Telefónica, HPE Aruba develop workspace of the future

Telefónica Tech, the strategic digital business unit of Telefónica, and Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) company and a leader in networking solutions, have announced their partnership to jointly evolve their service linked to the workspace of the future (flexSITE) and help companies accelerate the adoption of the hybrid work model in the most secure way.

As a result of this agreement, Telefónica Tech and Aruba will develop a fully managed network and cybersecurity service with the SD-Branch solution, which speeds up network changes by reducing deployment times, and on the HPE Aruba Central cloud platform to protect customers in the face of the massive irruption of flexible work, the intensive use of video for videoconferencing and the increase in cyber threats both at headquarters and through the use of business devices in the home.

The new managed networking service will also incorporate the capabilities of HPE Aruba’s EdgeConnect solution with Telefónica Tech’s expertise in managing network and security products through its global Network Operations Centres (NOCs) and Security Operations Centres (SOCs).

Telefónica Tech also provides its professional services for the design of the architecture of the solution, the study of the radio planning of the access points and the connection of the equipment to the network within the client’s offices and its subsequent installation.

The flexSITE service, so far available in Spain, will be geographically extended with the launch of the managed service to the rest of the markets where Telefónica is present from December. The evolved service will incorporate, among others, security and SD-WAN functionalities, secure network access controls and secure access points for the home from HPE Aruba and will integrate existing Cloud Security solutions (SSE and SASE) in the Telefónica Tech portfolio.

Commitment to innovation and knowledge sharing
The Telefónica Tech and Aruba agreement also includes the creation of a global laboratory with all HPE Aruba technology that will be deployed in one of Telefónica’s buildings in Madrid. Staffed by highly specialised technology professionals from both companies, the lab will be used to develop certifications, customer proofs of concept, training and innovation projects.

Both companies will offer the customer a differential service, since, on the one hand, the laboratory will update its services with the latest elements of the HPE Aruba catalogue to always be at the forefront and be able to guarantee end-to-end excellence in the managed service. On the other hand, they will also jointly launch an innovation programme with three strategic research axes: 5G, SASE and Analytics and Artificial Intelligence in IT operations (Analytics & AI-Ops).

Rames Sarwat, Director of Cybersecurity and Cloud Product and Innovation at Telefónica Tech, said: “The development of this new managed service with HPE Aruba reinforces our position as an integrator of best-of-breed solutions to help companies digitally transform and securely adopt new ways of working. We continue to enhance our portfolio to respond to the connectivity and security needs of businesses in the wake of the pandemic and we are convinced that developing the service on the HPE Aruba platform guarantees its competitiveness and its continued commitment to innovation.

Iker del Fresno, