- Open standards-based Networks Access Control, 802.1x
- Excellent API/third party integration module
- Radius server features
- Visibility reporting (see who accessed the network with which device, etc.)
- Onboarding solution for BYOD
Security/Pre-Sales Consultant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Its integration with existing tooling/databases improves efficiency and visibility.
What is most valuable?
How has it helped my organization?
- Security of wired and wireless network increased significantly without any complexity for our user community.
- Integration with existing tooling/databases improved efficiency and visibility.
- Less components to manage (we phased out MS NPS, Cisco ACS).
- Guest experience improved while "load" on IT lowered.
What needs improvement?
How the licenses-in-use counting works in educational environments could be improved.
Also, appliance sizing could be improved, as the gaps from 500 to 5,000 and from 5,000 to 250,000 is too large. There should be 2,500 and 10,000 appliances as well.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
No issues with deployment.
Buyer's Guide
Aruba ClearPass
May 2025

Learn what your peers think about Aruba ClearPass. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
851,823 professionals have used our research since 2012.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
No issues with stability.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
No issues of scalability.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: I'm a Security Consultant/Pre-Sales Consultant working for a Security Network Integrator. Mobility, Network Access Control, NGFW are a few of the solutions I'm specialized in.

Information Security Assistant Manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
It checks the health of computers before granting them access to the network.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is the OnGuard agent which performs posture assessments.
How has it helped my organization?
This product helps the organization to perform the NAC concept and check the health of computers before granting them access to the network.
What needs improvement?
Access Tracker section and ClearPass Insight have rooms of improvements.
For Access Tracker: it would be great if Aruba added more information in the Access Tracker section, such as an endpoint’s IP address, device category, name/description of network device, and SHL name, if any.
For ClearPass Insight: it currently has low limits and a lot of use cases couldn’t be applied by the customer which required customization by the Aruba TAC. This is the thing that consumes the most time and could lead to performance issues for ClearPass Insight.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've used it for two years.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
No issues encountered.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
No issues encountered.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
No issues encountered.
How are customer service and technical support?
Customer Service:
9/10
Technical Support:9/10
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I didn’t use another solution.
How was the initial setup?
When there are a lot of requirements, the initial setup will be complex, so it depends on the organization’s requirements.
What about the implementation team?
It was through a vendor team, and I would advise anyone going to implement this solution to enable all features during the initial setup and try to get some reference from the vendor in order to contact them and ask them about their experience.
What was our ROI?
For licensing, it depends on the organization’s capacity.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I didn’t evaluate another solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise you to get support directly from the vendor and not use the partner support.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Aruba ClearPass
May 2025

