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reviewer1364637 - PeerSpot reviewer
Architecte Système at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Excellent for securing local networks, very stable, and easily scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "We find that at the end of the projects we manage, all functionalities perform quite well. We've tested it a lot and find it to be overall a very good solution."
  • "The solution needs to upgrade its user interface. Right now, it's not so user friendly, and it's an aspect that my clients' wish was improved upon."

What is our primary use case?

My clients primarily use the solution to control access to the network or their sites. If a computer is not recognized by ClearPass, it won't be able to gain access.

What is most valuable?

The solution is extremely stable.

We find that at the end of the projects we manage, all functionalities perform quite well. We've tested it a lot and find it to be overall a very good solution.

It's excellent in terms of securing local networks for our clients.

What needs improvement?

The solution needs to upgrade its user interface. Right now, it's not so user friendly, and it's an aspect that my clients' wish was improved upon.

The solution is quite large and complex in scope. If a person isn't familiar with the solution, they can quickly get overwhelmed with everything.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been installing the solution for one to two years now. The last project I worked on was around six months ago. 

Buyer's Guide
Aruba ClearPass
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Aruba ClearPass. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We have never experienced any bugs, crashes, or glitches. In my opinion, everything is stable. It's excellent. I'd say it's quite reliable in that regard.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is very scalable. A company will be able to expand the solution to meet their needs as necessary.

How are customer service and support?

In the past, we have reached out to technical support. During the implementation process, all the way through the project, we only had just one or two specific instances where their assistance seemed to take a long time. However, overall, I would say we are completely satisfied with their level of support.

How was the initial setup?

While the installation itself is not difficult per se, the process you need to go through before installing the solution is complex. There are a lot of configurations to do on the firewall network and it can take a while, depending on the company. 

While it's tedious before the installation, once you come to the actual installation itself, you'll realize it's not too bad.

We're working on a project right now that has ten deployments and that's taken us about four or five months. For this project, there have been five people involved in the deployment process.

What about the implementation team?

We handle aspects of the implementation for our clients.

What other advice do I have?

We've partnered with HPE and Aruba.

I work at a service company. I go and install solutions for customers. I just handle the install for my customers. I don't use the software myself every day or on a regular basis. My role is one of a project technician and director. I'm an architect.

Our organization handles all sizes of companies from small to large enterprises.

If there's a company out there considering the solution, I'd just caution them to be ready.  There is a lot of configuration to do on all of the infrastructure. Other than that, it's an excellent solution. It's great for securing a local network. Security, at the end of the day, shouldn't have a cost. It's imperative to protect your business and to not worry so much about price tags, because it's even more expensive when you are unprotected and things go wrong.

I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
it_user688896 - PeerSpot reviewer
WiFi Manager at Etisalat UAE
Vendor
Offers support for every time you have database issues
Pros and Cons
  • "Aruba has improved my organization because it supported me on my level of access."
  • "Aruba needs to improve and the processes must be clear."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case for Aruba ClearPass is to use it in IoT services.

How has it helped my organization?

Aruba has improved my organization because it supported me on my level of access. I hope to see Aruba add routers to their portfolio. 

What is most valuable?

A very important feature for me is its support of a multi-tenant solution on deliverables. For instance, I have three customers, or three users, and I want each customer to have his own portal and his own database to manage their subscriber for reporting and for provision. 

What needs improvement?

Aruba needs to improve and the processes must be clear. I also believe the marketing is very important, as well as to split the database to be more specific, like having a user name, access point name or site name. 

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Aruba ClearPass for two years now.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

In general, Aruba is very stable and it supports me every time I have issues related to my database. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is good. We currently have about 100 users but we expect this to grow to 10,000 by the end of the year. So we plan to increase our usage. We won't need to employ extra staff because the support from Aruba is very good.

How are customer service and technical support?

The technical support from Aruba is very good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Before we started using Aruba we worked on Cisco, which has the same setup. They had the same access layer, access points, access controller and management at Cisco. We were, however, looking for a wireless solution.

How was the initial setup?

The deployment took about two years, and then it took about two weeks for the configurations to be activated. 

What was our ROI?

We've invested in Aruba to increase our customers to 10,000 by the end of the year so we hope to see a good return on investment. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We pay an annual licensing fee for Aruba and there are no additional costs.

What other advice do I have?

I can recommend this solution for anyone in terms of guest management or from a security perspective. I will rate this a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Aruba ClearPass
March 2025
Learn what your peers think about Aruba ClearPass. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
842,672 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user812403 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant
User
Makes it easy to require robust user authentication for both wired and wireless endpoints
Pros and Cons
  • "It makes it easy to require robust user authentication for both wired and wireless endpoints, including BYODs."
  • "Access Tracker is invaluable for troubleshooting access control incidents and quickly getting to the root cause."
  • "It should be clearer in the pre-sales stage that clear, documented, executive-supported InfoSec policy is the key to success."

What is our primary use case?

ClearPass is the best Network Access Control "Swiss army knife" out there right now. It can do 802.1x (WPA2-Enterprise) for WiFi and LAN. It also has one of the slickest guest captive portal experiences and workflows out there, along with an easy, drop-in BYOD application.

I have not had too much experience with OnGuard, the endpoint integrity feature, but it does that too. With all of the ClearPass integrations and RADIUS Change of Authorization (CoA), it is possible to login wired or wireless endpoints based on a variety of identity stores, then create and associate security policies, e.g., DACLs, based on a device. 

Dynamically provision VLAN assignments, i.e., no more "color-coded ports", write Palo Alto Networks (PAN) NGFW policies that are associated with a specific user (rather than IP address), and quarantine or drop an endpoint off the network in an automated manner if an incident is detected.

All of this, naturally, comes with a lot of details in implementation, but my experience was, like all things InfoSec, implementing the controls is easy if you already have a clear, documented, executive-supported policy that you are using as the control to enforce. Otherwise, the control gets blamed for what is really a lack of clarity and leadership regarding the underlying business policy.

How has it helped my organization?

It makes it easy to require robust user authentication for both wired and wireless endpoints, including BYODs.

What is most valuable?

Access Tracker is definitely the feature that I use the most. It is invaluable for troubleshooting access control incidents and quickly getting to the root cause.

What needs improvement?

It should be clearer in the pre-sales stage that clear, documented, executive-supported InfoSec policy is the key to success.

For how long have I used the solution?

Less than one year.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Sumudu Perera - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant - Networking at Plexus Global Pvt Ltd
Consultant
Top 20
Scalable solution and has the best-automated profiling feature
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is highly stable."
  • "They should include SMP functionalities."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for basic user authentication, authorization, and accounting purposes.

What is most valuable?

The solution has the best-automated profiling feature. It helps us create granular policies based on device category. Also, its API-level integration with third-party systems works well compared to other vendors.

What needs improvement?

They should include features like Radius CoA for IoT and similar devices for the solution. Also, it would be great if they had SMP functionalities as well.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution since 2016.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is highly stable. I rate its stability a ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is highly scalable. I rate its scalability a ten. We can add as many subscribers as we require. We have at most ten solution users as our customers. They all are enterprise businesses.

How was the initial setup?

The solution's GUI and configuration workflow could be clearer to understand. I rate its setup process a six. It involves analyzing customers' requirements and starting with a POC. Once it is done, we order equipment and a license. Next, we deploy the solution offline and integrate it with the production environment. The entire process takes around two to three months to complete.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution is costly. We have purchased its perpetual license. It is affordable for enterprise businesses. The medium-scale companies find it expensive. I rate its pricing an eight.

What other advice do I have?

I recommend the solution to others. It is an excellent platform. I rate it as a nine.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
PeerSpot user
Senior konsult at IT-Total Sweden AB
Real User
Easy to deploy, integrates well with network equipment, but complex rule building
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of Aruba ClearPass is the ease of deployment and integration with other equipment in the network."
  • "Aruba ClearPass could improve the complexity of the initial usage. It takes some time to be good at it. It's not simple to build and connect the rules to the network you want to deploy them on."

What is our primary use case?

I have a few customers that are using Aruba ClearPass.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Aruba ClearPass is the ease of deployment and integration with other equipment in the network.

What needs improvement?

Aruba ClearPass could improve the complexity of the initial usage. It takes some time to be good at it. It's not simple to build and connect the rules to the network you want to deploy them on.

