In a groundbreaking move, Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) company, has unveiled Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) capabilities, catering to customers and channel partners.
We designed this innovative service for easy acquisition, deployment, and management on the renowned HPE GreenLake platform, which you can access through a convenient monthly subscription.
This exciting announcement took center stage at Aruba Atmosphere 2023. Among the key highlights is Agile NaaS, a strategic framework presented by Aruba to empower customers to understand their unique business priorities and implement tailored consumption choices for networking services on the HPE GreenLake platform.
Larry Lunetta, Aruba’s Vice President of WLAN and Security Solutions Marketing, emphasized the importance of customization, stating, “What we’ve learned from customers is that one size doesn’t fit all. That’s the core essence of Agile NaaS.”
Agile NaaS is not a mere product; it’s a strategic approach adopted by Aruba and its channel partners to collaborate with customers.
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Together, they aim to decipher the specific needs of each business related to network deployment and operations. This process takes into account their overarching business goals.
This strategic approach involves a series of essential questions. Customers can answer these questions to create a NaaS solution that aligns perfectly with their requirements.
These questions include:
- Deployment Choices: Does the customer prefer a third-party solution or self-management?
- Upgrade Strategy: Does the customer lean towards a network refresh or incremental upgrades?
- Management Preference: Would the customer rather manage the network from the cloud or an on-premises environment?
- Billing Preferences: Does the customer prefer a flexible “pay by the drink” model or a predictable monthly bill?
Partners will be crucial in guiding customers through these decisions. Aruba will offer expert recommendations on acquiring a NaaS solution tailored to their needs.
One of the key advantages of the HPE GreenLake platform is its pay-as-you-grow model. It provides customers with flexibility and helps them avoid large upfront expenses. Jason Coclanes, Named Account Manager of Networking for PIER Group, a solution provider and Aruba partner, noted, “It offers a lot more flexibility across the entire Aruba portfolio.”
Typically, refresh cycles span five to seven years for organizations like the PIER Group, which serves education and research clients.
In the traditional model, this would entail a significant capital expense ranging from $10 million to $30 million. However, the as-a-service model allows seamless upgrades and refreshes within the same budget.
Aruba has not only focused on customer needs but also on its partners’ interests. Their latest offering, the Network Policy NaaS Service Pack, is built on Aruba’s ClearPass network access control solution.
This Service Pack introduces a standardized NaaS network policy, complementing the eight wired, wireless, and SD-Branch NaaS Service Packs introduced in 2022.
Joel Grace, Senior Vice President of IT Infrastructure and Cloud Practice for Sayers, a solution provider, expressed his appreciation. He commended Aruba’s partner-centric approach. He stated, “Using Agile NaaS, you’re embarking on a genuine partnership to deliver the best to your customers, leveraging the strengths of both parties.”
Enterprises today seek overall efficiency in hardware and software procurement, deployment, and management, all while managing costs effectively.
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Aruba’s Agile NaaS and the HPE GreenLake platform address these needs. They offer flexible solutions that can adapt to each customer’s unique requirements.
The release of HPE GreenLake for Aruba networking Service Packs is a global initiative. These packs are available to channel partners across 15 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, and more.
The new Network Policy Service Pack is expected to be available for order in the third quarter of HPE’s 2023 fiscal year, commencing in May.
Aruba’s introduction of Agile NaaS on the HPE GreenLake platform marks a significant step. It aims to provide tailor-made networking solutions for businesses.
Aruba aims to empower organizations to maximize their network infrastructure while keeping costs in check. This is achieved by offering flexibility, customization, and a partner-centric approach.
