.” Wireless Internet signals aren’t yet available everywhere, “but the build-out continues.” The potential resulting gains in productivity haven’t been calculated, but analysts and businesses believe it will be big. “Early corporate adopters of mobile technology say they win twice over: Employees tend to work more for the same pay, and the company can slash overhead at headquarters. That’s because many employees can now work from home, and managers can do more scut work for themselves via their gadgets, meaning fewer administrative employees are needed to assist them.”
Keep hackers out
www.icsfl.com/Downloads/rfs_wireless_security.pdf
This PDF white paper, “Wireless security: It’s like securing your home,” provides an overview of wireless local area network (WLAN) issues in very simple terms. It’s a sobering look at how easily hackers can break into a system. “The issue is not that hackers (burglars) can break security measures, but that they can walk right in and take what they want.” The paper claims that only a small number of people use security appropriately — many haven’t turned security on and others have turned it off due to a lack of understanding. The paper also looks at the amount of security needed, which varies depending on the type of business. If the fact an employee punched in 10 minutes late is the most important piece of data, the paper says only basic security is needed. “But if your firm handles customer credit card information or personal health records, protecting that data may be critical to your company’s very existence.”
Uncertain health effects
www.computerworld.com/networkingtopics/networking/story/0,10801,110567p2,00.html
Much has been written about whether or not wireless devices pose a health risk, but there’s still no final verdict on the issue. This Computerworld article, “Is wireless hazardous to your health?” states up front that no one knows for sure. After reviewing an enormous amount on the subject and consulting with physicians and physicists, the author concluded “consumer-grade wireless will not cause disease in most people. I have to allow that certain people might have a genetic proclivity to developing cancer or another illness from some amount of exposure, but I’ve never seen anything published on this topic.” The article goes on to say that studies that do get published are often sensational or result from “poorly executed research featuring too many variables or too small a sample.” The article says the issue should be studied more carefully, “but for now, my feelings are that our attitude should be one of prudence, not paranoia.”
A city goes wireless
www.cips.ca/news/national/news.asp?aID=2195
This article on the Canadian Information Processing Society’s site, “Best practices in IT: Wi-fi network transforms Fredericton into a hot zone for mobile business and lifestyle,” outlines the city’s efforts in creating Fred-eZone, a free, community-wide network that gives residents, visitors and businesses mobile broadband access across the city. “By delivering high-speed (minimum 100 Mbps) and low-cost connectivity, the new network brought many benefits to the municipal government and to local businesses and institutions.” One benefit cited is that “local business people, as well as those visiting, can stay connected, free of cost and hassle, thus contributing to Fredericton’s reputation as an easy place to do business.”
Ann Macaulay is a freelance editor and regular contributor to Canadian HR Reporter. Her Web Sight column appears regularly in the CloseUp section.
