Aruba ClearPass Reviews

Device onboarding is quite a significant part of our use, primarily for wired devices. We are also using it for a wireless portal. The focus has been on securing the wired ports.

Aruba ClearPass is feature-rich and fairly straightforward to implement. It integrates well with 802.1X configuration and the integration with our switches. The ClearPass solution has reduced the amount of engineering time compared to previous solutions, making it more efficient for our purposes.

There are no current improvements needed for our specific remit, however, the licensing model can be frustrating. A more streamlined menu of licensing options would be helpful. 

Additionally, some minor UI updates could potentially enhance user experience.

We have been using Aruba ClearPass for about six months.

Aruba ClearPass seems pretty stable, and I would rate it a ten out of ten.

Aruba ClearPass is very scalable. I would also rate its scalability a ten ot of ten.

I have not used customer service or support, so I cannot comment on their effectiveness.

Positive

We previously used other solutions like ICE. Aruba ClearPass was chosen for its ease of use and its notable presence in the hospitality sector. It integrates well within our hospitality projects.

The initial setup for a basic configuration takes about a day. Once we have a clear definition of requirements, one engineer is sufficient to get it up and running.

The implementation is handled in-house with one engineer managing the process, which is sufficient given the clear definition of requirements.

Using Aruba ClearPass has resulted in less engineering time compared to other products we've used.

Pricing and the licensing model can be a bit frustrating. Achieving the best price requires careful selection from a menu of licensing options, which can include more advanced or basic features.

Aside from Aruba ClearPass, we are working with Ruckus CloudPath.

I would recommend Aruba ClearPass to other organizations for its flexibility and ease of use. Compared to other products, it is easier to manage and integrates well with non-Aruba environments. I'd rate it an eight out of ten overall.

It provides network access management.

It supports AAA and offers a range of features, including guest authentication for visitors and 802.1X authentication for employees. ClearPass provides options for customized authentication methods, such as SMS and social media authentication, which customers are effectively utilizing.

I found the internal authentication policy and user authentication problematic. I was facing issues with user authentication, but we eventually resolved these problems.

I have been using Aruba ClearPass as a partner for three years.

All customers are satisfied with the performance overall. I encountered a technical issue with a couple of customers. After integrating CPKN with LDAP, users need to reconnect via cable to update their password, as many companies have policies requiring password changes every 40 or 60 days. After updating the password, users can then reconnect via Wi-Fi. We resolved this issue for some customers, but one still faces difficulties.

400 users are using this solution.

Support was slightly delayed. In one case, resolving all the issues took almost two months. However, in the end, everything worked out. Technical support could benefit from more detailed training to better assist end users.

Positive

I have used Cisco ISE with other solutions but found some limitations in integrating it with other systems. For instance, one of my customers has successfully integrated their old Cisco devices with ClearPass. Integration-wise, ClearPass is much easier and less complex than other vendors.

When I first worked on it, I encountered some challenges, but I successfully upgraded and installed the software on the server. It’s normal to face issues the first time you handle something, but with continued work, you learn and improve.

If the customer's site is not ready or the infrastructure is incomplete, such as lacking switches or servers, it can significantly delay the process. For one customer, it took about fifteen days to get everything in order, while for another, it took over a month and a half. However, once the site and infrastructure are prepared, setting up ClearPass typically takes only three to four days.

If you follow the user guide guidelines, integration is very easy.

We have both a cloud-based client and an on-premises client, and both are used for employees and visitors. Implementing these two approaches, cloud-based and on-premises controller-based works well. I have experience with both methods.

I recommend using ClearPass because the customer needed user authentication through LDAP. Although the DataSheet indicates that IAP can integrate with LDAP, having ClearPass simplifies the entire process, including authentication, accounting, and authorization. Whenever I visit customers, and they request solutions, I always advise them to consider ClearPass. Aruba products are generally more cost-effective than other vendors, offering the same performance, facilities, and features.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Three passes work better than other NAC products on identifying the VoIP devices and IoT devices with built-in features. On Guard and agent-based On Guard features are included under the use case.

