Cisco WLCs Get New WPA2 and WPA3 Options

Welcome to our November 2019 Blog update where this month I want to focus on changes to the Cisco security settings for WLANs and the new WPA2 and WPA3 options.

Cisco has changed its configuration options on both its AirOS and IOS-XE based controller platforms to include WPA3.

Now, when you select the security options on the latest AirOS controllers (currently 8.10) or IOS-XE controllers (currently 16.12), you get to choose from WPA+WPA2 or WPA2+WPA3. See Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1: New WPA2 and WPA3 Options – Cisco AirOS Security – Layer 2 Security Setup

Figure 2: Cisco IOS-XE Security – Layer 2 Security Setup

Note: you also get the choice of WPA2 Personal or WPA2 Enterprise, on the AirOS controllers. See Figure 3.

Figure 3: Cisco AirOS Security – Layer 2 Security Type Setup

These options fit more closely with recommendations and vendor design guides. The option to choose Personal or Enterprise is simply selected from a drop-down.

Finally, you can also select WPA3 and configure options such as OWE and SAE.

(Blog article follow-up planned for December on this).

*Note* Amended as of 11/30/19: my intention was to write on WPA3 SAE and OWE (well, Enhanced Open anyway). However, my good friend mrncciew has written a most excellent series of articles on WPA3 and Enhanced Open. So I’ll redirect you to his links instead:
https://mrncciew.com/2019/11/21/enhanced-open-part-1/
https://mrncciew.com/2019/11/29/wpa3-sae-mode/
https://mrncciew.com/2019/11/29/wpa3-sae-transition-mode/

See you next time!

 

About NC-Expert

NC-Expert is a privately-held California corporation and is well established within the Wireless, Security, and Collaboration industry certification training, courseware development, and consulting markets.
Led by its Founder and CEO, Rie Vainstein, NC-Expert has won numerous private contracts with Fortune level companies around the world. These customers have depended on NC-Expert to train, advise, and mentor their staff.

So remember, if you are looking for the best IT training just call us at (855) 941-2121 or contact us

NC-Expert Blog

Top 10 Wi-Fi Skills Sought by Employers - and How CWNP Training Delivers Them

January 5, 2026
Nice to Have vs. Essential Empty heading Empty heading Wireless networking is no longer a “nice to have” skill... it’s mission-critical. From healthcare and education to enterprise, manufacturing, and public safety, organizations depend on reliable, secure, and high-performing Wi-Fi. As a result, employers are looking for professionals who don’t just know Wi-Fi, but understand how to design, deploy, secure, and troubleshoot it effectively. Empty heading pty heading So, what specific skills are employers looking for, and how can professionals demonstrate they have them?  Below are the top 10 Wi-Fi skills in demand today, and how CWNP® (Certified Wireless Network Professional) training helps deliver each one.
CWNP vs CompTIA Network+

CWNP vs. CompTIA's Network+: Which Wireless Certification is Right for Your Career?

By Admin • August 15, 2025
For early-career engineers determining a career path can be confusing.

Wi-Fi Sensing: Is “Big Brother” Really Watching Us?

By Rie Vainstein • July 4, 2025
Connecting the Dots? Wi-Fi Sensing just hit the headlines in a big way, reportedly as the latest technological invasion into our lives. Many people were horrified about the threat of being spied on in their own homes. In this blog, we investigate the reality of the technology and determine how far the “Big Brother” myth actually goes. Phrases like, “Your Wi-Fi can detect movement,” can strike fear into the heart, that our every move is being watched and tracked... but is it really as bad as it seems? What is Wi-Fi Sensing? Wi-Fi Sensing uses the Radio Frequency (RF) signals that are already being transmitted by Wi-Fi devices. When these signals propagate through space, they interact with everything in the environment: people, pets, furniture, walls, etc.