Securing Guest Wi-Fi: A Zero Trust Approach for Security Leaders

Imagine an unauthorized device quietly connecting to your guest wi-fi network, blending in like any other guest. No alerts are triggered. Yet, within minutes, a potential attacker could be inside planning to disrupt your operations or preparing for a full-scale breach.

Guest wi-fi is a common aspect of many organizations, but it’s also one that is often overlooked from a security perspective. If not properly secured, it can act as a backdoor for attackers, who may infiltrate internal systems leading to sensitive data loss or disruptions to business operations.

At the same time, organizations can’t afford to eliminate guest wi-fi altogether since it’s essential for visitors, contractors, and temporary staff. This is why it’s time for companies to rethink how they manage guest wi-fi security and why adopting a zero trust approach is now essential.

Why is Zero Trust essential for Guest Wi-Fi Security?

But before we dive in, let’s first understand what zero trust means. Zero trust is a security approach where no person or device is trusted by default. They must be verified multiple times before being granted access to any data or systems within your network.

You may think, “But we already have strong firewalls protecting our network. Isn’t that enough to keep out malicious intruders? Why should we consider adopting the zero trust model for guest wi-fi?”

It’s time to rethink that assumption. Firewalls usually operate on the belief that threats exist only outside the network. But guest wi-fi acts like an open door, letting users in without checking who they are, what device they’re using, or what they do after connecting. This makes it easy for attackers to disguise themselves as guests and exploit weak points to access internal business systems. A firewall alone can’t stop such an attack because the intruder is already inside.

Just two months ago, Russian cybercriminals breached a Washington, D.C. based organization by exploiting weak wi-fi security (source). The attack was successful because the wi-fi network lacked Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

How can Security Leaders Implement a Zero Trust Model for Guest Wi-Fi?

1. Assess the Risks in your Current Guest Wi-Fi Setup

Before making changes, the first step is to identify the potential risks in your guest wi-fi network. To do this, conduct a thorough evaluation of the current setup. Some key questions you may consider are as follows:

• Who typically connects to your guest wi-fi? (Are they temporary staff or contractors or visitors, etc.)
• How do they gain access? (Is it through a shared password? Is MFA enabled? Are there any other additional security measures in place?)
• Is the guest network properly isolated from the company’s internal network?

A detailed look at such vulnerabilities can reveal security gaps you may not have anticipated, allowing you to address them proactively.

2. Restructure Guest Wi-Fi system using Zero Trust Principles

Zero trust, as mentioned earlier, follows the “never trust, always verify” rule. This means that every person or every device trying to connect to your guest wi-fi must be identified, checked, and monitored before they can access the network.

To apply this approach, you’ll need to restructure how your guest wi-fi works. Here’s how you can do it effectively:

1. Use Secure Authentication for Guest Wi-Fi Access

Example: Instead of allowing unrestricted access with a shared password, ask visitors to enter their phone number or email and verify it using a one-time passcode (OTP) sent via SMS for connecting to the guest wi-fi.

2. Assign access levels based on user roles

Example: A visitor may only need basic internet access, while a contractor may require access to specific business applications but not the internal corporate network

3. Check the security status of devices before allowing access

Example: If an unrecognized IoT device attempts to connect, the system should automatically block or isolate it in a restricted Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) to prevent a potential threat.

3. Integrate Guest W-Fi with your Existing Security Systems

Zero trust should work alongside your current security setup, rather than replace it. If your organization uses advanced security tools like Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) or Security Information & Event Management (SIEM), you can integrate guest wi-fi with these systems for better protection.

Since guest wi-fi is still part of your overall IT environment, it’s important to keep track of who is connecting. By integrating guest wi-fi data with security tools, your security team can monitor user activity and identify potential threats.

4. Implement Cloud-based Security and Captive Portals

To make guest wi-fi access more secure, consider using cloud-based captive portals. These portals help authenticate users online before granting access. Cloud-based portals offer stronger security and seamless integration with security monitoring tools, making them more effective than traditional on-premise authentication methods.

Example: If someone tries to log into your guest wi-fi using an unrecognized device, the captive portal enforces MFA or limits access until security checks are passed.

5. Enforce Least Privilege Access & Continuous Monitoring

Verifying a guest before granting access alone isn’t enough, their activity inside guest network should be tracked and restricted as needed. One effective approach is segmenting the guest wi-fi network using VLANs, ensuring guest devices remain isolated from internal systems. If a device exhibits risky behavior, its access should be limited or revoked immediately. Additionally, real-time monitoring helps detect unusual traffic patterns, allowing you to respond swiftly to potential threats.

Zero Trust is Key to Securing Guest Wi-Fi

Attackers are always on the look out for an easy way in, and an unsecured guest wi-fi network gives them just that. Without zero trust, it becomes a weak point that hackers can use to steal data, spread malware, or access internal systems.

By controlling access, verifying every user and device, and monitoring network activity, organizations can turn guest wi-fi from a security risk into a safe and well-managed asset.