Xirrus provides a comprehensive solution for BYOD that addresses the security concerns and performance impact of adopting such policies in an organization, with the goal of deploying wireless networks that support users and applications in a way that drives and improves productivity. Xirrus supports guest and onboarding services to offer enterprises and administrators an easy, all-in-one answer for solving the BYOD problem.
Xirrus Access Manager
The Xirrus Access Manager (XAM) controls network access for BYOD users and devices. Centrally managed with customizable Captive Portal capabilities, the XAM solution offers secure and easy guest registration services and onboarding of mobile devices, whether personal or IT-issued. Different guest registration options are supported, such as hosted, self, or sponsored. Temporary accounts can be created based on length of allowed access. Devices owned by credentialed users can be easily onboarded with 802.1x auto client configuration and dissolvable agents.
Performance Optimization
Successfully supporting BYOD initiatives goes far beyond managing the access. The ability to operate wireless networks for tablets, smartphones and laptops that deliver a user experience sufficient to run business critical applications is key to the broad acceptance of mobile devices and applications. Xirrus provides a number of components to optimize the support of BYOD devices, including providing roaming assistance to improve mobility efficiency, RF optimizations to increase density support in 2.4GHz-centric deployments, and Apple Bonjour support for enabling iOS devices across an enterprise network.
Directory Integration
Many wireless networks require that the guest services be configured on the Wi-Fi network system itself with wired users using a separate system. The Xirrus Access Manager solution simplifies onboarding devices by integrating with the same systems used for the wired network. Rather than configuring multiple systems, changes can be made in one place and enforcing the changes like a traditional wired switches at the network edge. Integration with existing user information via Active Directory and LDAP services are greatly simplified lowering equipment and support costs.
Policy Management
The Xirrus Access Manager solution allows customization to fit the specific requirements of the network. Bandwidth limits can be configured to ensure guest users do not overrun employee traffic usage. Restrictions can be placed on time of day access and day of the week access. Policies can be set to enforce use policies for different device types. For instance, a guest on an iPad may be given access to some types of data, but a known user on a laptop may be given broader data access. Policies can be set and enforced on a user, role, device, and time basis.
An advantage of the multi-radio design of the Xirrus Array is the ability to allocate different modular APs to different uses. Modular APs can allocated to specific SSIDs to give a more fair balance of the network resources. For instance with an 8-radio Array configured for Guest and Employee SSIDs, two of the modular APs could be mapped to the Guest SSID and the other six mapped to the Employee SSID. In this way, the majority of the Wi-Fi resources are reserved for employee use.
Reduced IT Capital Expenditure
Successful BYOD rollouts reduce IT expenditures by automating the process of bring devices online without administrative intervention. With a reduction for supporting how new devices join the network, IT can focus more time on making the network adaptable and upgradable.
Increase User Productivity
Enabling BYOD in the workplace will improve productivity by allowing mobile applications to be used in more convenient ways. Business-critical applications delivered over the wireless network can be consumed by mobile devices in meeting rooms, auditoriums, and convention floors.
Flexible Policy Enforcement
Securing key business applications and data while still enabling mobility and guest access is a top priority for network administrators. Xirrus allows user, role, device, application, and time-based policies and enforcement. The policies can be centrally implemented and are enforced at the network edge with Xirrus’ embedded controller in each Array.
Better Resource Allocation
Providing guest access is important with today’s mobile workforce; however providing it should not come at the expense of employee access to the network. The ability to allocate Array resources to specific uses ensures guests do not overrun the network. By restricting bandwidth, time of day, and day of week access, guest access can be even further confined to fit the network’s requirements.
Simplified Network Integration
Xirrus integrates seamlessly with existing network infrastructure such as RADIUS and Network Access Control systems. By integrating with the same systems used for wired infrastructure, policy enforcement is greatly simplified and network deployment cost is lowered. When new access services need to be implemented, managing a single system is much simpler than managing two.
Highly Scalable BYOD Support
Xirrus multi-radio, distributed architecture ensures the ability to handle large numbers of users. As more users access the network and bring in their own Wi-Fi devices, wireless networks will need to flexibly scale to handle the increased data traffic. Distributed enforcement, along with Xirrus high performance hardware, creates unparalleled support for BYOD initiatives.
Xirrus Access Manager for guest access and onboarding control.
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