Midwestern Higher Education Compact Announces the Addition of Aruba products to the Hewlett Packard Enterprise MHEC Contract
Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) June 14, 2016 -- The Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) announced the addition of the Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, networking portfolio to the Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) contract. MHEC’s HPE contract for hardware products and services, and now Aruba’s networking solutions, extends competitive discounts to colleges, universities, K‐12 districts as well as cities, states and local governments located throughout 41 states.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to assist the MHEC member states with their efforts to promote innovative approaches to improving institutional and system productivity. With the influx of mobile and internet enabled devices on campuses, there is a huge need to enhance current networks and ensure network security. The capabilities that Aruba brings to the table are truly game-changing,” remarked Stacey Kearns, HPE Contract Manager.
“It is undeniable that usage of mobile devices is on the rise, especially by millennials. Our students have growing expectations for us to provide Wi-Fi connectivity to their mobile devices,” said Brian Rellinger, Chief Information Officer for Ohio Wesleyan University and chair of MHEC’s Networking Work Group. “Throughout our campus, and other colleges and communities nationwide, data consumption grows exponentially every year.”
According to Aruba, campus technology leaders are demanding that mobile devices enable protection of both their network and the data within the devices on campus. The trend of using mobile devices is ever growing. Educational institutions must rapidly accept the Internet of Things (I0T) within their technology solutions. The Aruba portfolio enables institutions to accommodate this trend while maintaining the security of data and networks.
John Jankowski, Vice President of Central Sales Operations for Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, said, “Aruba has always been focused on mobile-first solutions. Our approach allows organizations to securely connect mobile and IoT devices coming onto the network to existing infrastructure, delivering visibility and policy control.”
Aruba’s ClearPass Policy Manager, for example, allows organizations to:
• Specify connectivity, applications access and policy privileges based on the user role
• Designate policies and privileges according to location, content, time of day, and device type.
Specifying roles and policies produces an added level of security and puts the network administrator in full control of users and devices accessing the network.
Aruba is committed to expanding post-secondary educational opportunities within MHEC communities, contributing to student success. Jankowski added, “The new generation of students are GenMobile, meaning they have a preference for mobility. By providing a secure, reliable connectivity foundation, Aruba gives students access to the data they need to be successful from wherever they are on campus. In turn, academic institutions can deliver the innovative, 21st century educational experience that attracts and retains these GenMobile students.”
Aruba’s Mobile Engagement solution, which includes Aruba Beacons and the Meridian Mobile App Platform, is also being adopted by many educational institutions to help students, staff and faculty navigate large campuses, and utilize proximity notifications for safety alerts or promotional purposes. Using the Mobile Engagement Solution, institutions can develop mobile apps or enhance their existing ones to provide wayfinding and other advanced capabilities.
“Adding the Aruba portfolio brings enormous benefits to the regional compact members. Its cutting edge technology offers much more than solely a ’network connection’, stated Rellinger “Our Networking Work Group was pleased with HPE’s efforts to exceed customer expectations through continuous delivery of innovative IT solutions and alignment to meet the strategic agenda and goals of educational institutions.”
Availability and options
For additional information on the MHEC – HP Master Price Agreement and HPE Amendment, including a detailed list of states and purchase eligibility, visit: MHEC’s e-commerce website.
http://www.mhectech.org/hpe.
About the Midwestern Higher Education Compact
The Midwestern Higher Education Compact is a nonprofit regional organization assisting Midwestern states in advancing higher education through interstate cooperation and resource sharing. MHEC seeks to fulfill its interstate mission through programs that expand postsecondary opportunity and success; promote innovative approaches to improving institutional and system productivity; improve affordability to students and states; and enhance connectivity between higher education and the workplace. Member states are: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. See MHEC’s e-commerce website http://www.mhectech.org/contracts for more information about eligibility to participate in MHEC member states, or states in the Southern Regional Education Board or the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
http://www.mhec.org
Mary Roberson, Midwestern Higher Education Compact, http://www.mhec.org, +1 (612) 677-2765, [email protected]
Share this article