Client: Global Chemical Company Challenge: A global chemical company sought a wireless network that would eliminate the necessity and expense of hard-wiring buildings. Due to the "openness" of wireless communications, the company required a highly effective security protocol that would block hackers and others who might wish to access sensitive company data, while allowing easy accessibility to employees at work, on the road or at home. Solution: Working closely with the client, CSC supported development of a wireless LAN architecture that enables appropriate network security by leveraging the client's existing "two-factor authentication" security solution. Results: In its prior hard-wired systems, each user paid for a LAN port with 100 megabytes of bandwidth. The Wireless LAN solution is priced per access point, not per port, and allows 10 to 20 users to share one wireless access point, realizing significant cost savings. Because employees have fast and easy access to the wireless network anywhere within their building, collaboration and productivity have also improved. Related Information Read more about CSC's Chemical & Energy business. Contact us and let our experience help you produce results.

It's an IT manager's dream come true: a wireless network that eliminates the necessity and expense of hard-wiring buildings, while improving flexibility and boosting employee productivity. One CSC client, a global chemical company, was seeing increased demand from its businesses for a wireless solution. The company collaborated with CSC to develop an secure architecture and offering to meet this demand.

The Wireless Security Challenge
The chemical client has a long history of applying IT solutions that drive cost savings and boost productivity. After investigating the possibility of implementing a wireless network across its global operations the company knew security would be the chief concern.

Due to the "openness" of wireless communications, the company required a highly effective security protocol that would block hackers and others who might wish to access sensitive company data, while allowing easy accessibility to employees at work, on the road or at home.

The company developed a Wireless LAN architecture that enables appropriate network security by leveraging its existing "two-factor authentication" security solution. To access the wireless LAN system, computer users must provide the following:

• A Personal Identification Number (PIN) that users must create themselves.
  
  
• An RSA SecurID® token card that displays a continuously changing numeric code.

• Site survey activity evaluation and network engineering of the Cisco wireless access point equipment, including developing new standards for exclusive use in the client's network
  
  
• Testing of the client software (Odyssey by Funk Software) needed for security authentication
  
  
• Configuring the client’s RADIUS environment as the essential middleware to support communication between the user, access points and the security software
  
  
• Packaging of the Odyssey client into an automated software installer
  
  
• Final creation of an approved service with pricing for all regions of the globe.