Learn what your peers think about Aruba ClearPass. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: May 2025.
851,823 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Technology Manager at MediaTek
Helpfully identifies devices found in our network environment
Pros and Cons
- "Aruba ClearPass has improved the security control in our network environment."
- "Configuration should be more easy to understand between the link of two topics."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for controlling the security of our wireless network.
How has it helped my organization?
Aruba ClearPass has improved the security control in our network environment.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature for our network environment is the identification of discovered devices.
What needs improvement?
Configuration should be more easy to understand between the link of two topics.
For how long have I used the solution?
Four and a half years.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Network Architect with 10,001+ employees
Its clustering model saved us staff time and reduced errors by eliminating the need to manage individual RADIUS servers
Pros and Cons
- "We are able to satisfy many different organizational needs because of its flexibility."
- "It eliminated the management of 10 different individual discrete RADIUS servers."
- "Its clustering model saved us staff time and reduced errors by eliminating the need to manage individual RADIUS servers."
- "The product's graphical user interface (GUI) could use an update and better integration between the guest management and policy management interfaces."
What is our primary use case?
We used ClearPass for wireless 802.1x Authentication in a large campus deployment (more than 10,000 access points).
We are also going to use it for our guest WiFi access solution. I would like to promote its use for wired network authentication as well.
How has it helped my organization?
- It eliminated the management of 10 different individual discrete RADIUS servers.
- We are able to satisfy many different organizational needs because of its flexibility.
What is most valuable?
The ClearPass clustering model saved us staff time and reduced errors by eliminating the need to manage individual RADIUS servers. The mulit-vendor capability is also valuable.
What needs improvement?
The product's graphical user interface (GUI) could use an update and better integration between the guest management and policy management interfaces.
I'd also like to make sure there is support for Juniper switches.
For how long have I used the solution?
Three to five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It has been pretty stable, except sometimes when we go to upgrade to a different version - it hasn't been user-impacting - but we've had some issues.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We were using a different vendor's wireless infrastructure, and we switched to the Aruba platform - and ClearPass, that was part the package.
The most important criterion when selecting the vendor in this particular case was integration with a wireless infrastructure product because it was the same vendor.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
There were two in total, Cisco and Aruba. We chose Aruba because their technical support was more responsive and knowledgeable than we had with Cisco.
What other advice do I have?
Do a proof of concept. Actually get your hands on the product and don't just look at the brochure, the glossy about the product.
I rate it a nine out of 10 because it's done everything that we've been able to ask it to do.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Network Administrator with 51-200 employees
It has an easy to learn web GUI and command lines
Pros and Cons
- "It has an easy to learn web GUI and command lines."
- "The support is top notch, expert, and very friendly. "
- "The AirWave Dashboard heat maps could be better designed."
- "Instructions on adding layouts are not as clear as they could be."
How has it helped my organization?
We got rid of books after our third year of installing Aruba WiFi. Our educational delivery system is 99% online with the exception of a few AP classes dictated by the State. As IoT has started arriving on campus, the Aruba solution is already in place.
What is most valuable?
ClearPass is the most valuable tool in my arsenal. It ties everything together: users, devices, IoT, mobile devices, guests, and networks. All of it.
It has an easy to learn web GUI and command lines.
What needs improvement?
- The AirWave Dashboard heat maps could be better designed.
- Instructions on adding layouts are not as clear as they could be.
For how long have I used the solution?
More than five years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Every time I extend my environment: mobile device management, a dashboard to see all my switches, controllers, access points, devices, and users. Aruba has had the best solution.
How is customer service and technical support?
The support is top notch, expert, and very friendly.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Cost is important. I switched because Aruba's costs were well below Cisco's. Aruba has outpaced Cisco in the marketplace and in performance.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I shopped six WiFi companies for a year before I decided on going with Aruba. Since then, I have replaced all of my Cisco products, with Aruba except the core, which I installed Juniper. This year Aruba has developed a premium core system, and we are putting it in. I like the fact Aruba has cloud or on-prem controllers. I like managing my own environments, so I use on-prem.
We are an “Aruba House”.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Solution Design Engineering at Cigna
Gives us network access control, visibility, scalability, security, and control
Pros and Cons
- "Gives us network access control, visibility, scalability, security, and control in what is becoming an uncontrollable, inundated BYOD and IoT world."
- "I would like to see is “AAS”. Not only Aruba APs with central, but NAC/ClearPass, AirWave, and everything licensed as a Service. This way, like AWS, they can spin up what they need when they need it and vice versa."
What is our primary use case?
OnBoard, OnGuard, SSO and IntroSpect UEBA, including Palo Alto integration. These are valuable from engineer to C-level executives, who want visibility, performance, statistics, and a platform which can take action for them without manual intervention, saving time and money.
How has it helped my organization?
Gives us network access control, visibility, scalability, security, and control in what is becoming an uncontrollable, inundated BYOD and IoT world.
What needs improvement?
Aruba is always finding better, innovative ways to make their products easier and more friendly. It is always being improved, but what I would like to see is “AAS”. Not only Aruba APs with central, but NAC/ClearPass, AirWave, and everything licensed as a Service. This way, like AWS, they can spin up what they need when they need it and vice versa.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
None.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
None.
How are customer service and technical support?
Awesome tech support when needed. Each customer is given a customer number and TAC will follow through until all issues are resolved, whether it be a flaw in the product or a customer misconfiguration.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I did not personally use a previous solution.
How was the initial setup?
Initial setup is straightforward. It is recommended to read the manual before implementation.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I provide straight answers. Licensing and pricing are extremely straightforward.
Run a 90 day free Proof of Concept (PoC) for each product by implementing and using it fully in your environment. This way you will be educated on its features, functionality, and manageability.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
No.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner.
System Engineer at Chayon Technologies
Comprehensive solution for network access control, profiling, and security
Pros and Cons
- "ClearPass's best feature is its comprehensiveness."
- "ClearPass isn't hard to set up, but it takes a long time."
What is our primary use case?
I use ClearPass for network access control, profiling, and security.
What is most valuable?
ClearPass's best feature is its comprehensiveness.
What needs improvement?
It would be useful if a free trial was available for customers to see if ClearPass is suitable for them before purchasing.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using ClearPass for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
ClearPass is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
ClearPass is scalable.
How are customer service and support?
ClearPass's technical support is okay.
How was the initial setup?
ClearPass isn't hard to set up, but it takes a long time.
What other advice do I have?
I'd advise anybody thinking of implementing ClearPass to go for it, it's a good solution. I would rate ClearPass as 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
Scalable, helpful support, but user training needed
Pros and Cons
- "Aruba ClearPass is a simple solution for customers to see what is happening on their network."
- "The implementation can improve because it is challenging to explain some of the concepts to the client."
What is our primary use case?
Aruba ClearPass could be deployed on-premise in the cloud.
What is most valuable?
Aruba ClearPass is a simple solution for customers to see what is happening on their network.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Aruba ClearPass for approximately five years.
Aruba ClearPass is used for our clients to control and access their network.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Aruba ClearPass is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I have found Aruba ClearPass to be scalable.
We have approximately three to four clients that are using this solution.
How are customer service and support?
The support has been good for our customers.
How was the initial setup?
Aruba ClearPass is complicated to install. Before our clients can use the solution they typically do a POC and we loan them some equipment for them to test with.
The projects from negotiation to acceptance take approximately three to six months.
The implementation can improve because it is challenging to explain some of the concepts to the client.
What about the implementation team?
We do the implementation of the solution, and the time it takes for us to do the deployment depends on the customer's size.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The starting price of Aruba ClearPass is 200k Hong Kong dollars. The licensing is based on the endpoints. For example, 100 - 500 endpoints.
There is a subscription for the support from the vendor that can be bundled together.
The solution can be expensive because you might have to train the customer.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Aruba ClearPass a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner

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Updated: May 2025
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