Intelligent RF Detection & Radio Frequency Monitoring

Real-Time Wireless Threat Detection Powered by Bastille

Bastille delivers a powerful enterprise-grade radio frequency (RF) detection platform that continuously monitors your airspace for wireless threats. Using advanced software-defined radios (SDRs), Bastille provides real-time RF detection, geolocation, and mitigation of unauthorized wireless activity.

With 100% passive monitoring, Bastille’s solution offers unparalleled visibility into the radio spectrum, identifying hidden threats that traditional tools miss.

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What is RF Detection & Why Does It Matter?

RF detection is the process of identifying when a device sends a wireless transmission by detecting signal power on a frequency. RF detectors may also identify and analyze electromagnetic emissions from wireless devices. In enterprise environments, this technology fills a crucial security gap that traditional physical and network-based tools overlook. Threat actors increasingly exploit wireless vectors (rogue cellphones, keyloggers, hidden hotspots, etc.) to infiltrate secure spaces or exfiltrate data.

A radio frequency detector continuously scans for wireless signals within its range. It captures transmissions from any RF-emitting device, regardless of protocol or manufacturer. For enterprises handling sensitive data or operating in high-security environments, RF detection provides an essential layer of protection against invisible threats.

What is RF Detection & Why Does It Matter?

Who Uses RF Detection?

Organizations that must protect their environments from wireless attack use RF detection. Bastille's RF detection platform is trusted by organizations where wireless security is mission-critical. These industries benefit from comprehensive RF visibility to support compliance, reduce risk, and enhance incident response.

Federal & Government Agencies
Defense installations, intelligence agencies, and government contractors use Bastille to enforce no-wireless zones, detect unauthorized transmissions, and protect classified operations. The platform helps meet stringent requirements for SCIFs/SAPFs, FISMA, and CNSS policies.
Financial Institutions
Banks and trading platforms depend on uninterrupted network operations and data integrity. RF monitoring identifies unauthorized devices that could interfere with core systems, capture transaction data, or facilitate insider threats. Bastille also supports compliance with GLBA and other regulatory frameworks.
Data Centers
Data centers, whether private, co-located, or cloud-based, require continuous RF visibility to protect their critical infrastructure. Bastille detects unauthorized wireless activity near server racks and secure areas, ensuring a hardened security perimeter.
Critical Infrastructure
Operators of power grids, water systems, transportation networks, and telecom facilities use Bastille to detect unauthorized wireless emissions that may indicate cyber-physical threats. RF monitoring complements OT security strategies and complies with NERC CIP and other sector-specific standards.
Healthcare & Research Labs
Hospitals and research institutions must secure patient data and proprietary information to ensure confidentiality and protect sensitive information. Bastille enables HIPAA and FDA compliance by identifying hidden or unapproved wireless devices in labs, treatment centers, and clinical trial areas.

How RF Detection Works: Detecting Wireless Threats with Advanced RF Detector

What Do Radio Frequency Detectors Do?

Radio frequency detectors operate by identifying if RF emissions from electronic devices occur at a particular frequency. However, while detecting the presence of a device has some utility, it’s not particularly helpful for security teams if they can’t locate the device quickly. Bastille’s intelligent RF monitoring can identify, classify, and localize wireless threats, making it a more effective solution for wireless security.

Bastille utilizes SDRs to monitor a broad spectrum (100 MHz to 7.125 GHz), encompassing Wi-Fi, LTE, 5G, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and other technologies. Once the platform detects a transmission, it uses signal characteristics and transmission metadata to identify the device emitting the signal. The system identifies device type, communication protocol, and behavioral patterns, differentiating between sanctioned and unauthorized equipment. Handheld spectrum analyzers or periodic scans provide similar visibility, but it is very coarse compared to Bastille’s solution, lacking any kind of device identification or behavior analysis.

Bastille’s real-time detection architecture enables persistent awareness across all wireless environments. However, where Bastille goes beyond merely detecting the signal is the advanced processing the platform does to accurately locate the device to within 1-3 meters of accuracy.

What Do Radio Frequency Detectors Do?

