Aruba Networks, a global provider of next-generation network access solutions for the mobile enterprise, announced the launch of Aruba WorkSpace, a new component of the company’s ClearPass Access Management System in India. With the addition of Aruba WorkSpace for the first time, Network Access Control (NAC), Mobile Device Management (MDM) and Mobile Application Management (MAM) systems are a part of one solution and work together to secure company data and reduce BYOD helpdesk costs.
Aruba WorkSpace is built on an enterprise network policy system, making it network-fluent. This means higher network priority can be automatically assigned to work applications. In the event an employee’s device connects to an untrusted network, Aruba WorkSpace can automatically establish application-specific VPNs to encrypt traffic and provide uninterrupted access to internal resources. Aruba WorkSpace can also restrict network access if a device is jail-broken or contains unapproved applications.
“Existing approaches to BYOD have required enterprise IT departments to integrate different systems, adding complexity and creating employee usability and privacy concerns. By combining all functions into a single platform, Aruba WorkSpace simplifies BYOD management, lessening the overall burden on IT,” said Maribel Lopez, Principal Analyst, Lopez Research.
Mobile Device Management Partners Integrate for Network + Device + Application Management
As an alternative to its native device management functions, Aruba ClearPass features integration with top Mobile Device Management vendors, including AirWatch, Citrix, Fiberlink, JAMF Software, MobileIron and SOTI.This integration allows customers with existing MDM solution deployments or preferences to realize a combined value of integrated, context-based network policy, device onboarding and security, and a full range of mobile device management capabilities.
This integration of Aruba ClearPass and MDM solutions can orchestrate critical mobile device security actions based on who the users are, what device they are using, what applications they are running, and their location. For example, mobile device cameras can be disabled if the device is in a secure, restricted location.
Aruba WorkSpace Mobile App Protects Personal Data, Secures Business Applications
In addition to providing comprehensive BYOD controls for IT, Aruba WorkSpace offers unparalleled end-user controls to personalize the BYOD experience and reduce
the demands on helpdesk resources.
to access and manage work applications, share AirPrint and AirPlay devices with other users or groups, manage other on-boarded devices, and configure guest accounts. All aspects of BYOD are accessible to end users in one location.
To manage the use of personal mobile devices, the Aruba WorkSpace mobile application provisions a separate, encrypted area on the devices for work applications and
content.
This gives IT full control over the corporate information in this encrypted space, but no visibility into personal areas of the device, thereby protecting employee privacy. Aruba WorkSpace leverages innovations and technology from Aruba’s May 2012 acquisition of Plursona Inc., founded by Shekhar Kshirhagar and Asif Awan.
Underscoring the critical need for user privacy, a recent Mobile Device Security Survey commissioned by Aruba and conducted by Kelton revealed that 62% of users who bring personal devices to work worry about IT wiping their data. Of these respondents, two out of three say they wouldn’t immediately report the loss of these devices to their IT department. This presents a significant security concern for enterprise IT.
With Aruba WorkSpace, the combination of NAC, MDM and MAM capabilities integrated into one platform allows IT to secure sensitive corporate data on these personal mobile devices without the high cost, significant resource investment and potential loss of user privacy and productivity that can result from existing BYOD solutions.
More than 40 Mobile Applications Integrated with Aruba WorkSpace
Recognizing that comprehensive BYOD management includes mobile applications as well as the mobile devices these apps are running, Aruba has already integrated more than 40 popular mobile applications for use with Aruba WorkSpace via its new WorkSpace Partner Program, also announced today, and is continuing to add more.
These include a wide variety of popular enterprise applications in the areas of file access, business analysis, collaboration, office document editors, education, enterprise productivity, healthcare and file sharing.
In addition, enterprise IT customers can quickly upload custom, internally-developed or third party applications to their unique Aruba WorkSpace Enterprise App Store for easy distribution and management. Rich, contextual security policies can then be applied to each application. Aruba WorkSpace also adds enterprise security features such as Active Directory authentication, jailbreak detection and content encryption to applications.
“With mobile device and application proliferation accelerating at an unprecedented pace, IT departments simply need a solution that eliminates the extra work and expense associated with bridging the silos across the network, the device and the application. By integrating our core strengths for network access control and security we can streamline the BYOD process and take the burden and risk away from the IT department,” said Keerti Melkote, Chief Technology Officer, Aruba Networks.
The ClearPass Access Management System is shipping now. The Aruba WorkSpace software for ClearPass is now in beta testing and will be available in July, 2013. A client-side software application called Aruba WorkSpace for both iOS and Samsung Android-based devices is expected to be available from the Apple App Store and The Google Play marketplace also in July, 2013.