In a feature release of Aruba ClearPass, they should add a more graphical way to deploy the rules.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Aruba ClearPass for approximately two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Aruba ClearPass is stable.

I rate the stability of Aruba ClearPass a nine out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of Aruba ClearPass could improve. It is easy to make room but some aspects are difficult.

We have approximately 2,000 to 3,000 users that use Aruba ClearPass.

How are customer service and support?

The response time and the knowledge of the support could improve from Aruba ClearPass.

I rate the support from Aruba ClearPass a three out of five.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Aruba ClearPass is straightforward. When you need to activate the rules it becomes difficult.

What about the implementation team?

We have one person that is needed to use to support Aruba ClearPass.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price of Aruba ClearPass is expensive. However, Cisco ISE was as expensive when we were comparing.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We compared Cisco ISE before choosing Aruba ClearPass. Aruba ClearPass is better to use, especially if you have a mixed environment from different deployers or different hardware, it scales better.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Aruba ClearPass a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Aditya Buditama - PeerSpot reviewer
System Engineer - Network at PT.Helios Informatika Nusantara
Real User
Top 5
Has an access tracker that's helpful when you want to troubleshoot authentication failures
Pros and Cons
  • "What I like most about Aruba ClearPass is its access tracker that serves as its monitoring feature. The access tracker is really helpful when you want to troubleshoot authentication failures."
  • "What needs improvement in Aruba ClearPass is just the endpoint context server, in particular, the indication with the context server because sometimes the daily process isn't as smooth-sailing. Sometimes, the information isn't up-to-date. I'm not sure if that's a vendor limitation, but currently, it's the only tricky part of the current configuration. What I'd like to see in the next release of Aruba ClearPass is a dashboard or a monitoring feature that would allow users to see the integration process with an external server because there's no visibility into that right now."

What is our primary use case?

We use Aruba ClearPass for our authentication server and also integrate it with our active directory. We also use the endpoint function of the solution.

How has it helped my organization?

Aruba ClearPass has improved our organization because, through it, we have much better visibility in terms of who our users are in our network. We have more insight into the type of devices people are using and their roles. For guests, we can also gather some information from them, for example, their emails, so in most cases, Aruba ClearPass is pretty useful for us.

What is most valuable?

What I like most about Aruba ClearPass is its access tracker that serves as its monitoring feature. The access tracker is really helpful when you want to troubleshoot authentication failures.

What needs improvement?

What needs improvement in Aruba ClearPass is just the endpoint context server, in particular, the indication with the context server because sometimes the daily process isn't as smooth-sailing. Sometimes, the information isn't up-to-date. I'm not sure if that's a vendor limitation, but currently, it's the only tricky part of the current configuration.

What I'd like to see in the next release of Aruba ClearPass is a dashboard or a monitoring feature that would allow users to see the integration process with an external server because there's no visibility into that right now.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using Aruba ClearPass for one and a half years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Aruba ClearPass, in terms of stability, is good. We haven't experienced it shutting down in the last one and a half years of using it.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We've only used Aruba ClearPass for the last one and a half years, and we haven't had any need to scale it up, but it seems to be a scalable solution.

How are customer service and support?

We haven't had any issues with Aruba ClearPass. It's been really quiet in the past year, so we haven't contacted their technical support team.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We used a different system before using Aruba ClearPass, but we heard that the licensing scheme for Aruba ClearPass is permanent. The solution offers a permanent license while our previous system had an annual license that we had to renew and repurchase yearly, so that was troublesome for us. With Aruba ClearPass, we don't have to repurchase or renew every year, so that's one of the main reasons we switched to it.

How was the initial setup?

Installing Aruba ClearPass was quite easy. The deployment process for it was quite easy and quick. It took our partner less than two weeks to deploy the solution, so it was quite quick.

What about the implementation team?

We used a third-party company for deploying Aruba ClearPass.

What was our ROI?

You can get ROI from Aruba ClearPass after two or three years.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I can't give the exact cost of Aruba ClearPass because that's handled by the purchasing team, but it's on the cheaper side, and on a scale of one to five, I'm rating the cost a four.

