Multimode Wireless LAN Service

Multimode/Wireless LAN Service (MWLANS) enables agency users to securely access agency networks from outside the agency firewall.

• Office Anywhere Mobility. Verizon's MWLANS solution is a flexible, fully managed offering for private networks. The Verizon mobility strategy provides additional flexibility to devices and processes through a wide range of mobile services that meets the needs of today’s wireless Federal employee. WiFi access provides the Networx user with a link to the Agency network and its full capabilities. In the office, Agencies can establish flexible and robust private managed LANs using WiFi technology. In designated areas, agency staff and other Government personnel can use dedicated agency hotspots. For travelers, Verizon WiFi public hotspot service is available in 36 countries at approximately 11,000 locations, including airports, hotel common areas and guest rooms, conference/convention centers, retail stores, business centers, cafes, outdoor hot zones and airplanes in flight.

• Client Access.Verizon implemented a turnkey solution for hotspot access with an end-user client (Access Manager). This provides a single network authentication interface for WiFi hot-spots and the public Ethernet access available at many hotels. Verizon's solution includes:
  • A common set of credentials managed through the front-end client that can shield users from many public hotspot authentication schemes that exist today for WiFi and Ethernet (such as in a hotel room) hotspot connectivity.
  • User access managed by a customer administrator through the Enterprise Service Management (ESM) Web portal, or for Networx users, through the Verizon Security Portal.
  • Hotspot location directory data available for local database searches on hotspot access locations within specific areas or by venue type.
• Access Manager: WiFi Management Made Easy. Verizon's Access Manager is an end-user application/smart client that provides a WiFi hotspot directory that is automatically updated as new locations are added. The application also manages the authentication process, which shields the end user from having to deal with numerous web portals and cryptic login strings. Access Manager also supports private network access, which enables customers to use the application on multiple networks without the need for an additional client. This smart client also automatically interfaces to back-office servers to update the database and software required to provide end user hot-spot access and updates about specific hotspot changes.
• Built-In Security. WiFi Secure Authentication is built into the Verizon public hotspot network, so that each hotspot network operator and/or aggregator must meet specific security policies pertaining to authentication and use of customer data, including SSL-based authentication, the minimum baseline security scheme required for all of our WiFi network providers. In addition, Verizon Access Manager clients are optimized to utilize SSL/HTTPS interfaces to ensure authentication-based security. Verizon's solution also supports 802.1x port-based security and EAP.
• Enterprise Services Management (ESM). ESM is an administrative Web interface / central console that manages all end user policy configurations and lets the administrator control various options available to the end user, including authorizing users and determining which groups have access to the public or dedicated hotspot services and to private networks. Each setting can be disabled or enabled by the administrator at any time and the changes are pushed to the end user during the user’s next Access Manager Connection.