Wireless Networks Policy

Rationale and Purpose

The Wireless Networks Policy serves as the primary policy for deployment, management and security of Wireless Local Area Networks, access points and other wireless networks or devices.
  1. To ensure the technical coordination required to provide the best possible wireless network access for the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), UMKC Information Services (IS) will be solely responsible for the deployment and management of Wireless Local Area Networks and other wireless access points or devices on the campus. No other departments may deploy, install, manage or network wireless access points or other wireless devices.
  2. This policy provides the structure for a campus-wide solution for the implementation of wireless technology, which includes centralized determination of identity and authentication to ensure the appropriate levels of security for UMKCnet and the university community.
  3. Wireless in the Local Area Network is a fast emerging technology based on existing radio frequency technologies. Wireless technologies are by nature easy to deploy, but highly sensitive to overlapping frequencies. Because of these characteristics, all wireless use must be planned, deployed and managed in a very careful and centralized fashion to ensure basic functionality, maximum bandwidth and a secure network. It is not feasible to allow individuals to install their own access points without centralized management, due to the resulting signal interference and greatly degraded performance to the common wireless network and UMKCnet as a whole.
  4. Wireless access points must be tied to authentication security services provided by IS. Access points which have not been installed by IS are a security risk by permitting unauthenticated public use of the access point.
  5. Wireless networking technology shares frequency assignments with other consumer products (subject to FCC regulations). Frequency interference may be an issue on campus. IS will work with all parties involved to arbitrate the issue and seek the best solution in the University’s interest.

Scope

The Wireless Networks Policy provides guidelines regarding the following:

  1. The central deployment by IS of all wireless devices and related wireless equipment.
  2. The provision of wireless service by IS for campus departments.
  3. The management by IS of all wireless devices and related wireless equipment.
  4. The management by IS of shared (unlicensed) frequency spectrum on campus.

Policy

  1. IS deployment of wireless devices and related wireless equipment: IS will be solely responsible for the deployment and management of all wireless devices and related wireless equipment on the campus. No other departments may deploy wireless devices, equipment or access points. Any unauthorized device (unauthorized wireless device) will be disabled and removed from the network.
  2. Provision of wireless service by IS: IS will offer a standard wireless deployment plan that will meet the needs of most UMKC departments wishing to construct and operate departmental wireless services. Departments requiring a different wireless deployment plan should contact IS for department or building-specific wireless services. IS will work with departments to accommodate any special needs they may have within the technical constraints of the wireless technology, understanding that all requests may not be technically feasible and that there may be fees for some additional services.
  3. Management by IS of wireless devices and related wireless access points or equipment: IS will ensure that all wireless services deployed on campus will adhere to campus-wide standards for access control. IS will manage the wireless spectrum in a manner that ensures the greatest interoperability and roaming ability for all departments wishing to use wireless technology, and, using Active Directory, will centralize the process of determining identity, authentication and appropriate levels of security for access to and use of wireless technology. IS reserves the right to minimize interference to the common wireless network.
  4. Future wireless technologies: This policy will apply to future wireless technologies that allow any type of sharing of network services. This policy will be updated as needed to address new technologies, as they become available and impact UMKCnet.

Procedures and Guidelines

  1. IS will inform the UMKC CIO or designate on wireless plans, deployment strategies and management issues.
  2. Any UMKC units requiring additional wireless coverage should contact the UMKC Technology Support Center at (816) 235-2000 to start this process. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  3. All sensitive data being transmitted across a wireless network must be encrypted in transit using additional encryption technologies beyond WEP, such as IPsec, SSL or encrypted VPN technologies.
  4. Sensitive data that must be encrypted in transit would include, but is not limited to:
    1. Credit Card transactions
    2. Social Security Numbers
    3. Student FERPA protected information
    4. HIPPA protected data

Responsible Organization

The UMKC CIO will be responsible for this Wireless Networks Policy and for any appeals of IS decisions relating to wireless deployments. This policy will be reviewed as needed by the CIO. Changes will be authorized by the approval of the Provost or designate. IS will review LAN wireless access technology and standards on a regular basis and recommend changes to this policy as needed.