What are actually... WLAN controllers?

March 22, 2019 Marcel Zimmer
On our own behalf

Those who do their work in the office usually have the need for a powerful network with Internet access. If a company consists of a few employees, the effort is not too great. However, as soon as a company needs a larger area coverage, more effort is required to integrate all end devices into the network. A WLAN controller is an ideal tool for this, which can achieve optimum performance with a professionellen Planung and Ausleuchtung .

Comfort and security with a WLAN controller

As soon as more than one access point is used, it is advantageous to use a WLAN controller. This is responsible for centralising maintenance, monitoring and configuration of the access points. After just a few steps, you can define different APs using predefined configurations, manage them simultaneously and add them to the network. An example of this would be setting the bridge or tunnel mode at Fortinet, as many FortiGates and other firewalls already have a WLAN controller integrated.
All maintenance tasks can be done quickly and easily. If several access points fail in an area, the WLAN controller will make troubleshooting easier. Since it immediately detects and reports failures and problems, the problem can be solved immediately.
WLAN controllers also have the option of monitoring various activities of the end devices and blocking them if necessary. These include, for example, foreign access points that pretend to be part of the network, also called "rouge access points". They pretend to be part of the network for companies and their employees in order to be able to intervene in the company network more easily.

Central control of multiple access points via one device

Access points can be controlled both centrally and locally by WLAN controllers. It gives your network better control, stability and reliability. The WLAN controller allows you to plan and manage projects. It also allows you to securely manage system updates from remote locations. If your WLAN controller fails, you also don't have to worry because it immediately switches to independent operation, keeping your network online.

Key benefits at a glance:

Improved end-to-end encryption
Flexibility and mobility within the company
Centralised, if necessary decentralised management
Easy implementation of individual network components
Temporary installations at events
Access to installed terminals at any time
Cabling of end devices no longer absolutely necessary

Author: Marcel Zimmer

Marcel Zimmer is the Technical Managing Director of EnBITCon. During his time in the German Armed Forces, the trained IT developer was able to gain numerous project experiences. His interest in IT security was significantly awakened by his service in command support. Even after his service, he is an active reservist in the Bundeswehr.

His first firewall was a Sophos UTM 120, which he had to set up for a customer project. Since then, his interest in IT security has grown steadily. In the course of time, various security and infrastructure topics have come into his focus. His most interesting projects included, for example, WLAN coverage in an explosion-proof area, as well as a multi-site WLAN solution for a large