MAC Address Filtering Retired in Favor of WPA2 and a New 802.11n Wi-Fi
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aruba Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARUN), a global leader in distributed enterprise network solutions, today announced that Milford Regional Medical Center (MRMC), a nonprofit, acute-care facility in Milford, Massachusetts, has deployed Aruba’s HIPAA-compliant 802.11n Wi-Fi networks for telemetry monitoring, voice communications, and guest access. The new adaptive wireless network supports over 150 wireless Baxter Sigma infusion pumps, and includes a user-friendly secure guest access captive portal that is run by administrative personnel without IT assistance. Future planned applications include hospital-wide Spectralink and ASCOM voice communication systems.
“Our legacy wireless network was cumbersome to manage, used MAC address filtering instead of the more secure WPA2, and offered limited wireless coverage in many parts of the hospital,” said Darlene Rhodes, Assistant Director of MRMC. “When the time came to support wireless telemetry, an upgrade was mandatory. We used the opportunity to specify a multi-purpose network that could simultaneously handle telemetry, voice, and video instead of requiring separate networks as is often done. Three vendors were invited to participate in a technical bakeoff, during which we evaluated Aruba’s adaptive Wi-Fi as well as micro-cell and single channel architectures. The demonstrated performance of Aruba’s Adaptive Radio Management technology was very impressive, as were the breadth of their security provisions and the ease-of-use of the AirWave management platform. The project was awarded to Aruba and we never looked back.”
The new network includes Aruba’s 6000 Series Mobility Controller and more than 150 dual-radio AP-125 802.11n Access Points that feature Aruba’s integrated spectrum analyzer. Operations management is provided by Aruba’s AirWave Wireless Management Suite (AWMS).
Real-time telemetry and voice applications are latency-sensitive and require special handling to ensure reliable delivery with full fidelity. Aruba’s application-aware fingerprinting feature detects the type of traffic traversing the network, and works with Adaptive Radio Management (ARM) and spectrum analyzer technologies to dynamically optimize network and client performance in real-time. Regardless of local operating conditions and sources of interference, ARM helps ensure that latency-sensitive applications have sufficient network resources, including airtime, to operate reliably.
Network security is addressed by the use of WPA2 encryption and Aruba’s policy-enforcement firewall. The firewall features identity-based security, Quality of Service (QoS) control, and traffic management capabilities. Differentiated access is provided for each class of users based on factors including user identity, device type, location, and time of day. Aruba’s captive portal handles guest access control, and the firewall enforces bandwidth limits to ensure network availability for more critical applications.
The AirWave Wireless Management Suite (AWMS) suite is a powerful operations tool that helps ensure network uptime. Feature rich and packed with essential diagnostics and reporting capabilities, the AirWave suite helps keep the network running in top form at all times. Notable features include:
- Real-time trending, traffic, usage, capacity, location, and status updates with just one or two mouse clicks, including the ability to rewind and replay data such as device location history;
- Comprehensive diagnostics, advanced troubleshooting, and reporting including assistance with PCI audits;
- Network monitoring via iPhone, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, or other Web-enabled mobile platforms to speed problem detection, diagnostics, and resolution;
- Extensive Help Desk features and interfaces to trouble ticket solutions;
- Streamlined performance of routine management tasks such as updating controller configurations and software versions.
Like MRMC, many healthcare institutions are migrating away from legacy Wi-Fi networks to newer 802.11n systems. A wholesale cut-over from old to new is often not possible due to budget or scheduling constraints. The AirWave suite addresses this issue by supporting multiple generations of wireless technology, made by different vendors and even using different wireless standards, through a single common console interface. This unique feature makes it easier and less expensive to transition to a new network since both legacy and newly installed networks can be used in parallel.
For additional information on Aruba’s healthcare solutions, please visit our Web site at http://www.arubanetworks.com/solutions/industry/healthcare.php.
About Aruba Networks
Aruba is the global leader in distributed enterprise networks. Its award-winning portfolio of campus, branch/teleworker, and mobile solutions simplify operations and secure access to all corporate applications and services – regardless of the user’s device, location, or network. This dramatically improves productivity and lowers capital and operational costs.
Listed on the NASDAQ and Russell 2000® Index, Aruba is based in Sunnyvale, California, and has operations throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions. To learn more, visit Aruba at http://www.arubanetworks.com. For real-time news updates follow Aruba on Twitter, Facebook, or the Green Island News Blog.
© 2010 Aruba Networks, Inc. AirWave®, Aruba Networks®, Aruba Mobility Management System®, Bluescanner, For Wireless That Works®, Mobile Edge Architecture, People Move. Networks Must Follow®, The All-Wireless Workplace Is Now Open For Business, RFprotect, Green Island, and The Mobile Edge Company® are trademarks of Aruba Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Aruba Networks, Inc.
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