Initially, the pricing for the solution is expensive in terms of deployment, but in the long term, for example, after more than five to ten years, the operational cost incurred by the company is quite affordable because you don't have to renew the license. It's a one-time purchase.

My company only uses the standard license for Aruba ClearPass.

What other advice do I have?

My company has eight hundred users of Aruba ClearPass in the IT security team, and about five or six people are required for the deployment and maintenance of the solution.

Currently, my company doesn't have any plans of increasing usage for Aruba ClearPass because it's been scaled up three times more than the current need when it was first purchased, so the solution is only being used at about 30% of its maximum capacity. It could take another four or five years before my company increases its usage.

Aruba ClearPass is a solution I would highly recommend to others looking into implementing it because, in my experience, it's really easy to manage. It has a low production cost, and even if the initial cost for the deployment is quite high, it becomes pretty cheap because you don't have to renew the license. If you need basic captive portal authentication, I would recommend Aruba ClearPass.

I'm rating Aruba ClearPass nine out of ten.

My company is a customer, not a partner of Aruba ClearPass.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Anil Ergunsah - PeerSpot reviewer
Managing Partner & Technical Consultant&Trainer(CCIE#29761, CCSI#31865) at IT Expert
Real User
Top 10
Simple configuration, helpful support, and beneficial one window troubleshooting
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features of Aruba ClearPass are the GUI and its ease-to-do configuration. Additionally, we can troubleshoot many things in one window."
  • "Aruba ClearPass could improve when it comes to troubleshooting, it can be difficult. Some advanced problems are difficult."

What is our primary use case?

We have Aruba ClearPass installed on a VM.

We are using Aruba ClearPass for our data needs, and authentication for local networks. We are adding some additional features to control clients using agents. We installed an agent for clients and it controls many things such as if the firewall is enabled or the antivirus is up-to-date.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features of Aruba ClearPass are the GUI and its ease-to-do configuration. Additionally, we can troubleshoot many things in one window.

What needs improvement?

Aruba ClearPass could improve when it comes to troubleshooting, it can be difficult. Some advanced problems are difficult. 

The documentation could improve.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Aruba ClearPass for approximately five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of Aruba ClearPass is good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Aruba ClearPass is scalable. You can scale it in the same network, or you can scale the Aruba ClearPass server to another disaster recovery site.

We have over 10 customers using this solution. We have some large customers that have 300 companies and it's all linked. They have hundreds of users.

How are customer service and support?

Aruba ClearPass has good support. The engineers are good, they solved every problem that we have.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Aruba ClearPass is simple. It is done through the CLI asking questions that need answers to be input. It takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Aruba ClearPass has permanent licenses. You purchase it one time and this license is yours. You don't need to refresh it for five years, et cetera. They have a couple of licenses for enabled features with not only one license.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others.

I rate Aruba ClearPass an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
CTO at Kingsway Hospitals
Real User
Simple to deploy, good analytics, and usage is transparent to the users
Pros and Cons
  • "It's very easy to access support and the documentation is self-explanatory."
  • "In the future, I would like to see plugins for AI and machine learning."

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are planning and analytics.

It is simple to deploy.

It is transparent for the users to come in through ClearPass.

What needs improvement?

In the future, I would like to see plugins for AI and machine learning. If it did pattern analysis then it could help to determine our requirements automatically.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using ClearPass for a couple of months. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

ClearPass has been very stable and there are no hiccups or any issues that we are experiencing.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is modularly scalable and I don't see any issues with it.

I've got a lot of people connecting to my facility from outside of the organization, and they all connect through ClearPass. The combined external and internal user count is around 500.

How are customer service and technical support?

The support that I have had from Aruba on this solution has been very nice. It's very easy to access support and the documentation is self-explanatory. You won't need much guidance from the Aruba team.

How was the initial setup?

When it comes to the initial setup, as a customer, you need to prepare your own decision matrix. Once the matrices are in place, the rollout of ClearPass is seamless. It is easy. However, if you don't do your introspection and homework then it could be a challenge for an organization.

What other advice do I have?

This is a solution that I would strongly recommend.

We are very happy with the support and the product overall. Although it meets our satisfaction and requirements 100%, you can never give a 100% mark. There is a little bit of room for improvement in all things.

I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Aruba ClearPass Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: March 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Aruba ClearPass Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.