Aruba Networks launches new cloud service platform

Aruba Networks now offers a branch office networking solution that collapses the complicated patchwork of branch appliances and access servers into a single cloud services platform, enabling ease of management.

“Consolidating all required branch IT functions into a single, centrally-managed package is the preferred approach to extending operations essentially anywhere,” said Craig Mathias, Principal, Farpoint Group. “Aruba has taken the lead here with the 7000 series, which is very easy to use and cost-effective.”
The Aruba 7000 series Cloud Services Controllers provide: 

Zero-touch provisioning
Triple the resiliency – Supports two Ethernet broadband WAN connections and a 3G/4G LTE cellular backup link for business continuity in virtually all conditions. Branches that use certificate-based 802.1X RADIUS with EAP-TLS get uninterrupted service even if RADIUS servers are unreachable.

Programmable policy enforcement firewall – Delivers context-aware control for activities such as web content filtering and Microsoft Lync mobile unified communications.

The new controllers are integrated with Palo Alto Networks' platform. “With Aruba’s Cloud Services Controller, customers that have already invested in Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls and GlobalProtect can now extend their security policies to every single branch location without additional complexity,” said Chad Kinzelberg, Senior VP of business and corporate development, Palo Alto Networks. “Aruba’s integration with Palo Alto Networks extends safe application enablement and threat prevention to branches.”

In addition to extending unified communication capabilities from the data centre to the branch, Aruba has improved performance and visibility for Microsoft Lync with Lync SDN API certification.

“Reliably extending Lync unified communications to branch offices requires both applying quality of service to latency-sensitive voice and video calls, as well as giving IT end-to-end visibility into Lync services for diagnostics and troubleshooting purposes,” said Giovanni Mezgec, GM, Lync/Skype for Business, Microsoft. “Aruba’s Wi-Fi, switching, and SDN API solutions are Lync qualified, making them ideal for supporting hosted, on-premises, Lync Online, and Office 365 applications.”

Varian Medical Systems manufactures medical devices for cancer treatment and other advanced medical conditions and maintains facilities in more than 70 locations globally, including Australia and China. “With Aruba, the time, cost and complexity of buying and maintaining multiple branch office appliances are a thing of the past,” said Emmanuel Sabino, Network Manager, Varian Medical Systems.

The Aruba 7000 Series Cloud Services Controller hardware is available today with all the services listed being delivered in the second quarter of 2015. Pricing starts at US$1,495 (list price).