Wireless and network solutions firm Aruba Networks forecasts good prospects for its low-cost and secure Internet connection system to connect branches and satellite sites in South Africa, says Aruba Networks sub-Saharan Africa regional manager Pieter Engelbrecht.

The Aruba controller, on which this system depends, is currently deployed in 20 branches countrywide as a first-phase trial. The controllers can use any connectivity available at the site and create a secure tunnel between the site and a company’s data centre, including those sites that only have Internet connectivity.

“The main aim of this system is to reduce the costs of connecting branches and temporary sites to a company’s corporate network. Further, the system improves the agility of businesses because any relocation of small branches, which often rent premises, does not involve having to wait for the new branch to be connected. The branch can use the controller to connect securely over any connectivity available and reduce disruptions.”

The solution is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, although Aruba also wants to promote its use to connect smaller offices and regional branches of large companies. All the data is encrypted in-flight over the connections managed by the controllers.

Further, Aruba has also created portable remote access points. Using this device, executives or mobile employees can use any connectivity (such as a hotel’s WiFi) to connect through a secure tunnel to the company’s data centre, and have a work experience similar to their colleagues in offices.

“A multiprotocol label switching connection, which is a data-carrying system for high-performance networks, is often too expensive to deploy for smaller offices or sites, but they must still be connected to the company’s in-house network and systems.”

The Aruba secure Internet connection wrap solution can also be used to manage quality of service over any connection, thus making Internet connections from smaller branches similar to direct links between branches and headquarters, notes Engelbrecht.

Owing to the ability to moderate and manage quality of service, the system can also be used to enhance and optimise data transfers among branches. Voice data streams, firewall settings, security administration and data transfers can all be run over an Internet tunnel.

“Companies can break out their connection to the Internet at branch level and various parameters – typically quality of service or latency parameters – can be set to change connectivity. The connections, including Internet-based connections, can then be managed as if they reside within the company’s network,” explains Engelbrecht.

Aruba Networks and information technology parent company Hewlett-Packard Enterprise are investing significant amounts to bolster growth of Aruba in sub-Saharan Africa, where they can identify potential significant growth.

Many private and public health-sector organisations are running HPE or Aruba systems, and Engelbrecht foresees continued and broader demand from this industry and governments in Africa for switching, data connectivity and quality of service systems.