WPA2 Enterprise vs. Personal: What Are the Differences
With the increased usage of wireless networks by individuals and businesses, security risks are also increasing.
It is also one of the significant reasons that the Wi-Fi alliance felt the need to shift to the latest technology from WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) to WAP2.
WAP2 is an upgraded form of WAP that contains more advanced features, authentications, encryption protocols, and certifications like CCMP to support Wi-Fi network security.
In this article, we will discuss WPA2 Enterprise vs Personal to better understand their features and applications.
1WPA2 Enterprise vs. WPA2 Personal
| Authentication | Management | Scalability | Designed for | Safety level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WPA2 Personal | It uses pre-shared keys for authentication. | It requires manual processing to manage various network activities on a few devices. | Only provides limited number of devices. | Personal use with limited number of devices. | |
| WPA2 Enterprise | It uses IEEE 802.1X for enterprise-grade authentication. | Allows centralized management system for bulk devices. | Highly scalable with increased number of devices. | For use in enterprises and organizations with large network, and environments requiring strong and scalable security. |
2Expand on That:
WPA2 enterprise is stronger than WPA personal because it provides strong authentication methods, processes, and protocols for enterprises to streamline security parameters.
2.1Security Mechanisms
- Different Authentication Process
WPA2 Personal uses passphrase and SSID (Network’s Service Set Identifier) using TKIP protocol to authenticate and provide an encryption key. It also requires a router password which must contains 8 to 63 characters.
In the authentication process, the WPA2-Enterprise requires a secure EAP mechanism. The most commonly used are EAP-TTLS/PAP, PEAP-MSCHAPv3, and EAP-TLS.
It can also accept a wide range of identities and enable MFA for more protected authentication. This helps remove the user's burden and makes the setup easier. - Authentication Protocols
Users are required to first connect to the secure network and then granted authentication to connect regularly to the network. WPA2 Personal uses pre-shared keys as authentication protocols. Three widely considered authentication protocols for WPA2 Enterprise are EAP-TTLS/PAP, PEAP-MSCHAPv2, and EAP-TLS.
EAP-TTLS/PAP
Credential-based EAP-TTLS/PAP was designed to simplify setup by requiring only the server to be authorized, with optional user authentication. TTLS offers several authentication options and establishes a "tunnel" between the client and the server.
TTLS, however, has many flaws. Inexperienced network users may find the configuration process challenging, and one incorrectly configured device could cause a large loss for the company. Moreover, it possesses no credential encryption and has the comparatively slowest authentication speed. It uses passwords for authentication, leaving space for compromise on security.
PEAP-MSCHAPv2
PEAP-MSCHAPv2 is a credential-based protocol designed for Microsoft or Active Directory environments. It doesn't require server certificate validation. The authentication speed is slow and contains 22 steps. Like EAP-TTLS/PAP, it also supports password authentication.
EAP-TLS
EAP-TLS is a certificate-based protocol that removes the possibility of over-the-air credential theft, which is why it is regarded as one of the most secure EAP standards. It has the highest level of encryption, as it possesses public-private key cryptography, with a fast authentication speed of only 12 steps. Additionally, because password-change policies do not cause password-related disconnections, this protocol offers the optimum user experience.
The misperception that certificate-based authentication is hard to set up or maintain has been proven wrong. Now, most people believe that EAP-TLS is actually simpler to set up and maintain than the other protocols.
2.2Configuration and Management
Many enterprises with managed devices lack an integrated method of arranging the devices for certificate-driven security.
Enabling users to self-configure often leads to misconfigured devices, and assigning all the tasks to IT can be challenging.
Configuring many devices to have a secure WPA2-Enterprise network takes much work as it is comparatively complex to set up and manage, but it's worth it.
2.3Encryption
Compared to WPA Personal, Enterprise is more secure. Each client gets a unique encryption key automatically after logging on to the network, and this key is updated automatically. Here, the benefit is in the user's authentication, not in the stronger encryption.
2.4Cost
WPA2-Enterprise involves a RADIUS server, which may also need additional resources, leading to extra costs.
Using WPA2-Enterprise for your business is beneficial as it gives users access control. WPA-Enterprise is also perfect for home usage but requires careful consideration of various aspects like expert management, software, hardware, and regular maintenance.
You can use WPA2-Enterpise at home if you run an online business from home and access confidential data or financial records regularly.
3Challenges of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) May Face
WPA2-Personal
WPA2-personal only contains a single password for different device authentications, so the probability of password leakage is higher than usual.
A single-shared key is easy to share with multiple network users, leading to data breaches by unauthorized access. For example, an employee with a password who left the company can breach privacy if the password is not changed.
