Hats off to Aruba Networks for publishing such insightful content for dealing with the influx of consumer mobile devices:
The next-generation workplace is all about mobility. With more internet-connected mobile devices than people in the world in 2013, IT must provide seamless connectivity to every class of user — employees, contractors, guests and even customers — appropriate to their role and type of device. It turns out, mobility in the workplace isn’t just for user benefit and productivity. The migration to mobility begets several IT benefits.
Wire-like Wireless Experience
Unlike wireless LANs designed for conference-room convenience, wireless LANs put in place for everyone command a higher density of Access Points and a more deliberate channel plan. The immediate result is fewer dead spots and outage help desk tickets. New wireless innovations such as Aruba ClientMatchTM and Aruba AppRF go a few steps further to free-up grueling troubleshooting hours spent on sticky clients and jittery video over Wi-Fi.
Context-Aware Security
Instead of port-based security utilized on most wired networks today, modern wireless networks apply context-based security that restricts access by user, device, location and application. Therefore the switch to wireless as the primary access method for BYOD produces an inherent strengthening of network security controls. Similar positive side effects apply for compliance, guest access and IPv6 initiatives, where the upgrade to wireless enables new IT services that were not available with legacy wired networks.
Common User Experience Regardless of Location
As their name suggests, Mobility Controllers that are often introduced to improve wireless LAN performance and security for the next-generation workplace go beyond wireless LANs for the office. The same Mobility Controller can be multi-purposed for VPN client termination and branch office networks. The result is a common access policy and management interface for all mobile users, inside and outside the workplace.
Automate Adds, Moves and Changes
Whether it is an employee moving to a new desk, a new shiny iPhone, another guest or an application update, mobility infrastructure for the next-generation workplace prevent manual IT intervention for routine tasks. For one, centrally-managed wireless LANs don’t require VLAN or ACLs changes in wiring closets as employees move between floors and even buildings. Second, self-service tools such as Aruba ClearPass make it easy for employees to onboard their own devices, give guests the ability to self-register and centrally distribute mobile apps.
Rightsizing Reduces Network Costs by 76%
The next-generation workplace affords IT an opportunity to reduce costs by as much as 76% by rightsizing the mix of wired and wireless infrastructure in their network. With mobile versions of UCC applications like Microsoft Lync, desk phones can be replaced with soft phones on mobile devices and computers. Everyone can now share printers and projectors, wirelessly. Therefore wired ports are no longer needed for each desk and wiring closets can be reduced to providing power and data backhaul for access points.