Which IEEE 802.11 committee standard was adopted by the Wi Fi Alliance as Wi Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), providing enhanced wireless security?

Introduction / Context:
Early wireless Local Area Networks relied on Wired Equivalent Privacy for security, which was later found to be weak and vulnerable to several attacks. To address this, the Wi Fi Alliance introduced Wi Fi Protected Access as an interim measure and later formalised Wi Fi Protected Access 2 as the long term enhancement. WPA2 is based on an IEEE standard developed specifically to improve security mechanisms in wireless networks, including stronger encryption and key management. Knowing which IEEE standard underlies WPA2 is important for understanding wireless security evolution and for passing certification exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• WPA2 is a security certification from the Wi Fi Alliance.
• It is based on an IEEE standard for wireless security enhancements.
• The question asks for the specific IEEE committee standard that corresponds to WPA2.
• We assume knowledge of general 802.11 family standards such as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11i.

Concept / Approach:
IEEE 802.11 is the family of standards that defines wireless Local Area Network operation. Members of this family cover physical layer specifications, modulation schemes, and security mechanisms. The standard that specifically addresses robust security, including the Advanced Encryption Standard based Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol, is IEEE 802.11i. WPA2 certification implements the mandatory parts of 802.11i, bringing strong encryption and authentication to Wi Fi networks. Therefore, the IEEE standard behind WPA2 is 802.11i, not the earlier physical layer focused standards such as 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that WPA and WPA2 are brand names from the Wi Fi Alliance that correspond to enhancements developed by the IEEE. 2. Identify which IEEE 802.11 amendment was focused on security improvements. That amendment is 802.11i. 3. Understand that 802.11b and 802.11g describe physical layer details for 2.4 gigahertz operation, and 802.11a describes 5 gigahertz operation, not security mechanisms. 4. Recognise that 802.1D is related to bridging and Spanning Tree Protocol, not wireless security. 5. Therefore, the standard that WPA2 is based on is IEEE 802.11i.

Verification / Alternative check:
Wireless security guides, vendor documentation, and training materials all describe WPA2 as the Wi Fi Alliance certification that implements IEEE 802.11i. These references explain that WPA2 requires support for Advanced Encryption Standard based encryption and central authentication mechanisms, which are defined within 802.11i. Standards such as 802.11b and 802.11g are frequently mentioned together with 802.11i, but they refer to different aspects of the wireless stack, which confirms that only 802.11i directly maps to WPA2.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
IEEE 802.11b: This standard defines a 2.4 gigahertz physical layer for 11 megabit per second wireless operation and does not focus on modern security enhancements.
IEEE 802.11g: This standard describes higher throughput operation at 2.4 gigahertz, combining features of earlier amendments, but it does not define WPA2 level security.
IEEE 802.11a: This standard describes operation at 5 gigahertz, including orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, but not WPA2 security.
IEEE 802.1D: This is a bridging standard that includes Spanning Tree Protocol, unrelated to wireless security or WPA2.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners mix up the various 802.11 amendments because they are often mentioned together in wireless design discussions. It is important to separate physical layer specifications from security enhancements. A useful memory aid is that 802.11i stands for improved security. Remembering that WPA2 implements 802.11i will help in both exam contexts and in real world design discussions involving wireless security upgrades and compliance requirements.

Final Answer:
IEEE 802.11i