Acceptable Use of Public Wireless Networks

Wireless networking is becoming commonplace in many homes and hotels as it allows individuals to connect laptops, workstations and peripherals directly to high speed Internet connections using radio signals rather than traditional physical cabling. While the ease of connecting networks utilizing wireless technologies is a selling point for consumers, they are very difficult to make secure. This is because of the readily available tools on the Internet that would allow someone to read your data or actually piggy-back into our network while you are connected.

Here in HRSDC, the use of wireless computing technology on department-issued laptops is authorized only under the following specific conditions:

  1. When the laptop is equipped with IITB-approved Air Card Technology, users are authorized to connect to the Department’s Intranet using VPN to perform all activities except for the processing of Protected C and Classified (Confidential, Secret, Top Secret) information. At present, only a limited number of Air Cards have been distributed and are available.
  2. If Air Card Service is not available and, you have an operational requirement, users may use the laptop’s onboard Wi-Fi capability to connect to the Department’s Intranet via Public Wireless Networks such as those found in airports, hotels, Internet cafés and the home place.

NOTE: The use of Public Wi-Fi Networks must diligently be used because of its low performance, connectivity issues and the security threats it poses. As such, users must abide by the Guidelines on the Acceptable Use of Public Wireless Networks found below:

Guidelines on the Acceptable Use of Public Wireless Networks

  1. User agrees to use Public Wireless Networks only when departmentally-approved Air Card Service is not available and there is an operational requirement.
  2. User recognizes that secure connectivity to the Department’s Intranet may not work.
  3. User has completed the IT Security Awareness e-learning program and, read the guidelines for Telework and Remote Access.
  4. User terminates WiFi connection as soon as their work has been completed.

Please note that this Bulletin deals specifically with WiFi computing and does not cover other wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, wireless headsets and, cell phones.

For more information on wireless technologies and obtaining an Air Card, contact the National Service Desk.

Questions about IT Security can be e-mailed to the IT Security Centre of Excellence.

Jean-Pierre Michon
A/Departmental IT Security Coordinator
A/Director, IT Security Centre of Excellence