The ClearPass solution includes role and role-based user and machine access, and they handle network segmentation using wired and wireless access methods.

We cannot onboard IoT devices such as printers, cameras, and some smaller devices. Although we can onboard larger devices such as Android, iOS, Apple, Mac, Windows, and Linux, this limitation is noted. It is also better to improve threat intelligence for built-in threat detection and prevention.

I have been working with ClearPass for no more than two years.

I have not noticed any stability or performance issues with ClearPass. It is better than other NAC solutions.

In our environment, ClearPass handles up to 100,000 users, which is better than some other NAC solutions like Fortinox that scale up to 25,000.

We have escalated questions to tech support, and I would rate the technical support an eight out of ten.

Positive

We deployed the solution under a VM-based ClearPass appliance in a cluster mode, adding devices such as wireless and switches.

I was involved in the deployment process. We followed a strategy where we deployed in cluster mode, adding devices such as wireless switches.

I don't compare pricing with other products. That said, it is moderate.

I recommend ClearPass for other users because it is a stable and consistent solution.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

We use ClearPass to authenticate users and have a product in development that will use NAC solutions. In addition to these, we also use ClearPass for network access control and guest management.

We have flexible and detailed options to implement our security policy using ClearPass Policy Manager engine.

The authentication capabilities are one of the most valuable features, including the ability to build rules within the system to anticipate users. We also have maximum or onboard margins, and a new product is coming soon that can be used onboard. Additionally, the integration with other systems is a great value and a standout feature of the product.

One area for improvement would be the possibility of using social media providers for user authentication. In Brazil, we have a government-sponsored service that indicates users who would like to see this feature supported. I have made a formal request for this feature, but I am unsure if it will be considered for the next release. However, it would be a valuable addition for us.

We use ClearPass with Aruba controllers for our wireless LAN. We have the 7220 gateway/controller model and wireless APs, specifically the 510 series.

It is a stable product. We've never experienced any downtime with ClearPass. We have a cluster of ClearPass servers, and we've never had any problems with stability or downtime.

The scalability is good. You can scale very well.

I had to call customer support once because I needed to reset the license for an upgrade, and I needed guidance on how to use the new license model. That was the only time I had to call support. They responded to me quickly and it was a good experience.

Positive

I would rate it an eight out of ten, where ten is the easiest and zero is the most difficult.

It took a few months to deploy the solution. I was the main technician involved in the deployment.

The pricing is a little bit more expensive than other options, but it's worth the value.

Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.

I use the solution for automatic authentication. We purchased access license 1K and use it with our WiFi networks and user LANs. Our company domain uses authentication through Active Directory. We also have a central MSP account from where we are managing 53,000 devices.

I like the stability and the GUI, which is always improving.

Because some users use OS 10, it would be good if the solution could group its functions better. Also, the processing time taken while onboarding needs to be reduced.

I've been using Aruba ClearPass for two to three years.

The solution is stable.

We have 300 to 400 people using Aruba ClearPass at our office.

The solution was easy to set up. There was a feature that needed 15 to 30 minutes to load. This is a concern when there are hundreds of projects because it wastes time. The onboarding time still needs to be considered.

When deploying the solution, we do the pre-configuration at our office, so every device should be configured. Afterward, we send the devices to many customers' locations. That's why we need onboarding time to be reduced because we are not dealing directly with the deployment. We are using panels.

We had three to four staff members handling the configuration and the deployment.

The solution is priced per user. There are three types of licenses.

The last version of the Aruba Central portal only opened connections to Amazon and Azure, making integrating with those platforms easier. Authentication was simple, so the portal and the cloud were well-integrated.

I recommend Aruba ClearPass to anyone planning on using it and rate it a seven to eight out of ten.

I mainly use ClearPass to issue and authenticate certificates.

ClearPass has simplified our security as an automatic email is now sent to concerned users when something goes down. For example, if your AP or controller is down, a log is immediately generated stating what's happened, and we can use that to work with local engineers or OEM to resolve it. This reduces the impact on business and has simplified around 70% of our work.

ClearPass' best features are authentication, support for multiple devices, and monitoring.

