Aruba ClearPass Reviews

From a pricing perspective, even though the initial procurement was costly, the renewals were not that costly. From an OpEx perspective, considering that the renewals were not that costly, the cost is very much under control. I am not talking about the initial CapEx, but from an OpEx perspective, the tool's cost is very much under control, which is the most important feature. If I don't consider the fine-tuning part and take into consideration the implementation method, I would describe it as something that has a straightforward process. The fine-tuning part takes time.

The support offered for the solution has certain concerns, making it an area where improvements are required. Regarding the solution, the integration issues are hardly a problem. It is important to have a good support partner who knows about the solution so that the product's users don't face any integration-related issues. My company's main problem was related to the tool's support.

I have been using Aruba ClearPass for a year and a half. My company is a customer of the product.

The stability of the solution was okay.

My company has around 1,200 to 1,300 users of the product.

I have experience with Fortinet. In terms of the functionalities that my company is able to achieve, Fortinet was much better than Aruba ClearPass. Fortinet also used to provide good support. Though the features provided by Fortinet and Aruba ClearPass were the same, the ease of use and the support provided by the former were important.

It is easy to look at the deployment phase in two parts. If you are looking at the base installation, then it was a very straightforward process, which I would rate an eight or nine out of ten. If you look at the tool's deployment phase from a fine-tuning perspective, I feel it was very complex.

The solution can be deployed in three months. Three to four people in my company were involved in the deployment process.

In terms of your fixed cost, it is much less than a lot of other solutions in the market. The initial cost is very high.

The main reason my company started to look for alternate solutions against Aruba ClearPass was that we faced some issues in terms of the levels of integration that we were able to achieve and the support offered by Aruba.

Speaking about my experience with integrating Aruba ClearPass with some multi-vendor environments, I would say that my company had faced issues in terms of the support that we received for Aruba ClearPass, specifically when it came to the area of the configuration changes or any part involving reimplementation. My company did some reference checks related to Aruba's partners, and we saw that we were not getting very positive feedback regarding how the solution is implemented in some organizations.

I haven't reached the level where I can comment about how the product's guest access functionality has improved visitor management for our business. When my company was involved in the reimplementation phase of the tool, we wanted to implement guest access, Wi-Fi access, and other advanced functionalities but didn't reach that level.

In terms of real-time functionalities, my company was not able to access such features, considering the support-related issues we were facing. My company was not able to make good use of it.

If you plan to use the solution, it is important to ensure that you have very good support in terms of both the OEM product and the partner.

I rate the tool a seven out of ten.

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.

We have a wireless network for guests and employees. That is one of the biggest use cases for ClearPass.

These products help you to organize stuff. At the same time, these allow forms of regulatory requirements, for example, how to do, or what to do, what not to do, et cetera.

There are many features. Use case-wise, there are maybe 60% of features that you will choose. We don't have any particular kind of feature usage. Our usage is typical usage for any enterprise.

It is easy to use and more integrated with the Aruba wireless networks. That was the biggest selling point for us. We use Aruba Wireless and the Aruba identity engine as well as ClearPass. That was the whole point of using this product. Technically you can use it anywhere, however, since we already use a lot of Aruba, it made sense to keep using another solution.

The setup is simple. 

After HP, their support is the worst.

When you come into the production part, you want to know how easily you can do the updates or how you can easily you can do the patching. Once it comes to the support, if it is in the middle of the day when you are having some issues, and you don't get it, that's where you start thinking this is not the right product. For me, I mean, overall, it's not the pre-sales experience that needs improvement. It's post-sales. I know Aruba is one of the two products that I always like; however, it's the whole life cycle of the product that makes something good. For example, Cisco is not a good product. No one can beat their support. Aruba is a good product, yet if you need technical assistance, it's not good at all. 

I've been using the solution for six to eight years.

The stability is fine. We have no problems with that. There are no bugs or glitches and it doesn't crash or freeze. It is reliable. Peformance-wise, it's good.

The solution is scalable. I'd rate the ability to scale at an eight or nine out of ten in terms of how easy it is to expand. 

We have 5,000 users on the solution. 

Support is not great. It's actually quite bad. 

Negative

We use Aruba ClearPass and we use Cisco.

Aruba is a little simpler. When I say simpler, it means it has fewer knobs to tweak. However, if you have more knobs to tweak, you can control it a little bit differently.

Cisco ISE has been patched up in the last couple of years. It is a very good product and a very stable one. I don't see any real difference between the two products. They are 75% the same. We have the Cisco switching, and we like the Cisco ISE for that. If you have Aruba on the wireless, you want more Aruba.

It's fairly easy to set up. The vendor we work with is good and we are quite familiar with how it works. We use other similar products and don't have issues with the setup. Similar to Aruba and then Aruba Wireless, it is easy to manage with one vendor or one full contractor and you leave it there.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten in terms of ease of setup. 

