Offering Wi-Fi to guests is common for businesses of all sizes. But is it safe?
There are advantages and disadvantages to your business offering “guest mode” Wi-Fi to visitors. It’s important to be aware of both so you can protect your business’ IT infrastructure and ensure that your network remains secure.
One reason businesses offer a guest Wi-Fi mode instead of access to their main Wi-Fi setup is that it allows for differentiation in the credentials used. Your guests can have a visitor password that differs from your company credentials — keeping control over guest usage and access separate from company usage.
Instating a guest mode also keeps sensitive data protected, as it does not allow access to the business’ main network. Guest modes only connect to the internet.
With guest mode, you may also limit the number of devices that can connect to the guest network, giving your business control over a Wi-Fi access point’s usage.
A downside to guest mode is that it is often an open and unencrypted network, meaning any network traffic may be vulnerable to “snooping”. Unless encrypted with a password every time a user logs in to guest mode, guests may be putting their data at risk. So be aware of what you and your guests send back and forth over this connection!
It’s also important to be aware that sometimes, even with an encrypted guest mode, it isn’t difficult for tech-savvy people to gain access to your network and sensitive data if your business is using unreliable routers.
To learn more about whether or not your business should offer Wi-Fi to its guests and how you can protect your business’ network from threats, contact IntelliSyn today!