ClearPass' GUI could be more user-friendly.

I've been using Aruba ClearPass for almost three years.

ClearPass is stable - we haven't had any issues since deployment.

ClearPass' scalability is up to the mark.

The initial setup was a bit complex and took a couple of days.

I implemented ClearPass myself.

I would rate ClearPass nine out of ten.

It is a network access control solution used to authenticate users. We use it for wifi certificate-based authentication. It is also good for automatic onboarding and fingerprinting, like automatic device classification. This allows us to control devices automatically and have role-based authentication. For example, for Windows and Mac, we can define a specific role, and it will automatically go to that role. We can also enable free wifi guest authentication.

There are so many features in Aruba ClearPass that our company hasn't even utilized all of them. It is beneficial from a security perspective because not everyone can connect to our wifi without going through an authentication process using a corporate device or a corporate email ID. The solution confirms the credentials before they can connect to the wifi.

Aruba ClearPass has a feature called ClearPass OnGuard, like an agent installed on all devices. It ensures your device complies with corporate policies, like antivirus or firewall settings. In addition, it verifies before allowing users to connect properly to our networks.

It would be good if ClearPass made it a SaaS solution. The only difficulty is that it's a security solution, and if you put a security solution on a SaaS, there could be certain challenges. That may be why ClearPass hasn't done it.

We have been using this solution for about seven years. We initially used it on-premises but have been using it on a private cloud for the last four years.

It is a stable solution.

It is a scalable solution, and we have almost 2000 high-end users.

We did not use any solution before Aruba ClearPass. This is the first NAC solution we deployed, and we are still using it.

The initial setup was okay for us. A partner managed it, and we had no troubles. The deployment took about six months because we had a lot of user migration and needed to change device authentication.

There are different licenses, like onboarding, OnGuard and access licenses. We purchase a yearly license that includes all features.

I rate this solution a ten out of ten. I would recommend Aruba ClearPass because it has all the features. It is very flexible, and you can implement any complex solution. For example, if you want to allow only Android or any complex situation, you can with Aruba ClearPass. Therefore, I can say that this is the best solution on the market.

We use Aruba ClearPass for customers to ensure that whatever devices are entering the network have the correct posture. For example, they have the correct operating system and antivirus, and the firewalls turned on.

The most valuable features of Aruba ClearPass are its ease of use and the general network access controls.

A specific component is part of the solution called ClearPass Onboard, which can sometimes be complex and challenging to set up. If they could simplify the process and make it easier, that would be a benefit.

In an upcoming release, they need to include support for Android devices. Android devices are not fully supported at this time.

I have been using Aruba ClearPass for approximately five years.

The stability of Aruba ClearPass is good.

Aruba ClearPass is scalable. It's very good to scale because you can add additional units and integrate them.

I have used the support many times and they can help remotely which is helpful.

I rate the support from Aruba ClearPass an eight out of ten.

Positive

Aruba ClearPass is very easy to set up.

The time it takes to deploy the solution entirely depends on the customer's needs. Installing the software is very quick which can take about an hour. However, customizing and configuring it with all the different options can take from one day to a week or two depending on what the customer wants.

I do the implementation and configuration of the solution for customers.

You can get Aruba ClearPass either where you purchase it outright or you can be subscription-based. The cost will vary according to what is selected, but it's licensed per device. For example, for a hundred users or a hundred device license, it would cost approximately $2,000.

I have evaluated Fortinet and is good. It is simple and easy to use.

The maintenance could be more user-friendly. If you don't attend a course or if you don't have any technical knowledge of it. If a customer is going to maintain it themselves, they should attend some training.

My advice to others is to make sure they have the skill. Once they have the skills and have done the training, it's fairly simple to use the solution. If they try and do it on their own and try to figure things out, they are going to hate the solution because it's not built for them to figure things out on their own.

The second piece of advice is to make sure they understand what devices are supported and to what level because with smartphones, not all smartphones are supported and you can end up buying the solution to find that certain versions or certain models of smartphones are not supported.

I rate Aruba ClearPass a seven out of ten.