We spent maybe three or four hours across two days doing the deployment. 

In terms of maintenance, you need to handle patching and vulnerability management sometimes. Historically, maintenance has been fine with the older versions. Recently, it is a little bit challenging.

We have three people who can the maintenance. Typically, one person is needed for the job.

We had a partner who sold Aruba to us. However, we work for other products, so we just sat down for a couple of days and that's it. That is all the time you need to set it up.

Their ROI is good. The ROI may be a bit less than Cisco in terms of the full environment. 

The licensing is almost the same as Cisco ISE. It is a little less, actually. It is a fair price. The only thing is all these products know each other's prices so they keep theirs pretty close to the same. Aruba will typically be a little less than Cisco to make it seem that they show benefit on the cost. However, it depends on how your terms are with the partners. You can maybe get a better discount. It is how your relationship is the principal that dictates the price. We have a fair discount, for example.

Support may be an additional cost.

We're a customer and end-user.

While I'm unsure which version of the solution we're using, it's likely close to the latest.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

I would advise new users to try to get better support lined up with them before buying the product. There's your account manager and support. If you discuss support before purchasing, you won't be alone. In contrast, with Cisco, you are never alone. Even if you call in the middle of the night, you will get assistance. 

I'd rate the solution eight 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've used the solution in the retail industry. We use it in hospitality as well. It's very secure in terms of authentication. 

The authentification is great. We're able to separate guests from employees on wireless. 

It's stable.

Support is decent.

The solution can scale well. 

The setup of ClearPass can be a bit convoluted at times. It needs to be simplified a bit more. 

It is a very expensive product.

I've used the solution for six or seven years. 

The stability is great. There are no bugs or glitches. It's pretty robust. It doesn't crash or freeze. 

The solution is extremely scalable. It's capable of growing as the environment changes. 

Aruba support is okay. 

Neutral

The deployment is a challenge. Some of it is environmental and specific to the end-user. It can be hard to get all of the information together and pre-check the environment. Depending on the size and complexity o the environment, it can be a bit easier or harder. 

From an implementation perspective, about one to three people are needed depending on the size. One would need to be really experienced. You'd need a pre and post-sales engineer working hand in hand.

From a maintenance perspective, it's mostly set and forget. You might need to check it from a firmware perspective or if there are changes in the environment. 

There is an ROI from an end-user perspective, depending on the vertical. For example, for retail, when presenting guests with a splash page that tells them about sales and deals available to them, it could lead to increased sales.

The solution is not cheap. My understanding is that it is expensive and an investment. 

I am using the updated version of the solution. 

We're resellers. 

I'd rate the solution six out of ten. There are a lot of different manufacturers that do it a little bit differently and a little bit better. 

My prior company used the solution to integrate multiple environments such as Cisco, Aruba wireless or wired devices, and BYOD cases. 

The solution integrates seamlessly. 

The continuous server and posturing are valuable. 

The solution should be more precise for VMs and allow for management of the entire system or stack. For example, the solution shows device-only information for Cisco AIs.

I have been using the solution for seven years. 

The solution is stable. 

The solution is definitely scalable. 

Technical support assisted us with our implementation and was good. 

The setup was straightforward with no issues. Deployment took one month and was a challenge because we had to integrate 600 devices. 

We utilized technical support for our implementation. 

The ROI is secure data. The question is whether you can afford downtime for a single unit or an entire system. It is hard to measure the value of data but is something you can't compromise. 

The solution has a licensing model. 

We did a proof of concept with Cisco ISE but chose the solution because we liked its seamless integration experience. 

Before implementing the solution, it is important to understand the system, develop plans, and determine what needs to be integrated. Learn what the solution does and how it will work with your use case. 

For example, some people choose the work kit without knowing what they need. Some require only the resource manager. Some don't know their gradual requirements for monitoring or management. Some don't understand that the solution is also provides network security. 

I rate the solution an eight out of ten. 

Our clients use Aruba ClearPass since it is a NAC solution.

The most valuable feature, I would say, is the cost-effectiveness of the solution when compared to others.

Regarding the improvement needed in the solution, I remember our technical team stating that the installation front of the solution was a bit difficult when compared to other solutions. So, some of the other solutions, when compared to Aruba ClearPass, are more user-friendly to install.

I have been working with Aruba ClearPass for almost five to six years. My company is a reseller of the solution. I am unsure about the version of the solution I am using since we also deal in other products.

It is a stable solution. I rate the solution's stability a nine out of ten.

It is a scalable solution. I rate the solution's scalability somewhere around seven to eight out of ten. Mostly, our organization deals with medium and enterprise-sized customers.

