Aruba Instant vs Cisco Wireless comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Cisco are both solutions in the Wireless LAN category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.5, while Cisco is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.6. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 2.1% mindshare in Wireless LAN, compared to Cisco’s 12.1% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 88% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 31, 2024

Cisco Wireless and Aruba Instant are competitive solutions in the wireless networking domain, each offering distinct advantages. Cisco appears to have the edge in advanced security features and integration capabilities, while Aruba is more accessible and cost-effective, particularly suited for small to mid-sized businesses.

Features: Cisco Wireless is known for its advanced security capabilities, robust interference management through CleanAir technology, and configurability that eases integration with various security tools. It also supports multiple frequency management, enhancing flexibility. Conversely, Aruba Instant prioritizes cost-effectiveness, with centralized and cloud management solutions that enable scalable deployments. It is user-friendly, making it suitable for businesses with limited IT resources.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Wireless is often criticized for its high costs and complex licensing, which can be a deterrent for some users. Simplifying its interface and enhancing compatibility with third-party tools could improve user experience. Aruba Instant, while competitively priced, could improve its cloud management features and enhance connectivity in high-density environments, which users have identified as areas needing attention.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Wireless delivers reliable on-premises solutions with robust technical support, although the initial setup may require significant expertise. Aruba Instant, by contrast, is easier to deploy with a cloud-friendly architecture, offering a straightforward setup process. While Aruba's customer service is solid, it does not match the responsiveness provided by Cisco's support.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Wireless, despite being expensive, is valued for its extensive features and reliability, which many organizations see as providing good ROI due to its stability. Aruba Instant, however, offers a more cost-effective pricing model with many features included without extra licensing fees and is considered better for businesses seeking straightforward, scalable solutions with reasonable initial costs.

To learn more, read our detailed Aruba Instant vs. Cisco Wireless Report (Updated: December 2024).

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant vs. Cisco Wireless

December 2024

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Juniper Mist Wireless Acces...

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Wireless LAN category, the mindshare of Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points is 5.7%, up from 2.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Aruba Instant is 2.1%, down from 2.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Wireless is 12.1%, down from 16.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Wireless LAN

Featured Reviews

Gyan Sharma

Assistant Programmer at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha

Offers good performance, good solution and smooth implementation

I do have a suggestion: it would be helpful to have even stronger security features to help protect against interference from other nearby access points that aren't part of our network. If there are access points from other brands installed nearby; they can cause interference and disrupt the range of our Mist access points. So, the security features could be stronger, especially in terms of authentication. The connectivity is excellent, but security needs improvement. In future releases, integrating more AI features would be beneficial. If Mist had stronger AI features, it could provide better security against network threats and cyberattacks. So, this solution still needs to improve its AI capabilities. It would be great if the AI could improve the range of the access points, and auto-protect functionality should be there to avoid interference by other nearby access points and enhance threat detection. In the future, I'd like to see stronger threat detection features integrated with Mist, as well as better detection of nearby access points that might cause interference.

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Prashant-Patel

Senior Presales Consultant - Networking Solutions at Mannai

A highly stable and easy-to-deploy solution that is free and provides excellent deployment guides

The setup is very straightforward. There is no complexity at all. It took us 15 minutes. We need IP address details, DNS, a gateway, DHCP servers, and SSIDs. Single access points can act as controller-based, controller-less, and cloud-based solutions. That is the beauty of Aruba. If I have an on-premise solution and want to move to the cloud, I don't need separate hardware. The same hardware can be utilized in the cloud. The deployment guides that we get from Aruba are excellent. We have every piece of detail.

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Michael Lees

Production Director at Whitespider

Affordable, resilient, and performs better than other solutions in the market

Assurance capabilities must be improved. There should be more Assurance features on the Wireless LAN Controller. A lot of it is bundled into the DNA Center. Having a little more Assurance regarding what the RF Spectrum looks like will be good. Juniper Mist has a lot of analytical data on the dashboard. The customers would be compelled to look at DNA Center as a longer-term and more comprehensive solution if Cisco were to give them an insight into some of the Assurance capabilities that might be available in DNA Center. The tool must provide something like RF Neighbor. It must enable organizations to receive signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio and see how clients perform in their wireless network. It must have a cap. If we want additional functionality to see our entire network, that's where DNA Center fits in.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The solution is stable."

