A method and system for pre-authenticating a pre-establishing key management on a roaming device prior to re-association to facilitate fast hand-off in a wireless network is described. For enhanced mobility, both authentication and key establishment is performed prior to re-association of the roaming device between access points. When the roaming device enters in contact with one of the access points, a local authentication is performed between the access point and the roaming device prior to re-association with the access point to allow for fast hand-offs of the device between access points within the network.