Bastille’s Approach to RF Detection

Bastille's RF detection platform combines advanced hardware, intelligent software, and architectural flexibility to deliver actionable wireless security.

Continuous RF Monitoring
Bastille's platform operates continuously, detecting all RF transmissions within the monitored area. This capability allows organizations to detect transient devices, off-hours threats, and intermittent signals that would evade periodic scans.
Machine Learning-Based Analysis
Bastille utilizes machine learning to classify signals and assess risk in real time. This enables the system to distinguish between normal operations and anomalous or malicious activity, reducing alert fatigue and improving operator efficiency.
Software-Defined Radios (SDRs)
The SDR infrastructure provides Bastille with the flexibility to support emerging protocols and frequency bands. Bastille can deploy updates without hardware swaps, enabling customers to adapt to new threat vectors as they arise.The SDR infrastructure provides Bastille with the flexibility to support emerging protocols and frequency bands. Bastille can deploy updates without hardware swaps, enabling customers to adapt to new threat vectors as they arise.
Platform Flexibility and Integration
Bastille integrates with SIEM, SOAR, XDR, access control systems, and other security solutions to automate response workflows. The platform supports both cloud-native and on-premise deployments, enabling secure use in diverse network and regulatory environments.

Bastille’s RF Detector Capabilities

Bastille delivers a comprehensive set of RF monitoring features, designed to scale across enterprise deployments.

Real-Time Signal Detection
Acts as an RF frequency detector for the monitored environment, enabling threat detection capabilities.
Device Geolocation
RF monitoring software precisely locates the source of every wireless signal, enabling operators to pinpoint physical devices accurately.
Automated Alerts & Event Logging
Enables rapid response and supports audit trails for compliance
Multi-Frequency Coverage
Monitors a broad range of wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi, LTE, 5G, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and more.

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See how Bastille can transform your approach to wireless security.

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Key Benefits of Bastille’s Radio Frequency Detection

24/7 Visibility

Maintain continuous insight into wireless activity across your facilities.

Threat Detection & Response

Quickly identify and respond to rogue devices, policy violations, and insider risks.

Regulatory Compliance

Meet security mandates for federal, financial, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors.

Security Stack Integration

Extend the value of existing tools (e.g., video surveillance, access control) by adding wireless situational awareness.

Reduced Insider Threat Risk

Detect and deter unauthorized devices introduced by employees, contractors, or visitors.

Why Bastille’s Intelligent Wireless Threat Detection Surpasses Legacy RF Scanners

Legacy RF detection scanners and handheld analyzers offer limited monitoring capabilities for the RF spectrum. These tools rely on manual operation and detect only the presence of power in a frequency band. Without context or persistent oversight, they leave organizations vulnerable to undetected threats and cannot analyze wireless activity in real time.

Bastille’s intelligent, always-on platform delivers a significant advancement in wireless security through automated threat detection and continuous signal analysis:

Comprehensive Visibility: Bastille monitors the entire wireless spectrum in real time, supporting the rapid identification and localization of wireless devices and threats.

Advanced Threat Detection: High-fidelity signal analysis and intelligent device classification enable the early detection of anomalous or malicious activity, enhancing threat response.

Operational Efficiency: Bastille automates detection and device location, delivering real-time alerts that reduce reliance on manual investigation and accelerate incident response.

By replacing manual tools with intelligent, real-time wireless analysis, Bastille empowers organizations to eliminate security blind spots and respond rapidly to RF-based threats.

Why Bastille’s Intelligent Wireless Threat Detection Surpasses Legacy RF Scanners

Technical Overview

Software-Defined Radios (SDRs) – Tunable, adaptable RF capture across all enterprise bands

Machine Learning Models – Continuously trained to recognize evolving threats and signal types

Integration APIs – SIEM, SOAR, XDR, ticketing, access control, mobile device management (MDM), and other security solution workflows via documented APIs

Deployment Models – Available as cloud, hybrid, or fully on-premise solutions

Technical Overview

RF Threats Detected by Bastille

Bastille identifies a wide range of RF-based threats that can compromise enterprise security:

Rogue Cell Phones
Unauthorized mobile devices in secure or restricted zones
Disguised Wireless Attack Devices
Covert devices running attack scripts or conducting audio and video surveillance
Unauthorized Wi-Fi Hotspots
Unmanaged access points that bypass corporate networks
Bluetooth and RF Beacons
Devices that can transmit location data, facilitate exfiltration, or be used for surveillance

FAQs About Radio Frequency Detection

What is an RF detector?

