Aruba Wireless and Fortinet FortiWLM are strong competitors in the wireless management category. Aruba holds an upper hand in scalability and integration, while Fortinet leads in security through its Security Fabric.
Features: Aruba Wireless provides enhanced security and manageability with tools like ClearPass and AirWave. It offers adaptive radio management, excellent scalability, and flexibility that integrates with existing systems seamlessly. Fortinet FortiWLM features a strong Security Fabric enabling integration with Fortinet's security measures, and a single-pane-of-glass management for comprehensive network control.
Room for Improvement: Aruba Wireless could improve in stability, support services, and user interface design. There is a need for better documentation and simpler configuration processes. Fortinet FortiWLM users seek improved integration with third-party products and enhanced user capacity. Pricing is a concern for Fortinet users, with calls for more affordable options despite its reliability.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Aruba Wireless supports hybrid and on-premises deployments with generally positive customer service experiences, yet some inconsistency is noted. Fortinet FortiWLM, with its predominantly on-premises approach, provides reliable technical support but could benefit from quicker response times compared to Aruba's service. Aruba's flexible deployment stands out as an advantage.
Pricing and ROI: Aruba Wireless is recognized for its competitive licensing model with perpetual licenses avoiding recurring fees, though there are concerns about its pricing competitiveness. Fortinet's pricing is straightforward but perceived as high, especially with service contracts included. Both Aruba and Fortinet are seen as delivering positive ROI, through long-term savings and operational efficiency, respectively. The choice depends heavily on budget and specific security needs.
There are significant time savings, around thirty to forty percent, due to minimal disconnections.
There is no need to buy additional controllers for managing access points.
I only needed support once or twice for a replacement, and it was handled smoothly without any difficulty.
The customer support is good.
I would rate their technical support nine out of ten.
The local support we receive from our distributor is perfect.
If we encounter any bugs, they inform us of the recommended configuration and firmware to resolve our problems.
With active maintenance, we can open tickets and receive professional assistance without issues.
The solution is scalable, as multiple sites connect seamlessly.
It is easy to adapt and very scalable.
Fortinet's solutions are integrated into many standard frameworks, allowing for good scalability and interaction with other vendors' products.
I have been using the product for the last nine years without facing any issues post-installation.
Aruba Wireless is stable.
I don't remember it going down during the years it existed.
The product should be more affordable, especially the cloud and console for the Aruba product as it is currently very expensive.
Zero-touch provisioning is needed, and although a cloud version is available, like Aruba Central, easier provisioning and configuration would be beneficial in the future.
At the time of purchase, the prices were moderate, but now they are quite expensive.
Firmware upgrades and bug improvements need to be tested well.
Regarding the integration with other vendors, we try to buy only products from a single vendor to avoid problems of compatibility from devices of different vendors.
One area that needs improvement is the configuration aspect, which is more challenging compared to other products.
It is very high compared to other products.
The initial prices were more affordable compared to the current high prices.
The pricing can be expensive.
Fortinet's pricing is different from Aruba, as Aruba has solutions for small business and enterprise in different categories.
While the pricing of Fortinet FortiWLM is a bit high, it remains effective.
The price is competitive.
I am very satisfied with the roaming feature, as it ensures connectivity when moving from one location to another.
They also have an unlimited lifetime warranty, which is beneficial for long-term service.
It has many features and is integrated with Azure AD and multiple active directories, making authentication easy.
It also has integration capabilities with FortiFirewall which is beneficial for customers.
The solution is controlled from one device and one GUI for all devices.
The tool facilitates network connectivity effectively.
Aruba Wireless is a secure, high-performance, multi-user wireless LAN supporting Wi-Fi 6. As workplaces and user expectations change, users can now maintain hybrid workplaces and IoT without compromising performance, reliability, or security. Aruba Wireless delivers better performance and capacity and greater AIOps visibility throughout all devices and users. In addition, through built-in network intelligence, network operations are made simpler while keeping everything secure through user and guest encryption.
Aruba Wireless, offered through Aruba Networks, is helping achieve digital transformation and IoT with seamless connectivity through multiple Wi-Fi access points. For the user’s convenience, Aruba Wireless provides indoor, outdoor, and remote access points to help boost faster and safer connectivity.
Choosing Aruba Wireless can help improve your organization’s user experience with wireless LAN in many ways, including:
Aruba Gateways and Controllers
Small organizations as well as large enterprises require excellent performance and security for cloud, mobility, and digital transformation. Therefore, in addition to the access points, Aruba Wireless also offers a variety of gateways and controllers, including:
Reviews from Real Users
Aruba Networks is aiding organizations in transforming to a hybrid work environment with Aruba Wireless. Users especially love its ability to work with many devices and its ability to group and manage access points.
A senior IT solutions architect at a manufacturing company says, "The most valuable feature is the fact that it can work with many devices. It supports everything that we need it to."
Gary F., a network administrator at wireless at Abilene Christian, notes, "I like the way it groups and manages access points."
Consolidate security and wireless LAN management with our integrated wireless solutions. Single-pane-of-glass management for security and access without the need to add point products simplifies deployment and reduces management complexity. These solutions are highly scalable to support even the largest organizations and distributed enterprises.
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