Friday 1 December 2006, 6:07 PM
Visa goes WiFi thanks to Starbucks
Fact: Visa has implemented a wireless LAN only because its workers sat at their desks piggybacking on the Starbucks network next door.
It might seem surprising as Visa is one of the rather more security conscious companies on the planet.
But anyway, the process of deploying its WLAN went something like this simple ten-step procedure (credit: Andrew Vorster, head of technology services, Visa):
1) Staff drink coffee in office.
2) Staff realise while drinking coffee that can hack into Starbucks WiFi network (legally, mind)
3) Staff want own wireless hotspot
4) Visa prizes its security
5) Visa doesn't like wireless
6) Visa tells staff to go away
7) Staff VPN in to Visa network through Starbucks hotspot
8) Visa understands hypocrisy
9) Visa implements wireless LAN
10) Workers access Visa network without tunnelling through Starbucks.
Clearly, those who have tried to produce an ROI for such installations have got it all wrong. Mutinies are far quicker.
Full story here.
It might seem surprising as Visa is one of the rather more security conscious companies on the planet.
But anyway, the process of deploying its WLAN went something like this simple ten-step procedure (credit: Andrew Vorster, head of technology services, Visa):
1) Staff drink coffee in office.
2) Staff realise while drinking coffee that can hack into Starbucks WiFi network (legally, mind)
3) Staff want own wireless hotspot
4) Visa prizes its security
5) Visa doesn't like wireless
6) Visa tells staff to go away
7) Staff VPN in to Visa network through Starbucks hotspot
8) Visa understands hypocrisy
9) Visa implements wireless LAN
10) Workers access Visa network without tunnelling through Starbucks.
Clearly, those who have tried to produce an ROI for such installations have got it all wrong. Mutinies are far quicker.
Full story here.


