AP (Access Point)

A networking device allowing wireless devices (Wi-Fi, cellular) to connect to a wired network. In enterprise and carrier environments, APs include security features like WPA2/WPA3 encryption and 802.1X authentication.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkSecurity ControlsEncryption and Cryptography

AP in context

The radio access network is where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations and downgrade attacks; defenses rest on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

Security controls span signaling firewalls (SS7/Diameter/GTP screening), transport encryption (IPsec, TLS, PRINS), identity and access on OSS/BSS, and monitoring at both packet and log level. Controls are audited against GSMA FS.11/FS.19/FS.20/FS.36.

To place AP in the wider telecom-security picture, review HTTPS, MAC, RFID, MACsec, 1G and 2G — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

More from the TelcoSec Glossary

Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.