Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager Integrates with Microsoft

Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, says ClearPass Policy Manager now integrates with Microsoft endpoint protection platforms. The integration boosts enterprise cybersecurity.

The Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager platform provides role-based and device-based network access control. That is for users across any wired and wireless, and VPN infrastructure. ClearPass now controls access to network resources based on endpoint security intelligence that Microsoft provides. The goal is to reduce the risk of compromised network connections.

Michael Tennefoss is vice president of strategic partnerships at Aruba.

Aruba’s Michael Tennefoss

“Protecting enterprises against attacks requires a holistic approach to security based on an open approach to device and application protection. Aruba’s ClearPass provides policy management on network infrastructure from any vendor,” said Tennefoss. “Microsoft Endpoint Manager provides secure, integrated management of devices and applications from any source. Operating in concert, ClearPass and Microsoft Endpoint Manager address endpoint security for a very broad range of IT, IoT, BYOD and operational technology (OT) devices and applications used in different vertical markets.”

Microsoft Endpoint Manager is a unified management platform that includes Configuration Manager and Microsoft Intune.

More Security

Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager also integrates with Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). Microsoft ATP is a unified endpoint security platform which aims to help enterprises prevent, detect, investigate and respond to advanced threats.

The two vendors also are collaborating to improve the access control communication efficiency and security. They are doing so by developing a standardized approach to support multiple authentication methods and types in a single authentication request.

“Combining network access control with endpoint security, such as risk or exposure scores, yields synergies for both technologies, ensuring businesses that the right devices have access to the right network resources,” said Moti Gindi, corporate vice president with Microsoft Threat Protection. “This integration allows our joint customers to simplify their security infrastructure and enables both solutions to provide higher levels of security.”

Pandemic and Security

In April, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Infrastructure Security Agency and the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre sounded the alarm about increased malicious cyber actors.

“APT groups are using the COVID-19 pandemic as part of their cyber operations,” wrote the authors. “These cyber threat actors will often masquerade as trusted entities. Their activity includes using coronavirus-themed phishing messages or malicious applications, often masquerading as trusted entities that may have been previously compromised. Their goals and targets are consistent with long-standing priorities such as espionage and ‘hack-and-leak” operations.’ Cybercriminals are using the pandemic for commercial gain, deploying a variety of ransomware and other malware.”

Aruba is a member of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), which has over 100 members. Ecosystem partners, including independent software vendors, develop critical integrations to improve security threats.