Time to read: 5 minutes 20 seconds | Published: March 5, 2025
What is an access point?
A wireless access point is a networking device that provides wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity to Wi-Fi devices such as laptops, cellular phones, and IoT devices using radio technology rather than wired network cabling. To address the ubiquitous need for wireless connectivity, access points have been designed to provide Wi-Fi for users and IoT devices across a range of environments and locations: indoors, remote, hospitality, outdoors, and hazardous environments.
Advances in Wi-Fi standards (802.11) have evolved to address the growth in mobility and IoT, bandwidth demands of evolving applications, and business requirements for high-performance, always-on, and secure wireless.
- What are key features of access points?
- Key components of an access point
- What are the benefits of access points?
- How are access points managed?
- What is Wi-Fi certification for access points?
- What are the different types of access points?
- What is the difference between an access point and a router?
- What are HPE Aruba Networking access points?
What are key features of access points?
Access points are essential networking devices that provide wireless local area network (WLAN) connectivity to Wi-Fi-capable devices such as laptops, cellular phones, and IoT devices. Here are some key features of access points:
- Scalability: Enterprise access points are designed to handle a large number of simultaneous connections, making them suitable for environments with high user density, such as offices, campuses, and public venues.
- Security: Advanced security features include WPA3, VPN support, RADIUS server integration, and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS). They also may support network access control (NAC) and segmentation to manage user access and protect sensitive data.
- Management: Centralized management through cloud-based platforms or on-premises controllers allows for easier deployment, monitoring, and maintenance. Features like zero-touch provisioning and remote firmware updates simplify network management.
- Performance: Support for the latest Wi-Fi standards (e.g., Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 6) offers higher throughput, lower latency, and better performance in dense environments. Technologies like multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) and beamforming improve signal strength and reliability.
- Quality of Service (QoS): Prioritization of critical applications and traffic types ensures optimal performance for voice, video, and other latency-sensitive applications.
- AI-powered Optimization: Advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI insights keep Wi-Fi networks performing at peak levels. Time-saving automation helps IT teams quickly detect and correct Wi-Fi coverage issues before users are impacted.
- IoT and Location Services: APs can serve as secure IoT platforms, supporting Zigbee, Bluetooth, and third-party USB devices. They provide location-aware visualization through centralized management platforms.
- Energy Efficiency: Features like Target Wake Time (TWT) help reduce power consumption, making APs more energy efficient.
Key components of an access point
Access points components include:
- CPU and chipset: The ‘engine’ of the access point
- Memory/Flash: The storage for the access point. Flash stores the OS and it runs in memory
- Trusted platform modules: Contain and store security credentials (recommended)
- Wired network interfaces: How the access points physically connect to the wired network and optional downlink wired ports for access devices
- Radios: Wireless transmitters and receivers of the access point
- Antennas: ‘Shape’ the RF energy from the radios to the clients, as well as allow the access point to ‘hear’ clients. Can be internal or external.
- Bluetooth and Zigbee radios, USB ports: Used to connect a range of IoT devices for video monitoring, temperature and humidity sensing, asset tracking, and more.
What are the benefits of access points?
Wireless access points deliver essential Wi-Fi connectivity, offering several advantages such as:
- Mobility: Access points allow for greater mobility across client devices such as laptops and cellular devices. In the past, many campus users relied on wired connections which tether users to their desk and limit the mobility needed for effective collaboration.
- IoT connectivity: Access points can be used as an IoT onramp, supporting connectivity with a variety of options (i.e. Bluetooth and Zigbee radios, USB ports), eliminating the need for overlay gateways. Access points are typically located on the ceiling, providing an ideal vantage point for IoT communication whether it is via Bluetooth (BLE) or 802.15.4 (Zigbee).
- Offload cellular traffic: With the rising data demands driven by 5G adoption, using wireless access points to offload cellular communications is a practical option. This use case is becoming increasingly significant as more enterprise cellular traffic is redirected to Wi-Fi.
- Go where wired can’t: Access points provide network connectivity to places where wired connectivity is not possible or not cost-effective. Access points can be deployed in outdoor spaces like stadiums and parking lots, as well as hazardous environments such as industrial facilities.
How are access points managed?
