Aruba Wants to MOVE the Enterprise

Recognizing the inundation of employee-owned devices flooding corporate networks and the need to better manage such devices, Aruba Networks has developed a new wireless architecture that focuses on context-aware management of devices.

The company’s efforts, which it has aptly dubbed the MOVE (for Mobile Virtual Enterprise) architecture, shifts management of a network from a port-based thought process to one that automatically IDs a device on a network – be it corporate-issued or employee-owned, or laptop, tablet or smartphone – correlates with the user and pushes out a security certificate for that device.

“Because of the changing landscape of mobile devices and user expectations, IT departments have had to contend with more change in the past year than in the past 10 years prior. And with that, more companies are embracing the user self-provisioning model,” said Ben Gibson, Aruba Networks CMO. “This new network architecture is a solution that allows IT to get ahead of the curve and provide low-touch but secure and reliable access to iOS and beyond.”

MOVE offers IT departments new capabilities for securely managing their networks based regardless of the device being used. Rather than have layered network access and security that most port-based solutions utilize, MOVE provides a single network architecture and single management stream to manage all devices. MOVE includes guest access capabilities, new device fingerprinting, role-based policy enforcement, application traffic management and RF and spectrum management, as well as content security, identity management and PCI compliance.

Aruba’s existing wireless portfolio also can be used with the MOVE architecture, but the company has also announced eight new devices that aim to provide a cohesive, seamless security design across wired and wireless networks, Gibson said.

One of those devices is Aruba’s Mobile Device Access Control, designed specifically for secure provisioning of Apple iOS mobile devices. The new technology — the result of Aruba’s acquisition in December 2010 of Amigopod — enables self-registration of mobile devices, automated certificate installation on iOS devices and automated authorization of users.

Channel partners looking for new opportunities with the MOVE architecture – or considering MOVE as an upgrade to their existing customers’ networks – have a number of resources to help them effectively sell the new technology, said Bob Bruce, vice president of channel sales at Aruba.

“We are enabling partners through technical training, lead generation and assessment tools to capitalize on this opportunity,” Bruce said. “What is most important is that the channel is prepared for the perfect storm of opportunity to successfully embark on this mission.”

Among the new resources is third-party lead generation coupled with a custom microsite for each channel partner featuring video-on-demand training for customers. “We wanted to develop a lot of context around this opportunity,” Bruce said. “We are developing a microsite on the channel partners’ platform and give them all the relevant materials they might need. The partners do an e-mail blast to their prospective customers to drive people to their site.

“This is an opportunity for channel partners to both seek out new opportunities and go back and data-mine their installed base,” Bruce continued. “Their existing customers have been impacted by the changes in mobility management as well, and this enables our partners to take advantage of that tsunami effect.”

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