SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aruba Networks, Inc. , a global leader in secure mobility solutions, today unveiled its Secure Enterprise Mesh technology, an enhancement to its award-winning secure wireless LAN infrastructure platform that addresses PCI-compliance without replacing legacy networking infrastructure or expanding the wiring plant. Aruba's solution, which can be overlaid on any legacy network, defends against network breaches, and provides retailers with client-to-core secure networking of point-of-sale devices, bar code readers, mobile computers, printers, telephones, PCs, and related devices in retail stores, warehouses, storage depots, and office buildings. The new Secure Enterprise Mesh technology enables retailers to cost-effectively meet rigorous security and privacy standards, while simultaneously reaping productivity and cost-saving benefits from mobile data, voice, and video applications.

In 2004, as a result of security breaches, American Express, Discover Financial Services, MasterCard Worldwide, and Visa International agreed to the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards to help prevent theft of consumers' data. In September of 2006, these companies, joined by JCB, formed the PCI Security Standards Council, an independent management council that concurrently released version 1.1 of the PCI standard. Compliance with the standard is mandatory, and non-compliant participating companies can be barred from processing credit card transactions, charged higher processing fees, or fined.

"Retailers have an urgent need to protect networks and address PCI compliance requirements, previously a complex and costly endeavor because it entailed replacing legacy networking infrastructure and writing off potentially very large capital investments," said Manav Khurana, Aruba's industry marketing lead for retail markets. "Aruba's standards-based secure mobility solution meets PCI's rigorous standards but does so by overlaying on top of existing applications and legacy networks. Capital investments can therefore be preserved and legacy networks do not have to be replaced to enable PCI-compliant security."

With Aruba's solution, security policies are centrally managed from Aruba Mobility Controllers in data centers, allowing central IT staff to manage large and widely dispersed enterprises. The controller features a built-in, ICSA-certified firewall for tight policy control and enforcement, and a centralized cryptographic architecture to ensure that encryption and authentication keys are securely managed and never stored in access points.

"As the PCI's DSS forces retailers to more closely scrutinize their security practices, new technologies will emerge that satisfy these needs," said Steve Rowen, research analysts for Retail Systems Alert Group. "Aruba Networks' new wireless mesh solution targets the costs associated with a retail network by effectively changing the in-store network into a completely wire-free structure. Aruba has integrated a comprehensive security component into this completely wire-free network, which will appeal to retailers' exponentially growing, and mandated, need to secure the critical data that flies around their stores. This is an exciting time for retailers because they can address both their growing security needs and shrinking budgets."

Aruba's secure, wire-free retail solution commences shipping in July 2007, and is being demonstrated at the Food Marketing Institute Show, May 6-8, at McCormick Place in Chicago.

About Aruba Networks, Inc.

Aruba Networks provides an enterprise mobility solution that enables secure access to data, voice and video applications across wireless and wireline enterprise networks. The Aruba Mobile Edge Architecture allows end- users to roam to different locations within an enterprise campus or office building, as well as to remote locations such as branch and home offices, while maintaining secure and consistent access to all of their network resources. Using the Aruba Mobile Edge Architecture, IT departments can manage user-based network access and enforce application delivery policies from a single integrated point of control in a consistent manner. Aruba's user- centric enterprise mobility solution integrates the ArubaOS operating system, optional value-added software modules, a centralized mobility management system, high-performance programmable mobility controllers, and wired and wireless access points. Based in Sunnyvale, California, Aruba has operations in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and employs staff around the world. To learn more, visit Aruba at http://www.arubanetworks.com/.

Aruba Networks is a registered trademark, and Aruba The Mobile Edge Company and Mobile Edge Architecture are trademarks of Aruba Networks, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders. Portions (C) 2007 Aruba Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

CONTACT: Michael Tennefoss of Aruba Networks, Inc., +1-408-754-8034,
mtennefoss@arubanetworks.com; or Jay Nichols of Sterling Communications, Inc.,
+1-415-392-2300, jnichols@sterlingpr.com, for Aruba Networks

Web site: http://www.arubanetworks.com/