"With Mist, every Wednesday they roll out new features."

"The most valuable feature of Juniper Mist is the Virtual Network Assistant, powered by artificial intelligence."

"In terms of reporting, in terms of all the user reports, it's very rich."

"The solution is very secure."

"The AI capabilities of Mist Wireless are superior to other OEMs."

"The product is quite user-friendly and easy to deploy, so one should definitely consider buying it."

"The most valuable feature of Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series) is the ability to troubleshoot ports on the network. Additionally, when there is an update on the APs they are able to reboot quickly reducing downtime. Other solutions have a longer downtime when updates are done."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pros

"We like being able to merge Aruba Instant to mobile via Bluetooth. You are also able to perform a lot of functions remotely such as creating an SSID IP."

"The product is easy to configure."

"This is a very solid product. It is very powerful."

"Works automatically in terms of setup with the product finding its master wifi access point."

"The features I have found most valuable is that the solution creates a guest portal for guest networks, and setting up SSID authentication to the regular server."

"It is easy to use, manage, and implement."

"The deployment is easy."

"The integration with ClearPass is the most valuable feature."

More Aruba Instant pros

"The ability to make different types of networks, such as land networks, is the most valuable part of the solution."

"This is a very stable solution that solves complex issues."

"It is a reliable and robust solution. Access and Mobility Groups are useful. We don't use anything very fancy."

"I find the tool to be 99 percent stable."

"I've found it to be quite secure."

"This product has a long life and you don't have any issues with it."

"The most valuable features of Cisco Wireless are security and the ability to manage everything easily. Other solutions, such as Aruba are not as simple."

"The Guest feature is pretty good."

More Cisco Wireless pros

Cons

"Though certain security features are integrated into the product, my company has to always look forward to tightening certain security functionalities in the solution."

"The product should include adaptive Wi-Fi to show a more accurate location."

"The price could be better."

"They should include SD-WAN features to it."

"There is room for improvement in terms of support and installation."

"Supporting multiple protocols would be beneficial."

"Enrolling into the tool is a tedious process."

"Improvement is needed in the user-friendliness of Juniper Mist, particularly in enhancing the interaction with AI features."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points cons

"For on-premises, I would rate the scalability a seven out of ten. For on-prem, if I want to integrate two more controls, and I want to extend my network , and add a couple of access points that need to be integrated with my network, I have to do the configurations and all. So that will be each and every time, as and when the users expand, the Wi-Fi solution expands; I need to do the configuration settings on all other controllers."

"We have faced delay in customer support which has affected our business performance. So the customer support needs to be prompt in their responses."

"The tool's customer service should improve."

"In a corporate environment or a larger network, where more advanced filtering or MAC-based filtering is needed, I don't think the IAPs would be sufficient."

"The wireless coverage should be increased"

"Doesn't support enough access points in one cluster."

"The only issue we've had is getting equipment supplies. The availability of the APs that I want to use has been an issue. It took almost two months to get them the first time. I've ordered a few more for another client, and they're still on back order. It has been over a month now."

"Technical support needs improvement. We use the forum for technical support assistance, but it's not enough. If you're talking with a technician, they're in India. They cannot give you the service that you need. Sometimes have problems with some personal services and technical support is not helpful in this area."

More Aruba Instant cons

"It was expensive. Considering the challenges faced in third-world countries like Pakistan or India, cheaper solutions are preferred."

"The solution could be cheaper and have a better web interface."

"The security must be improved."

"The pricing could be better. It could be cheaper."

"An expensive solution that small companies cannot afford."

"Many wireless controllers' firmware have bugs in their new releases, which are not stable, especially in an environment with many wireless AP (WAP) types."

"Even though the tool offers a cloud-based central management option, the product needs to work on improving the security part a bit since it is an area of concern."

"The biggest reason why we could no longer continue with Cisco Wireless was because of the high cost to upgrade everything. It was disappointing that Cisco treated us as just another big company, and did not offer any leeway on their pricing given that we are an educational institute. And although the system we had in place from Cisco Wireless was good enough over the last ten years, it started to show its age when pushed to its limit during the pandemic."

