Deciding on Aruba Networks?

As a solution provider, we have to be neutral with providing an opinion on products, but we always strive to provide a solution for customers.  That goes for choosing a preferred wireless vendor.  We are focusing on Aruba Networks because of its ability to quickly gain market share in less than a decade since being founded in 2002.

Aruba Networks ranks second in the Wireless LAN networks through it robust wireless access points and controllers. There is also their Clearpass Policy Manager, their security network access control system. It allows for device visibility, control, and attack response for the Enterprise.

A small business can get away with just using the Instant Access Points, a controllerless environment where configuration is easy.  You just have to configure one Access Point, and it will detect the other and use it as a master Access Point. Configuration will then be replicated over the newly-joined access points.

For enterprise environments, you will need to go with a controller based wireless environment.  In addition to the controller, Aruba Networks has network access control, the Aruba ClearPass, that provides end device identity, policy enforcement, and protects the network against any policy violations and real-time threats.

The ClearPass Policy Manager provides a very detailed and granular step of the wireless client as it travels through the network, providing the ability to quickly identity and trace an endpoint’s IP or mac-address as needed.

One nice thing about Aruba Networks’ ClearPass Policy Manager is its ability to support multi-vendor wireless devices, along with the ability to manage wired and VPN infrastructure support.  It also has advanced reporting and alerting with their Insight application.

For those who can afford it, Aruba Networks’ wireless systems are definitely worth taking a look at.  If you need help making a decision, feel free to contact us so we can give our unbiased opinion.