Cisco Cisco 4404 Wireless LAN Controller White Paper
Cisco and Intel—Five Myths of Wireless Networks
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Five Myths of Wireless Networks
IT professionals who have resisted deploying pervasive wireless networks based on
earlier assessments need to revisit their decisions in light of a new generation of
standards, technologies, and products.
“As organizations embrace wireless and
mobility to increase productivity,
enhance collaboration, and improve
business flow, a unified wireless
and wired network provides the high
levels of security, scalability,
and resiliency required of today's
business-critical applications.”
— Brett
Galloway
VP and GM, Wireless Networking
Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems
The primary reasons IT professionals cite for not adopting pervasive wireless are:
• The benefits of a wireless network versus a wired network are not clear.
• There are security threats to wireless networks.
• The complexity of wireless networks—and the resources required to deploy and
• There are security threats to wireless networks.
• The complexity of wireless networks—and the resources required to deploy and
support them—are too costly.
• Wireless technology is still not mature.
• Aside from data mobility, the business value of wireless networks isn’t evident.
• Aside from data mobility, the business value of wireless networks isn’t evident.
This white paper addresses the top concerns of IT professionals who resist the
deployment of pervasive, enterprise-wide wireless networks. It identifies these
reservations based on the experience of Cisco Systems
®
and Intel in leading new
efforts in wireless standards and working with enterprise customers. By presenting
advances in wireless technologies, products, and standards, this paper challenges
the outdated perceptions that currently prevent many businesses from capturing the
tangible benefits of pervasive wireless networks.
Myth #1: Wireless networks provide limited benefits compared
with wired networks
with wired networks
Many IT professionals do not see the business case for wireless networks given the wired Ethernet infrastructure that is currently in place.
While wired networks offer a more deterministic medium for data transfer, they cannot offer the pervasive connectivity inherent in wireless
networks, which are designed for today’s mobile computing environment.
A key driver for pervasive wireless connectivity is the increase in the number of mobile devices capable of connecting to the network. As client
devices expand in form factor and functionality, the benefit of wireless connectivity grows. Analyst firms confirm that for the first time ever, the
shipment of notebook computers has surpassed desktops. An estimated 95 percent of those notebook computers have embedded Wi-Fi. And
the growth of mobile wireless notebook computers shows no sign of slowing. Notebook computers in the enterprise are expected to grow at a
compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18 percent between 2005 and 2010. This is a significant trend for IT departments because the
7/25/06