Aruba Instant On Wireless Access Points and Instant On Network Switches are network devices designed to help small businesses deploy fast, secure, & reliable wireless connectivity in just a few minutes. Put another way, administrators can manage Instant On networks from anywhere with ease and trust that the latest security intelligence protects their networks around the clock.
Aruba Instant On takes advantage of Smart Mesh Wi-Fi to provide reliable wireless performance with built-in router functionality. On top of that, check out these other attractive benefits of Instant On:
Multi-Site Management allowing administrators to easily secure and maintain multiple networks under one platform
Site Inventory features that make it easy to see all the switches, access points, and other devices on your network at a glance
Application Visibility and Control to ensure bandwidth is always routed to your most important services
Easy Guest Access to connect customers and visitors
Enterprise-Grade WiFi that smoothly hands off connected devices between access points
How Does Aruba Instant On Work?
An Aruba Instant On AP acts as a network router as well. In short, this means plugging in directly to the Internet right out of the box allows network setup to begin immediately.
Aruba Instant On devices require no licenses, subscriptions, renewals, or prepaid contracts. In other words, Instant On APs and network switches include all needed software and services, right out of the box.
How Do I Set Up Aruba Instant On?
Deploying and configuring an Instant On AP or Switch is as easy as downloading the Instant On smartphone app. The mobile app provides guided setup and plug-n-play deployment. So no experts required.
Need to set up wireless access in an especially tricky location like an outdoor stadium or campus? The Aruba Instant On AP17 includes a ruggedized chassis that withstands the wear and tear of an outdoor deployment.
How to Manage Instant On
Remember that mobile app for network set up? Use the same Instant On application to remotely manage, monitor, and edit network settings from anywhere, any time. Prefer working on the big screen? The web-based portal.arubainstanton.com shares all the same great features as the Instant On app, but on a browser.
From the app or web portal, you’ll be able to restrict resource allocation to stop bandwidth hogs, block unwanted clients, and easily create separate networks for guests and employees.
Are Aruba Appliances Expensive?
Surely something with this many positives must have a big drawback, right? Well, it’s not going to be the price-point. Instant On access points are competitively priced to meet the needs of lean budgets and small offices.
Wireless firewalls simplify deployments for small businesses. Small offices are sometimes, well, small. Sometimes that power outlet is just a few feet too far to reach your desk. Or the Internet line from your ISP is juuust out of reach of your rack. Looking to shed the cords and cables for a hassle-free network security deployment? Wireless firewalls allow greater flexibility, mobility, and can even save on Total Cost of Ownership.
For the best wireless firewall to simplify your network security setup, Firewalls.com recommends:
What’s the difference between a wired & wireless firewall?
Wired firewalls pass data between the public Internet and other wired devices on your network through a physical ethernet cable connection. Wireless firewalls operate over a radio frequency that allows wireless devices to communicate with one another and the Internet without being hard-wired into a switch, firewall, or router.
While the wired setup has its advantages, it can be frustrating or sometimes impossible to deploy a firewall in an exact desired location as you are at the mercy of cord length and outlet placement. Plus, once a device is plugged into wired infrastructure, that machine needs to stay in that spot or risk coming unplugged.
A wireless firewall on the other hand, can be deployed in just about any location and users on the wireless network can move their machines wherever they like—assuming they stay in wireless signal range! Wireless firewalls also cut down on clutter and excessive equipment by reducing the number of cables, power supplies, and network switches needed to keep your network infrastructure powered and connected.
Fortinet FortiWifi FWF-40F Wireless Firewalls
The Fortinet FortiWifi FWF-40F wireless firewall can pump a serious amount of data over the airwaves! With a Threat Protection Throughput of up to 600 Mbps, most small offices will boast more than enough performance and security for their purposes.
The TZ270 wireless firewall is a new addition to the SonicWall firewall family, released in the last quarter of 2020. Wireless networking tag teams with Zero-Touch Deployment to make installing this firewall on a small business network a snap. With the new features of SonicOS 7.0 powering it, the TZ270 wireless firewall integrates firewalling, switching, and wireless capability with a single-pane-of-glass management dashboard to put superb visibility and control of your wireless network right at your fingertips.
Wireless Support: 2×2 802.11ac Wave 2 with 2 External Antennas
Meraki MX64W Wireless Firewalls
TheMeraki MX series of wireless firewalls are 100% cloud managed with SD-WAN capabilities, application-based firewalling, and auto-provision VPN, among many more advanced features. Plus, Meraki firewalls piggyback on theCisco SNORT engine to deliver real-time signatures for up-to-the-minute threat intelligence generated from millions of security sensors around the world.
In addition to simplifying deployments in physical space, Meraki further simplifies network security with seamless firmware updates and an intuitive browser-based management.