A system that captures radio frequency emissions to detect wireless devices and activity.

How does Bastille detect threats others miss?

Through continuous passive monitoring, wideband coverage, and machine learning-driven signal classification.

Is continuous monitoring necessary?

Yes. Threats can appear briefly and at any time. Only constant RF monitoring provides full situational awareness.

Can Bastille locate devices physically?

Yes. Bastille estimates the position of RF-emitting devices using signal analytics.

Is the system passive or active?

Bastille’s system is 100% passive (FCC-certified); it listens to the environment without emitting any signals.

What is an RF detector used for?

An RF (radio frequency) detector is a device used to identify and measure the presence of RF signals within a specified frequency range. Organizations often deploy these detectors in environments where monitoring for unauthorized or unexpected wireless transmissions is critical, such as in data centers, government facilities, corporate offices, or secure laboratories. Their primary function is to help identify and localize sources of wireless activity, including potentially rogue or non-compliant devices.

What sets off an RF detector?

RF detectors alert on the presence of RF emissions within their frequency range, which could include:

  • Wi-Fi signals (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz)
  • Cellular communications (LTE, 5G)
  • Bluetooth transmissions
  • Zigbee or other IoT protocols
  • Proprietary wireless protocols or unintentional RF emissions

Depending on the device’s sensitivity and frequency coverage, even brief or low-power transmissions can activate its detection and logging functions.

What is the use of an RF detector?

RF detectors serve a range of security, operational, and compliance functions, including:

  • Threat Detection: Identifying unauthorized wireless devices that could indicate potential data exfiltration or espionage.
  • Policy Enforcement: Verifying compliance with wireless usage policies in sensitive areas (e.g., no-phone zones).
  • Spectrum Monitoring: Tracking usage across frequency bands to identify interference or inefficiencies.
  • Forensics and Response: Providing evidence for investigations into wireless security incidents.

How do RF detectors work?

RF detectors monitor the electromagnetic spectrum across specific frequency ranges and use antennas and signal processing components for:

  1. Scan for Emissions: Continuously monitor the RF environment to detect any signals in the monitored frequency range.
  2. Characterize Signals: Identify signal types, strength, duration, and patterns.
  3. Trigger Alerts or Logging: Flag transmissions that match predefined criteria (e.g., unauthorized protocols or channels).
  4. Support Localization: With multiple sensors, some systems can estimate the physical origin of RF emissions.

Advanced systems may also correlate RF activity with timestamps, device profiles, or other telemetry to support incident response and analytics.

What is RF detection in wireless systems?

RF detection in wireless systems refers to the capability of identifying and analyzing radio frequency emissions as part of wireless infrastructure or security architecture, which includes:

  • Detecting and classifying wireless protocols.
  • Recognizing behavioral anomalies in RF traffic.
  • Identifying signal sources that deviate from expected patterns or policies.

This functionality is integral to Wireless Intrusion Detection Systems (WIDS) and is used to secure environments from unauthorized or malicious wireless activity.

Can RF detection prevent wireless threats and data leaks?

Yes, when integrated into a broader security strategy, RF detection can help prevent wireless threats and data leaks by:

  • Identifying Rogue Devices: Detecting unauthorized access points, hotspots, or modems
  • Preventing Exfiltration: Alerting on RF transmissions used to bypass network protections
  • Monitoring for Policy Violations: Enforcing wireless usage restrictions in sensitive areas
  • Detecting Malicious Activity: Identifying unusual transmission patterns from devices linking trusted infrastructure

However, the effectiveness of prevention depends on detection coverage, response protocols, and integration with security operations.

Learn More or Schedule a Demo

See how Bastille can transform your approach to wireless security.

Learn More or Schedule a Demo