What is Wi-Fi 7 Security?

By Lee Wright CWNE, Redway Networks, WiFi Specialist - September 2025

WiFi 7 introduces groundbreaking features like Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and faster data speeds.

But to unlock its full potential, you need:

1. A WiFi 7 access point
2. A WiFi 7 client device
3. Compliance with Wi-Fi 7 security requirements defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance

Without all three, your WiFi 7 network may fall back to WiFi 6 speeds.

Ensuring your WiFi 7 network is correctly designed and secured starts with a professional WiFi site survey, which validates coverage, capacity, and security before deployment.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about WiFi 7 security, including AKMs, cipher suites, enterprise and personal security modes, AP beacon protection, and real-world deployment insights.

Key Wi-Fi 7 Security Terms

Authentication and Key Management (AKMs) and Cipher Suites

AKMs verify users and manage encryption keys. Think of them like a combination lock on a safe - they control who can access your network. As part of a WiFi site survey, Redway Networks engineers validate beacon frames, security settings, and client compatibility to ensure your network is truly WiFi 7 ready.

Cipher Suites

Cipher suites encrypt data and ensure integrity, like the metal body of a safe protecting its contents.

Together, AKMs and cipher suites secure WiFi connections. WPA2 and WPA3 are combinations of AKMs and cipher suites working together.

Enterprise WiFi Security

For enterprise deployments, the Wi-Fi Alliance mandates:

AKM 1 (from WPA2-Enterprise) is no longer allowed
GCMP-256 encryption is mandatory

GCMP-256 Advantages:

Stronger security: 256-bit encryption instead of 128-bit (CCMP)
Increased efficiency: Reduced processing overhead, improving performance on low-powered devices

If your SSID uses WPA2-Enterprise on a Wi-Fi 7 AP, it will fall back to Wi-Fi 6 and only operate on 2.4 and 5 GHz. To unlock Wi-Fi 7 speeds and 6 GHz, use WPA3-Enterprise or WPA3-Enterprise Transition Mode.

Personal WiFi Security

Wi-Fi 7 introduces two new AKMs for personal networks:

AKM 24: SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) with group-dependent hash
AKM 25: SAE with Fast Transition (FT) for 802.11r fast roaming

Key points:

Hash algorithm varies with the Diffie-Hellman (DH) group (e.g., Group 21 → 512-bit hash)
Hash-to-Element is now enforced across all frequency bands
PSK AKMs (WPA2-Personal) are forbidden
GCMP-256 cipher is required

WPA2-Personal networks on Wi-Fi 7 will downgrade to Wi-Fi 6. Use WPA3-Personal or WPA3-Personal Transition Mode to access full Wi-Fi 7 capabilities.

Open and Owe Security

Legacy Open networks are forbidden
OWE Transition Mode is forbidden
GCMP-256 is mandatory for OWE

Only pure OWE allows full Wi-Fi 7 speeds.

AP Beacon Protection

AP Beacon Protection adds a Message Integrity Code (MIC) to the beacon frame. This ensures that beacons are tamper-free and safe.

Mandatory for all Wi-Fi 7 connections, regardless of security type

Backward Compatibility

Wi-Fi 7 APs must still support older clients.

New AKMs are not backward compatible
Some legacy clients do not support GCMP-256

Solution: Configure your SSID with multiple AKMs and cipher suites to ensure compatibility while maintaining security.

Real-World WiFi 7 Security Deployment

Lee Wright captured over 39,000 unique BSSIDs in London, of which only ~1,000 were WiFi 7:

None met all WiFi 7 requirements
~50% still used WPA2 or Open (forbidden types)
Only one BSSID used GCMP-256
No SSIDs used AP beacon protection

Some Wi-Fi 7 connections still form using optional AKMs/cipher suites, but mandatory requirements like AKM24, GCMP-256, and beacon protection are essential for future-proof security.

lee on the bus

Most Common AKMs and Cipher Suites

WPA2 AKMs are still popular
WPA3 AKMs are gaining traction
CCMP-128 remains common; CCMP-256 is rare and mostly used in hidden mesh networks

Tip: Use our AKM/Cipher Suite Cheat Sheet to configure SSIDs correctly for maximum compatibility.

MLO and Roaming Considerations

All frequency bands must use the same AKM for Multi-Link Operation (MLO)
During roaming, mismatched AKMs/cipher suites between WiFi 7 and older APs can disconnect clients
Solutions:
1. Reduce Wi-Fi 7 AP capabilities (less ideal)
2. Add new AKMs/cipher suites to non-WiFi 7 APs (recommended)

Validating AKMs and Cipher Suites

Engineers can check which AKMs and cipher suites are active using beacon frames under the RSN information tag.

Example: SSID with GCMP-256 + CCMP-128 and AKM8 + AKM24
Ensures both client compatibility and optimal WiFi 7 performance

Key takeaway:

Without WPA3, GCMP-256 encryption, and AP Beacon Protection, WiFi 7 networks cannot deliver their full performance and will fall back to WiFi 6 behaviour. Correct configuration, validation, and real-world testing are essential to ensure WiFi 7 deployments are secure, compatible, and future-proof.

How Redway Networks Can Help

Redway Networks has years of experience helping different industries improve their Wi-Fi networks. Our certified wireless experts know how to optimise performance and coverage so you get the best performance and reliability available.