Cisco vs HPE Aruba | Battlecard 2025

Feature	Cisco Secure Firewall	HPE Aruba Networking
Threat Intelligence	Cisco Talos Intelligence is Cisco's primary source of threat intelligence, complemented by Cisco Secure Malware Analytics (formerly Threat Grid) and Cisco Secure Endpoint Intelligence (formerly AMP for Endpoints)	Uses AI-powered threat defense (e.g., Aruba Central threat insights and integrations with third-party tools)
Intrusion Prevention (IPS)	Snort IPS with extensive rule-based detection and Talos threat feeds.	Aruba IDS/IPS capabilities integrated in gateway & APs; optional ClearPass for deeper integration.
Encrypted Traffic Analysis	Encrypted Traffic Analytics (ETA): Detects malware in encrypted traffic without decryption.	Integrated with ClearPass Policy Manager for traffic visibility and anomaly detection.
Zero Trust & Identity-Based Security	Cisco ISE integration: Role-based access and dynamic segmentation. Cisco integrates Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) via Duo Security and Cisco ISE.	Aruba ClearPass for role-based access control and ZTNA enforcement.
Cloud Security & SASE	Cisco Umbrella + Secure Firewall Cloud for cloud-based firewalling & SASE.	Aruba EdgeConnect for SASE; cloud-managed firewall capabilities via Aruba Central.
Automation & AI	SecureX orchestration for security automation & response.	Aruba AIOps for automated issue resolution and optimization.
Policy Management	Firewall Management Center (FMC) with SecureX automation.	Aruba Central provides centralized policy management.
Local Agent	Cisco Secure Client (formerly AnyConnect). Full-featured Secure Client: VPN, posture, Umbrella, Duo MFA, etc. No native agentless ZTNA; VPN still required for most access.	Aruba VIA client for VPN; mostly agentless with ClearPass + SASE
Sandboxing	Uses Cisco Secure Malware Analytics (formerly Threat Grid) for deep file analysis, behavioral detection, and malware classification.	Integrates with third-party sandbox solutions (e.g., Palo Alto Wildfire or FireEye)
Main Competitors	Palo Alto, Fortinet, Sophos.	Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet.

	Cisco Secure Firewall	HPE Aruba Networking
Is it a suitable solution for all types of network environments, including small businesses?	Cisco Secure Firewall excels in providing advanced security capabilities, high scalability, and robust performance, making it a strong contender for large enterprises with complex security needs. Its comprehensive feature set, backed by the threat intelligence of Cisco Talos, positions it as a powerful solution for organizations facing sophisticated cyber threats.	HPE Aruba Networking offers a user-friendly, cloud-managed approach with a focus on ease of use and integration within the Aruba ecosystem. Its budget-friendly entry-level options make it an attractive choice for SMBs, while Aruba Central provides a centralized platform for managing security and networking infrastructure.
What are the most distinctive features?	Cisco's Encrypted Visibility Engine (EVE) analyzes encrypted traffic without decryption to detect threats and anomalies. Using machine learning and behavioral analytics, it identifies malware, policy violations, and suspicious activity while maintaining data privacy. EVE helps security teams monitor encrypted traffic efficiently, ensuring compliance and threat prevention without compromising encryption integrity. It enhances network security by providing visibility into encrypted communications, making it a key component of Cisco's cybersecurity solutions.	Ease of use and management of the Aruba Central platform with ease of deployment and management of Aruba's access points. It makes it easy to create different network segments, and managing network inventory. AI-powered analytics for troubleshooting, network optimization, and security.
Common Criticisms	Complex Management Interface. Cisco Secure Firewall Management Center is a powerful, feature-rich platform that has improved over time but still suffers from significant management complexity, historical stability issues, and a less intuitive user experience compared to key competitors. High Licensing Costs: Cisco's licensing model is frequently described as complex and expensive. Essential features such as Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) and VPN capabilities often require additional licenses, increasing the total cost of ownership.	Licensing Complexity: Some users find the licensing model for Aruba products, especially when adding new devices or utilizing advanced features, to be complex. With the need to purchase specific licenses for each access point for certain services being a point of frustration. Firmware Issues: Firmware bugs and stability issues with new firmware updates are not uncommon.

Cisco Secure Firewall Dashboard & UI

Cisco Partners

A Cisco Partner provides businesses with expert consultation, seamless deployment, cost optimization, and technical support. Below is a list of some of the top Cisco partners in the market.

Netsync Network Solutions
Based in Houston, with sales and engineering assets throughout Texas, Netsync uses a true business consultative approach to determine clients’ requirements and architects innovative and synergistic …
Burwood Group, Inc.
Burwood Group was founded in Chicago, IL with five U.S. offices including 24x7 Operations Centers in San Diego, CA and Normal, IL. Whether you are developing strategy, deploying technology, or …
NWN Corporation
NWN Carousel is a leading Cloud Communications Service Provider (CCSP) focused on transforming the customer and workspace experience for commercial, enterprise and public sector organizations. The …
Konica Minolta
It’s important to ensure that critical IT systems are always available to support core business functions, but maintaining IT systems with an in-house IT staff can be costly and inefficient.
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HPE Aruba Networking Dashboard & UI

Aruba Partners

A Aruba Partner provides businesses with expert consultation, seamless deployment, cost optimization, and technical support. Below is a list of some of the top Aruba partners in the market.

Burwood Group, Inc.
Burwood Group was founded in Chicago, IL with five U.S. offices including 24x7 Operations Centers in San Diego, CA and Normal, IL. Whether you are developing strategy, deploying technology, or …
NWN Corporation
NWN Carousel is a leading Cloud Communications Service Provider (CCSP) focused on transforming the customer and workspace experience for commercial, enterprise and public sector organizations. The …
Meridian IT Inc.
Meridian IT is part of Meridian Group International, a collection of companies engaged in IT systems integration and equipment leasing. Over two-thirds of our staff is made up of vendor certified …
Mainline Information Systems
Mainline recommends, designs, and supports IT solutions that help businesses increase their effectiveness. With more than 400 professionals around the country, and numerous certified architects …