The accelerated shift to cloud apps and services, combined with permanent telework for many staffers, have dramatically increased network complexity. More users and more devices connect to applications and data outside of the traditional security perimeter, while economic and geopolitical forces have driven such a sharp increase in cyberattacks that the Federal government has called on public and private sector organizations alike to harden their cyber defenses.
Building a network edge that is both more flexible and more secure can help government agencies tackle the challenges of today’s cloud-first, work-from-anywhere world. Beyond supporting mission agility, migrating to a next-generation secure SD-WAN platform can also deliver the performance, control and reliability necessary for public-sector IT teams to deliver better digital experiences to stakeholders, no matter where they are located and where their applications reside.
Federal IT teams have an opportunity to modernize their networks with secure SD-WAN solutions as they move to the General Services Administration’s Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) contract vehicle. A GSA report shows that only 47% of agencies have fully transitioned to EIS contracts as of September 2022, and the May 2024 deadline is approaching fast.
Connect and Protect with Aruba SD-WAN Solutions
With Aruba’s next-generation SD-WAN solution, agencies can seamlessly and securely connect anyone and anything at offices, bureaus, bases, hospitals, and other field locations to their applications, data and other resources in the data center or the cloud. The Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise platform is built to deliver the highest quality of experience for users and IT by creating a secure, adaptable network infrastructure from edge to cloud.
The innovation behind the EdgeConnect platform is recognized across the industry. In September 2022, HPE (Aruba) was named a Leader in the 2022 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for SD-WAN—our fifth year in a row. Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise is also the first SD-WAN platform to attain ICSA Secure SD-WAN certification, giving agencies confidence and independent validation of the Aruba solution.
With the Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise platform, federal IT can:
- Build a unified network from client to cloud. With Aruba, Federal IT can build a fully autonomous WAN that’s driven by mission objectives and responds in real time to changing network conditions. Business-intent application overlays allow IT to create a distinct virtual WAN for every class of traffic, with application performance, security and routing policies automatically for each microsegment programmed to all sites.
- Deliver high quality user experiences. EdgeConnect improves the user experience for cloud apps like Microsoft 365, SAP or Zoom. Using local Internet connections to break out the traffic destined for the cloud improves application responsiveness and eliminates the need to backhaul cloud traffic to the data center and then out to the cloud (and back). Staff can stay productive with an in-office experience, whether they’re sitting at their desks, in the field or working from home. And, the traffic on the network is reduced.
- Reduce overall network costs. EdgeConnect allows organizations to reduce reliance on costly MPLS circuits and take advantage of lower-cost connections like broadband without sacrificing quality, reliability or security. Additionally, Aruba Boost uses protocol acceleration and data reduction methods to further improve application response times and reduce the transmission of repetitive data, which is key for data-driven applications as well as large data sets, backup and recovery. Calculate your potential savings with the Aruba EdgeConnect platform.
- Move to Zero Trust at your pace. With Aruba, Zero Trust security is built into the network, simplifying the creation of a secure access service edge (SASE). Federal IT can use Aruba’s network segmentation capability to establish least-privilege access to applications and data based on a user’s or device’s identity, role and location, mitigating the risks of remote work and an increased reliance on IoT devices. Data and network management communications are secured through encryption.
- Simplify network deployment and operations. Zero-touch provisioning simplifies the deployment of network services to new locations and to support new applications. Local IT teams have less equipment to install and maintain, while the network is managed centrally. Unifying SD-WAN, routing, firewall, segmentation, WAN optimization and visibility with the EdgeConnect platform simplifies IT operations and provides IT with complete observability and control over WAN traffic.
Aruba has long been a leader in delivering secure networking to the Federal government, both military and civilian, and we continue our commitment to secure networking from client to cloud with the Aruba EdgeConnect Enterprise platform.
Go Deeper
Want to learn more about the business value and financial advantages of an Aruba SD-WAN solution for your organization?
Gartner® Report: How to Align SD-WAN Projects with SASE
Get best practices for implementing edge-to-cloud security.
Learn what questions to ask when choosing a best-of-breed SD-WAN and SASE solution.
