Access Point (AP)

Security+ 🏆 • Network Security 🌐 • Difficulty: premium

Definition

An Access Point (AP) bridges wireless 802.11 clients to a wired LAN, providing RF coverage and enforcing Wi-Fi security and network policies (encryption, authentication, VLANs, and QoS).

Examples

  • An office deploys ceiling-mounted APs using WPA3-Enterprise with 802.1X and RADIUS; employees are placed into VLANs by role after login.
  • A guest SSID on the same AP is mapped to a separate VLAN with client isolation and a captive portal so visitors can browse but not reach internal systems.

Discover 🔎

An AP is the wireless entry point to your network. It speaks 802.11 over the air and Ethernet on the wire, authenticates users or devices, encrypts traffic, and maps each SSID to the right network segment. Good AP design balances coverage, capacity, and security so users can roam reliably without exposing internal systems.

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