Patent ID: 8477747

Claim:
A method for automatically identifying wireless endpoints to be secured in a wireless network context, the method comprising the steps of: detecting wireless endpoints connecting to a wireless access point; determining that at least one detected endpoint is connecting to the wireless access point to join a wireless network; for at least one endpoint determined to be connecting to the wireless access point to join a wireless network, automatically identifying that at least one endpoint as an endpoint to be managed as authorized, but with network controls, comprising: providing a controlled SSID (service set identifier) for selecting a wireless access point and a controlled passphrase pair for successfully accessing a wireless network by controlled users, and a non-controlled SSID and a non-controlled passphrase pair for successfully accessing a wireless network by non-controlled users; for at least one endpoint determined to be connecting to the wireless access point to join a wireless network, determining that the at least one endpoint is using the controlled SSID and controlled passphrase pair; responsive to determining that the at least one endpoint is using the controlled SSID and controlled passphrase pair, automatically identifying that at least one endpoint as an endpoint to be managed; for at least one endpoint determined to be connecting to the wireless access point to join a wireless network, determining that the at least one endpoint is using the non-controlled SSID and non-controlled passphrase pair; and responsive to determining that the at least one endpoint is using the non-controlled SSID and non-controlled passphrase pair, automatically identifying the at least one endpoint as an endpoint not to be managed; and automatically identifying at least one identified endpoint, as determined by the controlled SSID and controlled passphrase pair, to be managed to an endpoint management system.