When it comes to keeping company data secure, many organisations rely on 802.1X to control who can connect to their office networks. It’s a tried-and-tested protocol that works well when you manage the network infrastructure, but what happens when your people need to connect to data from home, a coworking space, or a serviced office where the network is managed by someone else? That’s where 802.1X begins to show its limitations.
Loxada offers a smarter, more practical solution for securing connections in environments outside your direct control. Here’s why it’s the better choice:
The Problem with 802.1X in Unmanaged Networks
802.1X is designed to secure networks by authenticating devices before they connect. However, it relies heavily on the ability to configure the underlying network hardware, such as switches, routers, and access points. In an office setting, this is manageable because the organisation owns and controls the infrastructure. But when your employees are working from home or in spaces like coworking environments, you simply don’t have that level of access.
This creates a significant gap in your security posture. You’re left relying on networks you can’t configure or guarantee are secure. Worse still, implementing 802.1X across such dispersed, unmanaged networks would require extensive IT resources, costly upgrades, and constant maintenance.
How Loxada Bridges the Gap
Loxada takes a completely different approach to the problem by focusing on securing the connection itself, rather than the external network. Here’s how we do it:
- Independent of the Local Network
Loxada’s secure, managed routers create a private, protected network wherever they’re deployed. It doesn’t matter if the underlying network is a home router, a coworking space’s shared Wi-Fi, or even a hotel network. Your employees connect via a secure environment that Loxada manages, removing any dependency on the local infrastructure.
- Simple and Hassle-Free Deployment
Unlike 802.1X, which requires technical expertise to configure and maintain, Loxada’s routers come pre-configured and ready to use. Once plugged in, they’re good to go, and our automatic updates ensure the device’s security is always up to date. This ease of use means your IT team can focus on other priorities instead of managing individual network configurations.
- Consistent Security Everywhere
802.1X works well in a single, controlled environment, but it can’t follow users as they move between locations. With Loxada, the security stays with the user. Whether they’re working from home, a shared office, or even a coffee shop, they always have the same level of protection. The secure connection is always on and consistent, no matter where they’re working.
- Cost-Effective and Scalable
Rolling out 802.1X across dispersed environments can be expensive and time-consuming. It might even require replacing home routers or upgrading infrastructure you don’t own. Loxada avoids this entirely. By using commercially available routers with custom firmware, we provide a scalable, cost-effective solution that doesn’t depend on external network upgrades.
- Focus on Data Security, Not Network Security
802.1X is fundamentally a network security protocol, but in uncontrolled environments, the focus should be on securing data and devices. That’s exactly what Loxada does. Our routers create a secure connection to your organisation’s systems, encrypting data and blocking malicious activity, regardless of the local network’s security posture.
Why This Matters
In today’s world, many companies claim they don’t have remote workers—but if your employees are connecting to data from home, a coworking space, or any other network outside your office IT environment, they’re effectively remote workers. The risks don’t disappear just because they’re not working from a traditional “remote” location.
Loxada offers a practical, scalable solution to this modern challenge. It provides enterprise-grade security without the need to overhaul existing infrastructure or rely on networks you can’t control. With Loxada, you can ensure your people stay connected securely, wherever their work takes them.