More Cisco Wireless cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I rate the product price as a six on a scale of one to ten, where one is inexpensive, and ten is expensive. It is a reasonably priced tool."

"We pay maybe 1000 SEK per year, per access point."

"The pricing is too high."

"I rate Juniper Mist's pricing a ten out of ten since it is expensive."

"The solution is expensive."

"If a customer has a budget of around five lakhs in Indian currency, they can afford Juniper products."

"Juniper Wireless AP's price is a little more expensive than other solutions, but you get what you pay for."

"I rate the pricing an eight out of ten."

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points pricing and cost advice

"The setup cost varies based on each organization's requirements but it is within reason."

"I rate the product’s pricing a two out of ten."

"It's a one time cost, including the upgrades, but you have to pay on a yearly basis if you want support. The price is in the middle in comparison to that of competitors' products."

"Aruba Instant is affordable."

"It is not expensive. Its price is fair. You get many features with the normal licensing. If I look at Cisco, it is very expensive if I need similar things."

"I personally would rather pay that little bit more and get what I need because I know what I'm getting, as opposed to going for something cheaper that's not as manageable and doesn't give as much."

"The pricing is reasonable."

"In terms of costs, Aruba Instant is cheap because it doesn't require a license, but you'll incur charges for the access points. Access point charges could be more affordable."

More Aruba Instant pricing and cost advice

"It is an expensive solution."

"Because the Cisco architecture is quite complex, you may end up having to add more components and licenses. So, the cost could go up."

"The licensing system is very rigid. I work for a school and we are just treated like big companies. At some point, there's a limit to what we can do about that."

"It is an expensive product. I would rate the pricing a nine out of ten, with ten being expensive."

"As far as I know Cisco is very competitive, price-wise. Talk to your third-party vendor. It all depends on the company size - how many employees, how big the building is. If it's wireless, and you have only 50 employees but you're using a large building floor, in that case you need many access points. But if you have 50 employees using two or three rooms, then you probably don't need it and it's going to be high density, so there is a different design. So you need to talk to a subject matter expert. Talk to them and design accordingly."

"This is an expensive product."

"I rate the tool's pricing a ten out of ten. It is expensive compared to Aruba and Juniper."

"We opt for a one-time purchasing fee model in our setup. Since we don't utilize a management platform or WLAN controller, there are no recurring costs. The access points we typically use, which support Cisco's wireless masters, are priced at around $250 each. Occasionally, we purchase them in packs of five or as part of extended packs at a prorated cost."

More Cisco Wireless pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user212721

President at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Mar 24, 2015

Cisco vs. Aruba Wireless Solutions

Cisco or Aruba Networks? If you are considering wireless access solutions, this is a common question that you are probably asking. You probably have sales people knocking at your door. How do you make sense of all the stories that you are presented with. If you have done any research, you are…

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

16%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Computer Software Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series)?

The solution is very secure.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series)?

Juniper Mist is cheaper than Meraki, placing it in the middle of the pack.

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What needs improvement with Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series)?

Supporting multiple protocols would be beneficial.

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Which is better - Ubiquiti WLAN or Aruba Instant?

We researched Ubiquiti and Aruba when looking for a WLAN solution. Ubiquiti offers good WLAN access both indoors and ...

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What do you like most about Aruba Instant?

I find network management features related to monitoring Wi-Fi usage and visited sites particularly valuable. Content...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Aruba Instant?

The licensing costs depend on the product. The smaller switch is around one hundred and twenty euros. We do not sell ...

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Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to...

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Which is better - Ruckus Wireless or Cisco Wireless?

Ruckus Wireless offers users the benefit of being both easy to set up and get running as well as being very user frie...

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How does Cisco Wireless compare with Aruba Wireless?

On the most basic level, Cisco Wireless can offer a rather straightforward initial setup. In the span of about three ...

