IEEE Standard for information technology-Telecommunications and information exchange between systems-Local and metropolitan area networks-Specific requirements-Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications: Amendment 6: Medium Access Control (MAC) Security Enhancements

This amendment defines security mechanisms for IEEE 802.11. It includes a definition of WEP for backward compatibility with the original standard, IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition. It defines TKIP and CCMP, which provide more robust data protection mechanisms than WEP affords. This amendment introduces the concept of a security association into IEEE 802.11, and defines security association management protocols called the 4-Way Handshake and the Group Key Handshake. Finally, it specifies how IEEE 802.1X may be utilized by IEEE 802.11 LANs to effect authentication. An Interpretation is available at http://standards.ieee.org/findstds/interps/802.11i-2004.html