ng to work. They also pinpoint areas of congestion and gather statistics on usage into reports. Cloud Service and Virtualization for Wi-Fi Management Controllers can be installed as virtual entities represented in software on servers. This lowers the cost of Wi-Fi networks by eliminating a separate server and additional utility fees for air conditioning and electricity. This is often possible because more of the functions are distributed to access points rather than contained in central controllers. Some Wi-Fi manufacturers provide an option called Software as a Service. This is a cloud offering in which the Wi-Fi manufacturer manages the controller and reporting functions at its own data center. For more information on cloud computing and virtualization, see the section "Computing and Enabling Technologies" in Chapter 1. Securing Wi-Fi Networks-WPA3 The openness of Wi-Fi networks makes them vulnerable to hackers. Access points continually broadcast their network's Service Set Identifier (SSID) and Wi-Fi devices respond to these broadcasts. These broadcast messages are vulnerable to eavesdroppers and can result in attempted and successful logons by unauthorized users. Unlike wired networks, there are no natural boundaries such as those around fiber and copper cables. Thus, in apartment buildings and businesses, signals often easily leak into adjacent units and outside areas. This is why most users keep their Wi-Fi networks password protected. A password is a start, but other factors such as strong encryption and ease of implementing security are important ways to keep Wi-Fi networks safe from hackers. www.TechnicalPDF.com The Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) security standard was established in 2004 and is currently used. In 2018, the Wi-Fi Alliance announced an updated security protocol, WPA3. The Wi-Fi Alliance is an organization supported by equipment vendors worldwide. It defines Wi-Fi standards and certifies equipment that meets the standards. The Wi-Fi Alliance specified the following WPA3 improvements: 192-