Your Guide to the New WPA3 WiFi Security Standard

According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, there are now more IoT devices than there are humans on Earth, and over 50% of internet traffic travels through wireless networks. As people’s dependence on connected devices has grown, free public WiFi has become insanely popular, but it’s also insanely insecure. Even password-protected home and business wireless networks are open to attack, as evidenced by the recent discovery of yet another serious vulnerability in the WPA2 WiFi security protocol. Earlier this year, the Wi-Fi Alliance announced the launch of the WPA3 WiFi security standard, which seeks to ameliorate some of the security problems with WPA2. Here’s what your business needs to know about it.

The WPA3 WiFi Security Standard: What Your Enterprise Needs to Know

What Are WPA2 & WPA3?

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a security standard developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a non-profit organization that promotes wireless technology and certifies products that conform to their standards. WPA3 was developed to replace WPA2, which was launched in 2004.

What’s New In WPA3?

The WPA3 standard offers several significant security improvements for both personal and enterprise networks. Because enterprise cyber security must consider personal devices brought in by employees, customers, and vendors, both the personal and enterprise versions are of relevance to organizations.

Protection Against Brute-Force Password Hacks

First, WPA3 has more robust password-based authentication that protects against brute-force offline dictionary attacks, even when users’ passwords “fall short of typical complexity recommendations.” This is accomplished through Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE), which replaces the Pre-shared Key (PSK) used in WPA2-Personal. Hackers will be prevented from making more than one offline guess at a password; they’ll be forced to interact with the live connected device each time, which is much more difficult.

Protection on Public WiFi Networks

WPA3 also makes connecting to public WiFi safer with “individualized data encryption.” Users’ individual data streams will be encrypted when they connect to public WiFi, even on networks that do not require a password.

Forward Secrecy

The new “forward secrecy” feature protects older data from being compromised by a later attack. This means that even if a hacker manages to break into an encrypted WiFi network, they’ll be able to access only the data being transmitted from that point forward; they won’t be able to access older data.

Easy Connect

This is an optional WPA3 feature that will make it much easier for users to connect IoT devices that do not have screens – such as the Amazon Echo – to a wireless network. Easy Connect devices will have QR codes that users can simply scan to connect to their WiFi.

192-Bit Encryption for Enterprises

Unique to WPA3-Enterprise, the 192-bit security suite is aimed at public and private-sector organizations that transmit highly sensitive data over their wireless networks, such as government data, financial information, or digital intellectual property. When 192-bit cryptographic strength is enabled, the network will not allow devices to connect unless they meet an equivalent level of cryptographic strength.

How Long Until It Rolls Out?

Technically, WPA3 is already here. The Wi-Fi Alliance began certifying products in June, and we should start seeing them on store shelves before the end of the year. However, the switchover will be gradual; the transition from WEP to WPA2 took several years. While some devices will be able to transition to WPA3 with a simple software update, products that have embedded WiFi or wireless access points will have to be replaced. In the meantime, the Wi-Fi Alliance will continue to support WPA2, and WPA2 devices will be able to connect to WPA3 networking equipment.

Once market adoption of WPA3 is widespread, it will be required for all devices seeking certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance.

The cyber security experts at Lazarus Alliance have deep knowledge of the cyber security field, are continually monitoring the latest information security threats, and are committed to protecting organizations of all sizes from security breaches. Our full-service risk assessment services and Continuum GRC RegTech software will help protect your organization from data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cyber threats.

Lazarus Alliance is proactive cyber security®. Call 1-888-896-7580 to discuss your organization’s cyber security needs and find out how we can help your organization adhere to cyber security regulations, maintain compliance, and secure your systems.

The NIST CSF can help small businesses evaluate their cyber security risks and develop or improve their defenses

Last week, the NIST Small Business Cybersecurity Act (S. 770) passed the U.S. Senate and was sent to the White House, where the president is expected to sign it into law shortly. The bipartisan measure directs NIST to provide resources to small businesses to help them implement the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (aka the NIST CSF) and to keep the needs of small enterprises in mind when developing future standards.

Understanding the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF)

The law does not require businesses to use the NIST CSF; it simply provides government resources to help small businesses implement it. This article will explain what the NIST CSF is and the benefits of using it to secure your small business’ systems and data.

What Is the NIST CSF?

The NIST CSF is based on NIST 800-53, which mandates security requirements for federal government IT systems. The NIST CSF is far more concise and uses less technical language. It provides guidance to organizations, based on existing standards, guidelines, and practices, to better manage and reduce their cyber security risk. It also encourages communications about risk and cybersecurity management among internal and external organizational stakeholders.

The most recent version of the NIST CSF, v. 1.1, was released in April 2018. It includes updates on authentication and identity, IoT risks, self-assessing cyber security risk, managing cyber security within the supply chain, and vulnerability disclosure.

The NIST CSF consists of three main components: the Core, Implementation Tiers, and Profiles. These are further broken down into five “functions” – Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover – which are subdivided into 22 “categories” outlining cyber security outcomes and security controls.

It is important to note that the NIST CSF was designed to complement, not replace, enterprise cybersecurity programs and risk management processes. It helps enterprises identify areas where existing security processes may be strengthened or where new processes can be implemented.

Who Should Use the NIST CSF?

The NIST CSF was originally designed for companies that are part of the nation’s critical infrastructure, such as energy and water utilities, transportation, financial services, communications, healthcare and public health, food and agriculture, chemical and other facilities, dams, key manufacturers, and emergency services. However, a wide variety of private and public-sector enterprises utilize it. It is inherently versatile and scalable, and it can be customized for use by organizations of all sizes, in all sectors, whether they are just developing a cyber security program or have had one in place for some time.

Why Should an Organization Use the NIST CSF?

There are numerous benefits to using the NIST CSF.

Currently, there is no federal cyber security law that all organizations can turn to when developing their cyber security programs. Instead, they must reconcile their efforts with numerous industry regulations, standards, and state laws. The NIST CSF provides a consistent, universal set of standards that any organization can use to evaluate their risk levels and determine appropriate cyber security controls.
The NIST CSF is flexible and scalable. It focuses on outcomes, not specific procedures. Regardless of their industry or size, organizations can achieve these outcomes in a way that is feasible for them, and they can continue using the framework as they expand.
The NIST CSF lays the foundation for compliance with other common standards and regulations, such as HIPAA, FISMA, and SOX.
Because it is written in plain language, many enterprises use it to obtain security buy-in from internal decision-makers, external partners, and suppliers who do not have technical backgrounds.

Using the proprietary Continuum GRC IT Audit Machine (ITAM), Lazarus Alliance can help your organization use the NIST CSF to evaluate your cyber security risks, develop new defenses or strengthen existing ones, and ensure that your organization is secure and compliant with any other applicable industry standards or regulations.