Aruba Networks (NASDAQ: ARUN) announced that its 802.11ac wireless LAN (WLAN) products are the first to receive FIPS 140-2 certification and the first to be validated under the Common Criteria Wireless LAN Access System Protection Profile. As a result, Aruba now has a fully compliant listing in the "WLAN Access System" category on the United States National Security Agency/Central Security Service’s (NSA’s) Commercial Solutions for Classified Program Components List.
The Aruba solutions receiving certification include the AP-224 and AP-225 802.11ac access points (APs), featuring Aruba’s patented ClientMatch technology, which matches mobile devices to the best possible access point each time they connect, and the company's 7200 Series Mobility Controllers. With the new validations, Aruba notes that government agencies in the U.S. and other countries can now take advantage of the faster speeds, improved performance and enhanced security that 802.11ac delivers for both classified and unclassified networks.
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“Aruba is committed to providing government and defense agencies with WLAN solutions that meet not only network industry standards for performance and security, but also rigorous government security validations and accreditations,” said Jon Green, CTO of Government Solutions for Aruba Networks. “With these new certifications, government agencies can leverage the latest generation of wireless technology, confident that it meets the most stringent security requirements in the industry – those of classified networks.”
Aruba announced that its 802.11ac access points, controllers and software have also been listed on the United States Department of Defense’s (DoD) Unified Capabilities Approved Products List (UC-APL), assuring DoD customers that the products have met rigorous security, interoperability, and performance testing requirements. Finally, Aruba’s mobility controller family has been listed on the Australian Signals Directorate’s (ASD’s) Evaluated Product List after successful completion of a Common Criteria evaluation against the Network Device Protection Profile.
“The demand for mobility and high-speed wireless networks is escalating rapidly among our government customers,” asserts John Wood, CEO for Telos Corporation, one of Aruba's federal partner companies. “Accreditation is absolutely critical for these organizations, and Aruba always comes through for us with the right equipment and the right certifications at the right time. Being able to offer Gigabit Wi-Fi solutions to this market segment will be a key competitive advantage for us.”
The use of commercial products in a classified environment by U.S. Government organizations requires approval by the NSA; potential customers should work with their NSA client advocate to begin the process, said Aruba Networks in a press release.