Difficulty in curing choices! What is the difference between 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 6E?

In the past, wireless networks were considered convenient networks, while wired networks were the ones that provided the best performance. This is not what it used to be, because many mission-critical services are wireless, such as medical, manufacturing, and warehousing services.

Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E or 5G as appropriate

In the past, wireless networks were considered convenient networks, while wired networks were the ones that provided the best performance. This is not what it used to be, because many mission-critical services are wireless, such as medical, manufacturing, and warehousing services. The rise of video has put tremendous pressure on traditional Wi-Fi networks, which reduces network quality. The newer wireless solutions are obviously better, but the choices are confusing.

 

Wi-Fi 6 is built on the basis of Wi-Fi 5, but introduces many functions of the cellular network community to reduce congestion, extend battery life, and extend coverage distance. Wi-Fi 6E uses 6Ghz spectrum. Compared with Wi-Fi 6, it has faster access speed and less congestion, but it is not backward compatible with Wi-Fi 5 and earlier versions. Proprietary 5G uses standards such as CBRS (Citizen Broadband Radio Service) to enable Wi-Fi to reach the speed of cellular networks.

 

These technologies can't be said to be better, and their uses are different. The general deployment model is a hybrid of the three. Wi-Fi 6 is used for general-purpose connections. Areas with higher customer density can be enhanced with Wi-Fi 6E. Proprietary 5G will be used in mission-critical use scenarios, such as production workshops.

 

☆ Make security an inherent part of the network

 

In the past, network technology and security technology were deployed independently, and the latter was usually overlaid on the network. This is by no means ideal, but it is sufficient to prevent most security incidents. Network engineers will design the network, and security professionals will deploy security tools at each entry point.

 

One of the challenges facing today is that there are hundreds of entry points from SaaS applications to virtual tunnels to visitor access on Wi-Fi networks. Even if a company has money to spend, it is impossible to deploy all security tools to guard every entry point.

Another complication is the increasing number of security tools. In the past, firewalls and IDS/IPS systems were sufficient to protect enterprises. Modern security systems include not only these systems, but also ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access), SWG (Secure Web Gateway), CASB (Cloud Access Security Proxy), endpoint and network detection and response, and other tools.

 

An increasingly popular way to escort enterprises is to embed security into the network as a cloud service. This is often referred to as the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), which enables companies to deploy enterprise-level security measures anywhere on the network, including employees’ homes. The success of SASE depends on combining the security operations team with the network operations team. This may be a challenge, but it is essential for any business that wants to modernize the network.

 

Skill mix of network professionals

It is worth mentioning that today's network engineers need to become advanced software users, because modern network devices can be managed, configured, and programmed through software APIs and developer interfaces.

 

A few years ago, companies required network engineers to become developers in order to take full advantage of these software systems. However, this has encountered a lot of resistance in the network industry, because most network professionals have little interest in becoming developers.

 

In fact, network professionals do not need to be developers, but they should be familiar with how to use software. Making API calls to perform certain tasks is much simpler than using a command-line interface, and it also greatly reduces the possibility of errors. Although network hardware has been equipped with software interfaces for many years, the adoption rate has been low. If the network is to be modernized, the skill set of the people who run the network must also keep pace with the times.