You’re a small business owner with a lengthy laundry list of tasks and some DIY self-reliance. You can do your own research. You can learn. But cyber security is something that needs to be done and done right, so you’re not going to just charge into the fray. So, how hard is setting up a secure network, really?
The degree of difficulty can range from fairly straightforward to hair-pullingly complex. The specific goals and pain points of your organization will be driving factors in the type of hardware you purchase, the endpoint protection you run, and the shape of your network. This post is an ideal starting point for the fearless small business owner ready to ascend the cyber security summit. Here are three questions every small business owner should ask themselves before setting up their network.
Question 1: What are my unique goals?
Network security solutions are not one size fits all. Small business owners should consider the unique challenges that face their industry, their location, and the specific needs of their business. While a powerful content filtering service may be a make-or-break factor for a school district, that same service may be irrelevant to a marketing agency that relies on unfettered access to content. Retailers face PCI compliance requirements in order to secure their POS systems, but a contracting business that rarely processes in-person transactions has little use for a PCI compliant buildout.
Outline the average workday in your office and list which aspects of network utilization are critical for optimizing productivity and reliability. If your organization requires nimble network performance, you may pursue a leaner, dynamic security solution that won’t be bogged down with excessive UTM applications. If your organization deploys mobile workers or operates a web of remote offices, you may want to focus your efforts on VPN tunnels, email security, and secure remote access.
These considerations ultimately influence your decisions regarding the size, brand, and throughput of the firewall you purchase. If you seek reliability and beginner-friendly management, an appliance from SonicWall’s TZ Series could be a great fit. If you want to assign performance-heavy services, subscriptions, or apps on your network, you’ll find that a WatchGuard Firebox T Series appliance can handle the intense workload smoothly. And if you’re an adventurous early-adopter type that swept their school science fair multiple years running, you’ll have a ton of fun exploring the steeper learning curve and nuanced capabilities of a Sophos XG Firewall.
Question 2: What licenses, subscriptions, or services will run on my firewall?
If network security is a car, the new firewall box you just got in the mail is the chassis and engine of that car. You can put it in drive and go, but cars have come a long way since basic stop-and-go functionality. Consider your add-ons. While technically optional, you’re probably not going to stick with a car for long if it doesn’t have A/C, radio, ABS, seatbelts, power steering, or cupholders. You may not need or want all of these options, but most everyone will find a few they can’t go without.
Corporate email breaches and phishing represent some of the most aggressive threats in 2017 and that trend will only grow in 2018. Cloud-based sandbox environments guarding your inbox, such as SonicWall Capture ATP, may prove invaluable assets to protecting users. AntiSpam clients can mitigate the dangerous and endlessly irritating deluge of junk mail barraging mail servers. Sophos Intercept X is a powerful next-generation guard against ransomware and is designed to seamlessly supplement whatever hardware or security features you already run.
Your answers to Question 1 will help to develop comprehensive answers for this question. The unique needs of your organization dictate the number and types of security licenses you employ, so make sure to overturn every stone.
Mix and match. Bundle to save money. Test-drive some free trials. Your options are endless!
Question 3: Exactly how hard is configuring a firewall?
You’ve got a shortlist of firewall appliance options. You’ve got a pretty good idea of the licenses and security services you want to employ. Surely you’re nearing the peak of this massif, right? Unfortunately, the most complex step still awaits: configuration.
The infrastructure of your network will need to be diagrammed and implemented. NAT policies and rules must be put in place that instruct your firewall how to respond to various situations and stimuli. You will likely want to segregate the users on your network into smaller, more manageable user groups. Configuration is a complex process that requires plentiful considerations.
Firewalls.com provides some resources to the DIY network builder such as our manufacturer-specific training videos, YouTube tutorial library, and premium support if you get yourself in a pinch. Nonetheless, we still recommend leaving the details of configuration in the hands of a professional.
No matter what brand you roll with, Firewalls.com has in-house engineers dedicated to mastering each system and this is evidenced by a suite of certifications, awards, and reviews Firewalls.com has earned over the last two decades. After all, we are Firewalls-dot-freaking-com, so we’ve done this a time or two! You’re a small business owner who still has a lot of ground to cover. Why not consider having our expert team do the configuration for you while you get a head start on the next summit?
An Even Easier Option for the Small Business Owner
If you’ve asked yourself all three of these questions and feel empowered to secure your own network, congratulations! We’re rooting for you, you cunning small business owner, unafraid to confront new challenges.
If these questions raised some doubt, no problem. There are easier options. Firewall-as-a-Service is the perfect choice for a small business owner looking to deploy a secure network with as little muss and fuss as possible. Think of it like renting security layers: we’ll bring the firewall, the services, the configuration, and the expertise. Just show us where to plug in and we’ll lock down your network, mitigate threats, and minimize network downtime with a convenient, discreet deployment.
