As Michigan Blood first started exploring possible networking solutions, it recognized the need for a high performance, highly available and secure enterprise Wi-Fi and branch routing solution, without the cost and complexity of a controller-based solution. A controller-less Wi-Fi architecture would enable no single point of failure, with flexibility for expansion, and superior branch performance at reduced cost.
Michigan Blood considered other solution providers, such as Meraki, Meru Networks and HP, but they entailed multiple devices or additional firewall requirements, while Aerohive was able to offer a simplified and secure networking solution for both its fixed sites and mobile locations.
“In our world, it was imperative to have a controller-less solution with centralized management like Aerohive offers. Controllers would add an unnecessary layer of complexity, and we do not have the luxury of transferring data back and forth. A secure VPN solution was vital for us to deploy at all our mobile blood drive locations,” stated Bob Eluskie, Director of Information Technology at Michigan Blood.
Michigan Blood deployed Aerohive’s Branch on Demand office network solution, selecting Aerohive BR100 routers for all mobile locations. Michigan Blood has also equipped sales staff with Aerohive BR100 routers to work easily from home and to test connectivity at site locations for mobile blood drives. The Aerohive BR100 touts ‘work anywhere’ mobility, enterprise Wi-Fi, VPN, routing and security, essential for Michigan Blood’s challenging mobile blood drive requirements. Branch routers from Aerohive enabled the IT staff at Michigan Blood to run as many remote office VPNs as easily as they would a single location, with the same level of security as its corporate network, critical for any healthcare organization that manages strict requirements for privacy and data integrity.
In addition, Michigan Blood uses the Aerohive BR100 and BR200 routers with 4G connectivity as backup to the primary MPLS connectivity. Future initiatives include replacing PRI circuits at three smaller offices with Aerohive branch routers using 4G service or cable Internet, reducing considerable cost for the organization.
Michigan Blood implemented Aerohive AP330 access points for its headquarters and fixed site locations. The AP330 is targeted at high capacity enterprise environments, chosen for its high performance and reliability.
Michigan Blood is also using HiveManager from its headquarters to monitor and manage its access points and routers across all its mobile and fixed sites. Its simple user interface makes it easy for Michigan Blood to make changes, conduct firmware upgrades or manage policy configurations remotely.
A key mandate for Michigan Blood is flawless connectivity, especially crucial for the healthcare industry. A critical feature in Aerohive’s distributed architecture is the RADIUS server support built directly into the Aerohive operating system, HiveOS. This feature eliminates the need for remote directory services to support 802.1X authentication as well as eliminating the need to distribute additional RADIUS servers at each remote location. As Bob explains, “We wouldn’t have deployed Aerohive at Michigan Blood without the enterprise class features its solution offered.”
Active directory support from Aerohive is also essential for Michigan Blood. With numerous types of devices, and an increase in BYOD for volunteers and staff, the organization needs to not only be able to connect seamlessly to the network, but with same authentication and security as a corporate implementation.
via WiFiNovation | Scoop.it
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