Like any network technology, wireless local area networks (WLANs) need to be protected from security threats. Though recent developments in IEEE standards have been designed to help ensure privacy for authenticated WLAN users, WLAN clients and enterprise infrastructure can still be vulnerable to a variety of threats that are unique to WLANs. Mischievous hackers may try to attack the network, or a negligent employee may create a security breach that leaves the corporate WLAN or a client device vulnerable to attack. These threats cannot be mitigated by traditional firewall technologies and virtual private networks (VPNs), nor eliminated through encryption and authentication mechanisms used in conventional enterprise network security systems. With a comprehensive approach to WLAN security, an intrusion detection and prevention system (IDS/IPS) for WLANs adds to IEEE standards-based technology and wired network security mechanisms. An IDS/IPS specifically designed for WLANs addresses the risks associated with this networking technology.