It requires continuous key updates to ensure data security. WPA2-PSK allows setting a password of 63 characters. Setting a weak password is easy to find out through brute-force attacks.
Management of the shared key is complex for a large number of devices on the Wi-Fi network. It is only helpful for a few trusted users on the network.
Gaining unauthorized access to the network can result in downtime for days, weeks, or months. So, it is crucial to manage the key distribution to only trusted users.
WPA2-Enterprise
Unlike WPA2-PSK, WPA2-Enterprise is more secure but also difficult and complex to set up, as it requires a RADIUS server and certifications, which can be time-consuming.
It relies on the RADIUS server, so it is crucial to use redundant RADIUS servers, which can ensure continuity of work with high security.
It is crucial to ensure that only authorized users can access the network by incorporating strong authentication policies.
4How to Check Your Network's Wi-Fi Security Type
Here are the steps to check out the network Wi-Fi security protocol on Windows devices:
- Step 1:Choose the Wi-Fi option
- Open the Desktop of your PC or laptop and choose the Wi-Fi option from the menu bar, which is typically displayed at the bottom right corner.
- Step 2:Select the connected Wi-Fi network
- Check out available Wi-Fi networks and move to the connected one. Choose the Properties option to open concerned Wi-Fi network properties.
- Step 3:View Security Type
- In the properties Window, keep scrolling down to view the Wi-Fi details/ Properties portion. There, you will find the third option, 'Security type,' which shows your device's type of security protocol.
5Should You Use WPA2 Personal or Enterprise?
Choosing the right protocol based on your needs is crucial to ensure the highest security and functionality of your Wi-Fi network.
Size of the Organization
WPA2-Personal will be adequate for basic home networks or small businesses with a limited number of employees. Further, it uses only one pre-shared key for all users, which can be easier to handle on a few devices.
Conversely, WPA2-Enterprise is suitable for organizations with a large number of employees. It enables single-user accounts and provides better control over network utilization. WP2 Enterprise provides additional measures to ensure high security.
Security Requirements
The first thing that should be pointed out is that if your network deals with sensitive data, including financial records, personal details, and business credentials, you are highly recommended to use WPA2-Enterprise because it has 802.1x authentication.
It is improved with cypher block chaining message authentication code protocol and other parameters like Advanced Encryption Standards.
Scalability
WPA2 Enterprise is scalable and adjustable with increasing business size. If you have planned to grow your business to a greater level, then WPA2 Enterprise is preferable. For a static and small business where the chances of growth are low,
User Management
WPA2 Personal only requires a single password for multiple devices, making it easier to manage. Conversely, WPA2 Enterprise allows individual user authentications, making the system complex but more secure and suitable for large business environments.
So, it totally depends on the extent of usage and the business level that which protocol is more favorable.
6Common Types of Attacks Associated with PSKs
This personal edition uses PSK security protocols which are different from WPA2 Enterprise protocols. However,WAP2-PSK is a comparatively weaker security protocol, exposing it to numerous vulnerabilities. Here is the list of some common vulnerabilities users face while using PSK protocols:
Content Addressable Memory (CAM) Table Overflows
Content addressable memory is an overflow attack used by hackers to create multiple fake MAC addresses. It helps them overload the switch's CAM table, where MAC addresses are stored. The overloaded table cannot identify new MAC addresses and starts sending data to all ports, like a hub. It makes it easy for the attacker to capture data and perform man-in-the-middle attacks.
Media Access Control (MAC) Spoofing
MAC spoofing involves altering the device's MAC address and making it emulate the other MAC address on the same network. Since MAC addresses can be changed easily, hackers can invade privacy and integrity or create fake access points to intercept users' identifiers. Certification and control of ports, firewalls, and more enhanced authorization methods like MFA and digital certificates are required to avoid this dreadful situation.
Switch Spoofing
In a Switch Spoofing Attack, the attackers change their device to mimic the switch to other nodes. The device connects itself to the trunk of the network switch so that it can interpose and control the network communications. To avoid this, the organization should complete trunking on all the extra ports while ensuring that the Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) is turned off for all trunk ports.
Double Tagging
STP, a VLAN-hailing attack, transfers data to a different VLAN. The hacker inserts the VLAN ID of the VLAN they wish to belong to and the VLAN ID of the VLAN they intend to attack. The switch deletes the first tag before forwarding the frame with the second tag to the victim's VLAN. This attack is more or less a one-time process and is only possible if the hacker's device shares the primitive VLAN with the switch. It is recommended to avoid VLANs configured on trunk ports to overcome this problem.
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