To allow visitor mobile devices to connect to a wireless network while restricting their access to only the internet (and preventing access to internal network resources), the common and effective solution is to implement a guest network or guest SSID. This creates a separate wireless network specifically for visitors, isolating their traffic from the main network and limiting their access to just internet services. Key components used to achieve this include:
- Guest SSID (Guest Network): A separate wireless network name (SSID) dedicated for visitors. Devices connecting to this SSID are placed on a segregated network segment that restricts access to internal resources but allows internet connectivity
- Network Segmentation and Access Control: Using VLANs and Access Control Lists (ACLs) to isolate guest traffic from the internal network. This ensures guests cannot access private servers or devices but can reach the internet
- Captive Portal (optional): A web page that visitors must interact with before gaining internet access, often used for authentication or terms acceptance
- MAC Address Filtering (optional): Can be used to allow or restrict specific devices, but it alone does not restrict access to only the internet
- Encryption and Authentication: While encryption (e.g., WPA2, WPA3) secures the wireless connection, and authentication verifies users, these do not inherently restrict network access to internet only but are part of securing the guest network
In summary, the primary tool is a guest network (guest SSID) with proper network segmentation and access controls configured on the wireless access point or router. This setup allows visitors to connect their mobile devices to the wireless network while restricting their access to only the internet and protecting the internal network
