Cloud-based wireless solutions require on-premises network devices, such as access points and switches, to communicate with a management platform hosted on the internet. This communication is fundamentally based on the Internet Protocol (IP), which operates at Layer 3 of the OSI model. Therefore, any network that can assign an IP address to the device and provide a routed path to the public internet will enable connectivity to the cloud controller. This is not limited to a single type of connection like cellular; it can be any standard internet backhaul, including wired Ethernet (DSL, cable, fiber), cellular, or satellite, as long as it provides Layer 3 IP routing.

A. BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) is a Layer 2 protocol for short-range, low-power communication and is not used for backhaul connectivity to the internet.

C. IPX/SPX is a legacy, non-routable protocol suite that has been superseded by TCP/IP and is not used on the modern internet.

D. While cellular is a valid method for internet access, it is not the exclusive method; wired Ethernet connections are more common for fixed infrastructure.

---

1. CWNP. (2021). CWISA-102: Certified Wireless IoT Solutions Administrator Official Study Guide. Syngress.

Page 318, Chapter 10, "Cloud-Based WLAN Architecture": The text states, "The APs connect to the cloud-based controller through the Internet." This establishes that internet connectivity is the medium.

Page 36, Chapter 2, "IoT Fundamentals": The guide explains the TCP/IP model, where the Internet layer (Layer 3) is responsible for "addressing and routing of datagrams across networks," which is the fundamental mechanism for all internet communication.

2. Cisco Meraki. (n.d.). Upstream Firewall Rules for Cloud Connectivity. Cisco Meraki Documentation.

Section "Meraki Cloud Communication": The documentation specifies that Meraki devices (a cloud-based solution) "must be able to communicate with the Meraki Cloud... This is done via a secure tunnel over the Internet." It then lists required IP addresses and ports, confirming the reliance on standard Layer 3 IP connectivity to the internet.

3. Kurose, J. F., & Ross, K. W. (2021). Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (8th ed.). Pearson.

Chapter 4, "The Network Layer: Data Plane": This chapter details the function of the network layer (Layer 3) and the Internet Protocol (IP) as the core components enabling global connectivity between hosts across disparate networks, which is the foundational principle for any device connecting to a cloud service.