Firms wishing to move beyond simple authentication and encryption to secure their wireless systems may be tempted by 3Com’s new AirProtect Enterprise, a wireless intrusion prevention system (Wips) that is designed to enable firms to proactively detect wireless threats.

3Com’s European marketing manager, Matthew Walmsley, said the product has been designed specifically to meet the needs of enterprise IT departments. "It has centralised management and policy configuration, unlike the branch office- and SMB-focused AirProtect Sentry that we launched earlier this year,” he said.

The system hardware is made by 3Com, but the software is licensed from market-leading Wips provider AirTight Networks. “We haven’t just re-badged the TippingPoint IPS system and stuck some antennas on it. This is a proper Layer 1-2 system and not the Layer 2-7 system TippingPoint sells,” added Walmsley.

AirProtect Enterprise consists of an AirProtect Server, which Walmsley said can support up to 210 sensors, but “as with all wireless deployments, coverage depends on environmental factors of firms’ office layouts,” he added.

The system scans 62 wireless radio channels and 3Com said that up to 20 simultaneous attacks per AirProtect Sensor can be prevented. The AirProtect system also has location-tracking functions to assist in rogue access point detection and removal. “It can usually give the floor and the room that the rogue AP is operating in,” said Walmsley.

Pricing for the system is based on configuration, with a starting configuration of one server and 12 sensors having a list price of about £8,450 + VAT.