Securing Wireless Grids: Architecture Designs for Secure WiGLET-to-WiGLET Interfaces

Wireless grids are ad-hoc dynamic sharing of physical and virtual resources among heterogeneous devices. In order for wireless grids to be secure, the main communication device called a WiGLET must have precise control over the distribution of information exchanges amongst the devices with the ability to accommodate new devices and resources spanning different levels of trust. A lack of trust in the WiGLET-to-WiGLET interface hinders its ability to protect information and to collaborate with unanticipated devices on unanticipated events at the time that such collaboration is needed. Not only do the WiGLET’s have to agree on the level of sensitivity of data, but they need to be able to determine if they all understand that sensitivity in the same manner. This article identifies three different types of wireless grid architecture’s and specific security considerations for each type around the WiGLET.