Network Security First-Step, Second Edition

Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP)

802.1X is a standard for port-level security that the IEEE ratified and updated several times. This ratification was initially intended to standardize security on wired network ports, but it was also found to be applicable to wireless networking.

Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) is a Layer 2 (MAC address layer) security protocol that exists at the authentication stage of the security process and, coupled with the security measures discussed thus far, provides a third and final layer of security for your wireless network. Using 802.1X, when a device requests access to the AP, the following steps occur with EAP:

1. The access point requests authentication information from the client.

2. The user ...