I rate the solution's technical support team a seven out of ten. There are no issues with the support we are receiving. I will probably have to check with the engineers who have dealt with the technical support team. Since I have never heard a complaint against the support team, I would reconsider my decision over the rating provided by me previously and rate the technical support an eight.

Positive

I rate the solution's initial setup a six on a scale where one is difficult and ten is easy. There are some difficulties when installing the solution. For our company, installation is not difficult since we are system integrators who are well-versed in Aruba ClearPass. However, one of our customers told us that it is difficult to manage the installation part of the solution.

The solutions deployment was quick because our company is well-versed in deployment. So, it took around twenty to thirty days. Usually, four L3 engineers from our company are involved in the deployment process. For the maintenance and deployment of the solution, we have a lot of people in our organization. So, our company has around 28 engineers, and we serve around 120 customers in UAE. Specifically speaking, two network engineers are handling the maintenance part of the solution.

On a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap, and ten is too expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a six out of ten. So, the price could be lower. The solution has a yearly based licensing cost attached to it.

I want to tell those planning to use the solution that it is a good solution where one needs to have a certain level of expertise to carry out the deployment phase. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

We're using Aruba ClearPass for policy management, security health check, and authorization, as well as assistive network by Active Directory or Google mail.

What I like most about Aruba ClearPass is that it has the best enforcement feature for the network. I also like its Guest Captive Portal and virtual security enforcement features, but the virtual security enforcement feature is still under testing by my company.

Aruba ClearPass also has a wonderful UI which I find valuable.

An issue with Aruba ClearPass is the lack of information and poor community support. You can't find the material easily on the internet for any issues. For example, if you're looking for any configuration or exploring any issue, it's not easy to find information, and this is the problem with Aruba ClearPass. Access to helpful information and poor community support could be improved.

Another area for improvement in Aruba ClearPass is that some of its advanced features aren't easy to find. For example, my team needed to apply Google single sign-on, but it wasn't easy to find. Aruba ClearPass is a big solution with a lot of capabilities, and it's a very advanced solution, so you need to either have some experience with it or undergo some training. Aruba ClearPass is a very good solution from the network perspective, but the issue is the poor support you get from the community. When you try using the solution, some areas aren't easy. When you search on YouTube, you'll find very few materials about Aruba ClearPass. It isn't like Cisco where you can find information from hundreds of websites, on YouTube, etc. This is bad for Aruba, so this area should be improved.

Aruba has a training center, but the usual training offered is only for Aruba Wireless and Aruba Switches. If you have another solution, it's not easy to integrate it with Aruba ClearPass, so this is an area for improvement. You need to do some research to successfully integrate your solution with Aruba ClearPass. We integrated Aruba ClearPass with Ubiquiti WiFi, and it's working fine with no issues. My next project is to start integrating Aruba ClearPass with Cisco Switches.

The solution is good, but on the website, there's no book and no video, and you can't find the material on Aruba ClearPass easily. This is one of the issues with Aruba.

I have around one to two months of experience with Aruba ClearPass.

Aruba ClearPass is a very stable solution. My team didn't experience any hangs or any abnormal behavior from it. If you apply the required configuration, Aruba ClearPass works well. Stability is a good point in the solution.

Aruba ClearPass scales well. It's a scalable solution.

The technical support for Aruba ClearPass is good and responds very fast.

The initial setup for Aruba ClearPass isn't complex, but you need the training to set it up.

The deployment for the solution is very easy, and you can install it within half an hour, but this is a NAC solution. In terms of configuration, it's not a switch configuration or an IT configuration. Aruba ClearPass has one thousand scenarios in our network, and the problem is that you need a lot of information, so its configuration isn't as straightforward.

The deployment for Aruba ClearPass was done in-house. I took training classes from the Aruba training center. It was on-demand training.

The licensing cost for Aruba ClearPass is a bit expensive. Its pricing could be better. The license costs around $125,000 for the perpetual license and support for one year. Aruba can give you a license with five thousand endpoint access and one thousand five hundred onboard licenses on one hundred endpoints and two controllers.

My company is evaluating Aruba ClearPass right now. It isn't live, but it's under evaluation or testing currently.

I'm using version 6.10 of Aruba ClearPass.

My rating for Aruba ClearPass is nine out of ten.

Between ten to twenty people use Aruba ClearPass within the company. There's only a small amount of users of Aruba ClearPass currently because the solution is still under evaluation. Once Aruba ClearPass is live, my impression is that there would be no issues with it in terms of connectivity.

My advice to others looking into using Aruba ClearPass is to get good training from the Aruba virtual training center. The training costs extra. The on-demand training costs around $500. I also recommend doing the structured training, but that would cost around $3,000.

My company is a customer of Aruba.