Meru Networks, the global leader in wireless VoIP infrastructure, announced the industry's first wireless security solution that provides protection of wireless networks at the Radio Frequency (RF) signal level. The Meru Security Services Module, a software module that works in combination with Meru's complete wireless LAN product portfolio, bring enterprises a new, more advanced level of security for Wireless LANs delivering mission-critical applications.

Enterprises requiring the highest levels of security and confidentiality, including government agencies and financial institutions, often limit or completely forbid Wi-Fi use due to the gaps in existing security solutions. Even with packet encryption, networks can still be vulnerable to passive eavesdropping and information can be gleaned from those packets when using a wireless connection. The Meru Security Services Module, which includes Meru's patent-pending AirShield (TM) Technology, uses advanced micro-scanning, radio scrambling and transmission jamming techniques to ensure military-grade, radio frequency security for any enterprise. In addition, unlike other wireless security solutions, Meru's Security Services Module conducts its scanning without disrupting network services. This is a critical feature for enterprises deploying both voice and data over wireless for mission-critical applications, as these kinds of applications cannot tolerate the kind of transmission interruptions that existing security solutions necessitate.

"With growing internal and external security threats such as those posed by rogue access points, and compromised authentication and encryption schemes, a wireless security solution that extends to the signal level is crucial for preventing unauthorized access and security breaches," said Justin Morehouse, Director of Wireless Assessments, at True North Solutions, Inc., an information security solutions provider.

The Meru Security Services Module functions as part of Meru's System Director operating system and is installed on the Meru WLAN System's Controller. As such, the Module can be used in conjunction with Meru Access Points or Meru Radio Switches. The Security Services Module delivers three key features for enterprises, as follows:

• Continuous Micro-scanning with no disruption to network service -- a critical capability for networks carrying mission-critical voice and data traffic. Meru's patented AirShield technology accomplishes this through a technique called micro-scanning, allowing an AP to inspect packets and scan channels for security violations while transmissions destined for other APs continue uninterrupted. If a packet is incoming to the scanning AP, that AP processes the packet in a few microseconds, then continues to scan. This micro-scanning ability lets every AP on the network act simultaneously as a monitor and Wi-Fi access point without disrupting service to clients -- especially critical for running wireless VoIP.
• Radio Jamming to eliminate rogue transmissions before they add any traffic to the network. Once the Security Services Module scans and detects a rogue, it jams the rogue so that its transmissions appear as white noise on the network and all authorized clients and APs ignore the transmission. Unlike traditional rogue access solutions, Radio Jamming prevents rogue packets from ever being seen on the network, reducing network traffic overhead and ensuring that rogues have no chance to commit spoofing-type attacks.
• Transmission Scrambling to prevent attacks before they happen -- even those from passive or eavesdropping hackers. Traditional WLAN security solutions take packets and randomize the bits, giving only the sender and receiver the key to recovering the information. Meru's Security Services Module goes one step further and adds an RF-level scrambling in which only the sender and receiver are able to see the transmission and all other clients see only white noise. Meru's patented WRC/OD antenna technology accomplishes this without requiring any additional software on the client -- saving enterprises time and money. Whether an unauthorized client is in the building or using high-gain antennae from miles away, proprietary transmissions are completely safe from these intrusions and potential security breaches.

"Security continually surfaces as one of the key concerns for enterprises deploying wireless networks," said Joel Conover, Principal Analyst at Current Analysis. "With its Security Services Module, Meru has once again differentiated itself with its technical innovation, and provided capabilities that go beyond today's existing security solutions. This advanced level of security is critical to ensuring the widespread deployment of wireless voice and data networks across a variety of enterprise markets including healthcare, financial and government."

"With the rise of wireless VoIP in the enterprise and the increasing use of wireless networks for mission-critical applications, we recognized that today's enterprises require a higher level of wireless security than what is currently available," said Joel Vincent, director of marketing for Meru Networks. "Meru's Security Services Module delivers the kind of rigorous security necessary to protect enterprises from a wide range of threats and attacks before they can do damage to the network."

Pricing and Availability

The Meru Security Services Module will be available at the beginning of Q2, 2006. Pricing begins at $2,500, U.S. list.