KevinBeaver   8960 pts.  |   Jul 13 2009  12:53PM GMT

802.11g is fine for most networks…and so is WPA using pre-shared keys (a.k.a. PSK). The biggest issue you’ll be faced with is throughput on the LAN side (for file copies, database queries, etc.).

BlankReg   11280 pts.  |   Jul 14 2009  7:03AM GMT

By going wireless, you open your network to anyone, both inside and outside the building(s). It is three dimensial, sending the signal in all directions, and doesn’t stop neatly at the walls, floors or ceilings. Wireless networks also need a lot more design to cover the areas required, and a full site survey is essential otherwise it is guesswork, and will result in poor coverage in some areas.

Therefore it is essential that you implement a high level of security on the network. Just implementing basic security, such as WPA, stops the casual intruder, but it is not too difficult to discover the key, so you also need to implement other layers of security, such as network admission control, and possibly additional authentication methods.

In the past I have implemented a VPN solution over the wireless network, to give a centralised authentication point, and to provide additional encryption of the data over the wireless network.

I would always recommend a wired solution wherever possible,and only use wireless if absolutely necessary.