AirTight unveils WiFi security products suite

AirTight Networks the WiFi security solutions developer, on Monday unveiled its SpectraGuard "family" of wireless security products that identify and stop network security risks and attacks, provide real-time network audits, assist in performance troubleshooting and monitoring the overall health of a wireless local area network (LAN).

Kiran Deshpande, president of AirTight Networks said on Monday that the company sees significant opportunity in the wake of the proliferation of wireless devices, which may lead to serious problems of information security.

"The wireless local area networking has thrown up information security challenges due to invisibility of the wireless medium and spatial availability of the network, leading to outsiders being able to connect to enterprise networks, breaking the traditional barriers like firewalls," said Deshpande.

The specific threats, he said can arise from unmanaged, uncontrolled access point (wireless device) present in the enterprise network, or denial of service and ad hoc wireless connections, he said.

AirTight Networks' solutions - classified under Wireless Security Intrusion Prevention (WIPS) - will help businesses detect and classify the wireless threats, prevent them from sneaking into the database and locate the wireless device as well, Deshpande informed.

SpectraGuard is the enterprise level solution that provides round-the-clock monitoring of the entire corporate airspace to accurately log all WiFi devices within the corporate air - authorised, external and unauthorised.

Communication with external devises, if unauthorised, is disabled, thereby ensuring security of information. SpectraGuard Sentry, which is a wireless sensor device, is a low cost solution, affordable to the small businesses and offices, which protects the office with a single unit. Additionally, the SpectraGuard Planner is a solution that helps Wireless LAN planning for performance, coverage and security.

Deshpande said the company's Pune office has developed this solution which is patented in the US. He said the wireless communication technology has been making such rapid progress that an estimated 80 per cent of all commercial enterprises will be using it in the next few years.

"That is a huge market, as just about five per cent of the companies have made provision for wireless security so far," he said, indicating that the market size could be about $3 billion.

Dennis Tsu, vice-president of the marketing division of the company said, the ever increasing base of laptops will bring a big threat to information security as each laptop comes with an inbuilt wireless device, making them WiFi-enabled. "The moment you log on, you are accessible to the other laptops within a certain area, and your information is vulnerable," he pointed out.

Elaborating on the company's marketing strategy, Tsu said the company will adopt the value-added reseller route and also have a direct relationship with the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). He did not rule out tie-up arrangements with laptop manufacturers for providing the customers with inbuilt WIPS. "The pricing of the solution will be a one-time payment and annual maintenance fee," he said, putting the approximate price of SpectraSentry at $1000.

Deshpande indicated that the company was looking at the US market aggressively, although other markets such as Europe or even India has a big potential for its product.

AirTight Networks has received a venture capital funding of $3.7 million so far, in two tranches, he informed.