10 Unifi WiFi Best Practices

The Ubiquiti Unifi WiFi system is a great way to provide high-speed wireless internet to a large number of devices. However, there are a few best practices to follow in order to get the most out of your Unifi system.

In this article, we will discuss 10 Unifi WiFi best practices that you should follow in order to get the most out of your system. By following these best practices, you will be able to improve the performance of your Unifi system and provide a better experience for your users.

1. Use a wired connection for the initial setup

The Unifi WiFi system is designed to be used with a wired connection. This is because the Unifi controller needs to be able to communicate with the Unifi access points (APs) in order to configure them. If you try to set up the Unifi system without a wired connection, you may run into problems.

Additionally, using a wired connection for the initial setup ensures that your Unifi system will be properly configured. The Unifi controller comes with a default configuration, but this configuration may not be optimal for your specific network. By connecting the controller to your network via a wired connection, you can ensure that the controller will have the proper IP address and subnet mask.

Finally, using a wired connection for the initial setup allows you to take advantage of the Unifi Controller’s “discovery” feature. This feature allows the controller to automatically find and connect to Unifi APs on your network. This can save you a lot of time and effort when setting up your Unifi system.

2. Keep your controller software up to date

The Unifi controller software is constantly being updated with new features and bug fixes. By keeping your controller software up to date, you’ll have access to the latest features and be able to fix any bugs that may be affecting your network.

Additionally, newer versions of the controller software are often more stable and perform better than older versions. So, by keeping your controller software up to date, you can ensure that your Unifi WiFi network is running as smoothly as possible.

3. Set up a guest network

A guest network is a great way to offer internet access to visitors without giving them access to your main network. This is important for two reasons:

1. It helps to keep your network secure by preventing guests from snooping around on your devices and files.
2. It helps to manage bandwidth usage by keeping guests off of your main network.

To set up a guest network, simply log into the Unifi controller and navigate to the Guests section. From there, you can create a new guest network and customize the settings to your liking.

4. Enable WPA3 encryption

WPA3 is the latest and most secure WiFi encryption standard, offering significant improvements over its predecessor, WPA2. One of the key benefits of WPA3 is that it offers individualized data encryption, meaning each user on the network has their own unique key, making it much more difficult for hackers to eavesdrop on communications.

While WPA2 is still considered to be very secure, WPA3 provides an extra layer of protection, particularly against brute force attacks. For this reason, it’s recommended that you enable WPA3 on your Unifi network if your devices support it.

5. Disable SSID broadcast

When you enable SSID broadcast, your wireless network’s name is sent out over the air for anyone to see. This makes it easy for someone to connect to your network, but it also makes it easy for them to snoop on your traffic or even launch attacks against your devices.

Disabling SSID broadcast hides your network’s name from casual observers, making it more difficult for them to connect to your network. Of course, this doesn’t completely secure your network, but it’s a good first step.

To disable SSID broadcast, open the Unifi Controller and go to Settings > Wireless Networks. Click Edit next to the wireless network you want to modify and uncheck the Enable SSID Broadcast option.

6. Change your default Wi-Fi password

The Unifi default password is the same for all devices, which means that if someone gets ahold of it, they can easily access your network.

Changing your password to something unique and difficult to guess will make it much harder for someone to break into your network. It’s also a good idea to change your password regularly, just to be safe.

To change your Unifi password, log into the Unifi controller and go to Settings > Site > Services. From there, you’ll be able to change your password under the “Admin Password” section.

7. Use a VPN on public networks

When you connect to a public WiFi network, you’re essentially opening yourself up to potential attacks. Hackers can easily set up fake networks and lure in unsuspecting victims. Once you’re connected, they can snoop on your traffic and even inject malicious code into websites you visit.

A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through a secure tunnel, making it much harder for hackers to intercept. This is especially important if you’re using public WiFi to access sensitive data, like your email or bank account.

There are many great VPN providers out there, so make sure to do your research before choosing one. And once you have a VPN, be sure to use it whenever you connect to public WiFi.

8. Turn off remote access

The Unifi Controller software is designed to run on a local network, and it needs access to the internet in order to function properly. However, this also means that anyone with access to the internet can potentially gain access to your Unifi Controller if you don’t take steps to secure it.

One way to do this is to simply turn off remote access to the controller. This will prevent anyone from being able to access it unless they’re on the same local network.

You can also take additional security measures, such as setting up a VPN or using a cloud-based controller. However, these methods are beyond the scope of this article.

9. Hide your router’s admin page

By default, the admin page for your router is publicly accessible, which means anyone can see it if they know your router’s IP address. And, if they can see it, that means they can also change your router’s settings.

The first step to hiding your router’s admin page is to change its IP address. By changing the IP address, you make it more difficult for someone to find your router’s admin page. The next step is to password protect your router’s admin page. This will ensure that only people with the password can access the page.

You can hide your router’s admin page by following these steps:

1. Log into your router’s admin page.
2. Go to the Security tab.
3. Change the IP address.
4. Save your changes.
5. Password protect your router’s admin page.

10. Update your firmware regularly

Firmware updates often include security patches that close up vulnerabilities in your system. By keeping your firmware updated, you make it much harder for someone to exploit a known vulnerability and gain access to your network.

Updating your firmware is also a good way to get new features and bug fixes. For example, a recent update to the Unifi WiFi controller added support for the new 802.11ax standard.

To update your Unifi WiFi firmware, log into the controller and go to Settings > Maintenance. From there, you can check for updates and install them with just a few clicks.