Access points can be managed in several ways, depending on the deployment environment and specific requirements. Here are the primary methods:
- On-prem: This method involves managing access points using on-site hardware and software solutions. It is often preferred by organizations that require full control over their network infrastructure and data.
- Cloud: Cloud-managed access points leverage cloud-based platforms for configuration, monitoring, and management. This approach offers flexibility, scalability, and ease of management, especially for distributed networks and remote locations.
- As a service: Managed service providers (MSPs) offer access point management as a service, taking care of all aspects of network deployment, maintenance, and troubleshooting. This option can be cost-effective for organizations lacking in-house IT expertise.
- Standalone: Standalone access points are configured and managed individually, often through a web interface or dedicated software. This method is suitable for small networks or specific use cases where centralized management is not necessary.
What is Wi-Fi certification for access points?
Obtaining certification from the Wi-Fi Alliance, an independent industry organization, indicates that the access point has undergone rigorous testing and complies with all the criteria associated with a specific Wi-Fi standard. This certification ensures that devices and access points from various vendors operate reliably, securely, and in accordance with the standard, such as Wi-Fi 7.
What are the different types of access points?
Access points are designed to provide Wi-Fi for users and IoT everywhere businesses and people are, and they support a wide range of use cases and price points.
- Indoor or Campus Access points: Ideal for most enterprise and consumer deployments, these access points are typically wall or ceiling mounted.
- Remote Access points: Provide remote access to corporate access applications and are ideal for remote workers, temporary workspaces, or pop-up locations. These access points are often deployed with a desktop stand and may include additional PoE wired ports to support devices like printers.
- Hospitality Access points: Ideal for hotel guest and employee Wi-Fi access. These access points may be used as a remote access point with an optional desktop stand.
- Outdoor Access points: Used in parking lots, stadiums, and warehouses, these access points are designed to withstand extreme variations in temperature, moisture, and precipitation.
- Ruggedized Access points: Ready to withstand outdoor, hazardous locations, and extreme-weather environments, these hardened access points are manufactured to meet Class 1 Division 2 or ATEX Zone 2 requirements.
What is the difference between an access point and a router?
An access point is a network device that connects wireless devices such as cell phones to the local area network via an Ethernet connection.
A router is a network device that connects Ethernet wired devices (including access points) and provides internet access. Routers can serve either wired or wireless connectivity for users and devices, while an access point mainly serves wireless devices, such as phones, laptops, and other IoT devices. Often routers designed for home use are ‘wireless routers’ which means they connect to the intranet and provide wireless connectivity. Due to limited scalability and performance, routers are typically used in small or home offices, whereas hundreds of access points can be connected using enterprise switches to support thousands of users.
What are HPE Aruba Networking access points?
HPE Aruba Networking access points are designed to enhance Wi-Fi experiences for users and IoT devices in mission-critical environments. By integrating advanced radio and antenna technologies with AI-powered network management, these access points provide comprehensive network visibility, improve mobile client coverage, optimize Wi-Fi bandwidth, and increase operational efficiencies.
Wherever Wi-Fi is needed, HPE Aruba Networking Wi-Fi access points are ready to provide fast, reliable, secure coverage. Our portfolio of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 6 access points are backed by a limited lifetime warranty and designed for the following environments:
- Campus and indoor workspaces
- Stadiums and large public venues
- Branch offices. remote sites, and hospitality
Outdoor, warehouse facilities, and hazardous environments.
What is the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless access points?
IEEE 802.11 is a wireless standard that includes amendments for technological advancements. Wi-Fi, based on this standard, has improved with each generation, offering faster speeds, lower latency, and better user experiences in various environments and with different device types.
802.11 Amendment | IEEE Classification for 802.11 | Wi-Fi Alliance Name |
|---|---|---|
| a, g | Non-HT (Non-High Throughput) | None |
| n | HT (High Throughput) | Wi-Fi 4 |
| ac | VHT (Very High Throughput) | Wi-Fi 5 |
| ax | HE (High Efficiency) | Wi-Fi 6 |
| ax in 6 GHz | HE (High Efficiency) | Wi-Fi 6E |
| be | EHT (Extreme High Throughput) | Wi-Fi 7 |
