Wireless Training Offered for IT Professionals and Wi-Fi Enthusiasts

The global use of Wi-Fi (802.11), the technology that enables wireless Internet access for laptops and other devices, is expected to grow at a record pace in the next five years, reaching 707 million users in 2008, according to Pyramid Research.

”As more and more devices come with built in Wi-Fi capabilities, wireless usage will proliferate and people will expect the supporting infrastructure to exist everywhere they work, play and use their devices,” according to Lee Barken, co-director of the Strategic Technologies and Research (STAR) Center at the San Diego State University College of Business. Setting up the wireless infrastructure has become a priority for IT departments, commercial properties and retail locations across the country. Providing security for these networks has become an absolute necessity, he said.

“That’s a gargantuan task for people in the information technology field,” added Barken, who also serves as President of SoCalFreeNet.org, a non-profit community group dedicated to building public wireless networks.

To address the growing need for wireless training, three new courses will be offered for business and technology professionals, as well as personal users, starting this fall. The training is the result of a new relationship between the Strategic Technologies and Research (STAR) Center at the College of Business and SoCalFreeNet.org.

Course #1: “Fundamentals of 802.11 (Wi-Fi) Wireless LANs” will serve as a beginner course to help introduce students to the world of 802.11 wireless networking. Course #2: “802.11 (Wi-Fi) Wireless LAN Deployment and Administration” will focus on deployment and management concerns. Course #3: “Security for 802.11 (Wi-Fi) Wireless LANs” will explore security issues and threats in a wireless world.

Barken says the attack and defense techniques taught in the security course will be particularly important in corporate environments, where information assets are most at risk. He is the author of the book How Secure is your Wireless Network? as well as the forthcoming Wireless Hacking: Projects for Wi-Fi Enthusiasts.

All three courses are offered in multiple formats, giving students the option of a taking a full-day 8-hour class, or courses distributed over two 4-hour evening classes. Students are not required to take all three courses, however, sequential completion is recommended and will result in a certificate of completion. A 3-hour seminar, entitled “How to Deploy and Secure your Home Wireless Network” is also available for personal users.

For dates and more information about the
Wi-Fi (802.11) classes, please visit http://starcenter.sdsu.edu/training or
call 619-835-9233.