Aruba Beefs Up Security, Versatility In Mobility Controllers
Aruba Networks on Tuesday confirmed the release of ArubaOS 6.0, a software upgrade for its campus and branch office Mobility Controllers that promises stronger wireless network security, integrated spectrum analysis and application fingerprinting.
"Mobility is coming of age, and there's an onslaught of mobile devices. For our channel partners, this creates a challenge," said Ozer Dondurmacioglu, product marketing manager. "We want to offer the best guidelines for our customers on how to support these devices. The move toward wireless is not going change, it's only going to get more and more challenging in terms of the technology and technical requirements."
The first piece of the upgrade, which will be offered to existing Aruba controller customers with active support accounts, is application fingerprinting, which identifies encrypted voice and video protocols and provide quality of service as an over-the-air support function.
"The next generation of tools will require this," Dondurmacioglu said. "A lot of the UC tools running on these devices will be signaling what is voice data, what is video, and so on. It means that channel partners will be able to provide a solution to their customers who are moving to next-generation UC solutions for the mobile devices entering their enterprise."
Second is a spectrum analyzer, which Aruba first announced in April and is now integrated into all of its 802.11n access points. Third is a wireless intrusion prevention system that includes TotalWatch, which strengthens Aruba's existing air-scanning algorithm, and Tarpit Containment, for intercepting rogue access points.
Next: Network Diagnostics And Security
Most of the security enhancements also perform network diagnostics and inform customers about the health of their network, Dondurmacioglu explained.
As network troubleshooting and network security become more tightly integrated, a lot of solution providers have asked Aruba for tools that can do both, he said.
"[Customers] want to deploy one solution and want it already integrated so they don't have to look for another technology or have different support structures and firmware upgrades for each," he said. "That's a much easier sell for the channel and also a way to provide support services and professional services."