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Comparisons

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 44% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 18% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 15% of the time

Fortinet FortiAP vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 4% of the time

Aruba Instant On Access Points vs Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

Compared 1% of the time

More Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points Competitors

Omada Access Points vs Aruba Instant

Compared 31% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Aruba Instant

Compared 16% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant

Compared 14% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Aruba Instant

Compared 10% of the time

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs Aruba Instant

Compared 2% of the time

More Aruba Instant Competitors

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 37% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 25% of the time

Huawei Wireless vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 6% of the time

Alcatel-Lucent OmniAccess Stellar vs Cisco Wireless

Compared 1% of the time

More Cisco Wireless Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points

December 2024

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points report

Download Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points product report

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant

December 2024

Download Aruba Instant product report

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Wireless

December 2024

Download Cisco Wireless product report

Also Known As

Juniper Wireless Access Points (AP Series), Mist Access Points

No data available

Cisco WLAN Controller

Learn More

Juniper

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Cisco

Overview

Juniper Wireless Access Points work in conjunction with Juniper Mist Cloud Services and Mist AI to deliver premier wireless access capabilities. The Juniper Mist Edge extends microservices to the campus to bring agility and scale while enabling new applications at the edge.

Aruba Instant delivers the only controllerless Wi-Fi solution that is easy to set-up, and loaded with security and smarts needed to accelerate your business without breaking your budget.

Cisco Wireless is a comprehensive suite of wireless solutions designed to deliver secure, high-performance connectivity for enterprises of all sizes. Offering a range of access points, controllers, and advanced management tools, Cisco Wireless ensures seamless and reliable network access, enhancing mobility and productivity.

Cisco Wireless solutions provide robust, scalable wireless networks capable of supporting high-density environments and diverse applications. With features such as seamless roaming, advanced security protocols, and detailed analytics, Cisco Wireless addresses the needs of modern businesses. The solutions include the Cisco Catalyst and Aironet series access points, wireless LAN controllers, and the Cisco DNA Center for centralized management and automation.

What are the key features of Cisco Wireless?

High-Density Performance: Optimized for environments with a high number of devices, ensuring reliable connectivity and performance.
Advanced Security: Incorporates robust security measures such as WPA3, Secure Boot, and segmentation to protect data and devices.
Seamless Roaming: Enables uninterrupted connectivity as users move across different areas within the network.
Centralized Management: Cisco DNA Center provides a single pane of glass for managing and automating wireless networks, enhancing operational efficiency.
Flexible Deployment Options: Supports various deployment models, including on-premises, cloud-managed, and hybrid solutions.

What benefits should users look for in reviews when evaluating Cisco Wireless?

Improved Mobility and Productivity: Users often highlight how Cisco Wireless enhances user mobility and productivity through reliable and consistent connectivity.
Scalability: Reviews frequently mention the scalability of Cisco Wireless, making it suitable for growing businesses.
Ease of Management: Many users appreciate the centralized management capabilities, which simplify network administration and troubleshooting.
Enhanced Security: The advanced security features are often noted for providing peace of mind and compliance with industry standards.
User Experience: The overall user experience, including ease of use and seamless integration with other Cisco products, is a common point of praise.

Cisco Wireless solutions are implemented across various industries, including healthcare, education, retail, and manufacturing. In healthcare, they support critical applications like patient monitoring and electronic health records. Educational institutions use Cisco Wireless to provide reliable internet access for students and staff. Retailers benefit from enhanced customer experiences through in-store connectivity, while manufacturers use wireless networks to improve operational efficiency and automation.

Pricing and licensing for Cisco Wireless solutions are typically based on the scale of deployment and specific product selections. Cisco offers various support plans, including 24/7 customer service, technical support, and access to software updates and patches.

In summary, Cisco Wireless provides robust, scalable wireless networking solutions that enhance connectivity, security, and management for diverse enterprise environments.

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Purdue University, Orlando Magic, Brussels Airport Company, Molecaten Holiday Parks

Aegean Motorway, Baylor Scott & White Health, Beachbody, Bellevue, Brunel University London, Bucks County Intermediate Unit , Chartwell School, Children's Hospital Colorado, Cisco Live Milan, City of Biel, City of Mississauga, Dundee Precious Metals, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Erickson Living, Goldcorp, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS)

Buyer's Guide

Aruba Instant vs. Cisco Wireless

December 2024

Free Report: Aruba Instant vs. Cisco Wireless

Find out what your peers are saying about Aruba Instant vs. Cisco Wireless and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.

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