Quinton works as a network specialist at John Brooks &Co, ?an ISP. Part of his job requires him to authenticate and secure Wi-Fi networks using the EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol). ?Freesco, a client of John Brooks &Co., ?uses PKI (public-key infrastructure) ?certificates to exchange public keys. Analyze which of the following steps Quinton should follow under these circumstances.
? a. ? Use the EAP-TLS encryption to protect communications
? b. ? Use PEAP as it is tunnel-based
? c. ? Use EAP-MSCHAPv2
? d. ? Use EAP-FAST via Secure Tunneling
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
a. Use the EAP-TLS encryption to protect communications
Explanation:
EAP-TLS (Extensible Authentication Protocol-Transport Layer Security) is the most appropriate choice in this scenario because the client, Freesco, utilizes Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates to exchange public keys. EAP-TLS is specifically designed to leverage PKI for mutual authentication between clients and servers in Wi-Fi networks.
Why EAP-TLS is the Best Option:
- Certificate-Based Authentication: EAP-TLS requires both the client and the server to use certificates for authentication. This matches Freesco’s reliance on PKI, ensuring secure and verified communication channels.
- Strong Security: EAP-TLS provides robust encryption using TLS, which protects against eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle attacks, and session hijacking.
- Mutual Authentication: Unlike some other EAP methods, EAP-TLS supports mutual authentication. The server authenticates the client using its certificate, and the client authenticates the server, making it highly secure.
- Compliance with PKI: Since Freesco uses PKI, EAP-TLS fits seamlessly because it uses public and private keys, signed by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA), to authenticate the identities of both parties.
Why Not the Other Options:
- b. PEAP: Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) is a tunneling protocol that secures communication using a TLS channel. However, it generally relies on username/password combinations for authentication rather than certificates, making it less suitable for a PKI-based setup.
- c. EAP-MSCHAPv2: This method is password-based and does not utilize PKI certificates. It is less secure than EAP-TLS and not appropriate for environments requiring certificate-based authentication.
- d. EAP-FAST: EAP-Flexible Authentication via Secure Tunneling is designed for environments without PKI. It uses Protected Access Credentials (PACs) instead of certificates, making it unsuitable for Freesco’s setup.
Conclusion:
EAP-TLS provides the most secure and compatible solution for authenticating and securing Freesco’s PKI-based Wi-Fi networks. Its ability to leverage certificates ensures encrypted, trusted communication between all parties.