Security algorithms in wireless LAN: proprietary or nonproprietary

Wireless LANs in business and for personal use are becoming common. However, many issues are impeding further adoption of the technology by end-users, in particular the inability or difficulty in providing adequate security between the networks and users. The two issues limiting wider acceptance are Authentication and Encryption. The IEEE 802.1x standard provides a framework for authentication of LAN users, while at the same time providing a base for sophisticated key management procedures. This paper aims to document these issues by comparing proprietary and nonproprietary Authentication and Encryption measures and listing the advantages and disadvantages of each type.