Aruba Networks has extended its Virtual Branch Networking (VBN) architecture with new capabilities for moving application acceleration and content security services away from costly branch appliances and into the cloud. The company's VBN strategy, which was first rolled out in May 2009, uses low-cost wireless access point CPE to connect remote users and branch locations with enterprise applications and network policies. The low-cost devices create secure tunnels over the Internet back to an enterprise Aruba wireless LAN controller, where corporate security policies are maintained.
The new Virtual Branch Networking (VBN) 2.0 solution breaks new ground by migrating application acceleration and security filtering services into the cloud.
Aruba estimates that by eliminating branch office appliances and administration, capital expenditures can be reduced by up to 60% and operating expenses by up to 75%.
Key features of VBN 2.0 include:
- Application Acceleration Service (AAS) -- a cloud service that can accelerate the performance of applications in the branch office by 20x, without requiring any new hardware or software in the branch. Applications benefiting from this include e-mail, Web browsing, and file sharing applications.
- Content Delivery Network (CDN) - a subscription-based file caching service further speeds up application response times in a branch office by leveraging a cloud-based CDN to serve files locally from a nearby data center. This affordable service can be acquired on an as-needed basis and requires no additional hardware or software in the branch office;
- Content Security Service (CSS) -- a cloud service that dramatically reduces the cost and complexity of protecting sensitive data across the distributed enterprise. CSS provides anti-virus/anti-spam protection, real-time content filtering, and data leakage prevention without the need for any new branch office hardware or software. Instantaneous and long-term historical reports can quickly identify policy violations.
Also as part of the VBN 2.0 solution, Aruba is introducing a Virtual Intranet Access (VIA) client. VIA provide road warriors and other mobile workers with Windows-based laptops, netbooks, and PCs with user-friendly, secure access to the corporate network without separate, dedicated VPN infrastructure.
http://www.arubanetworks.com/vbn
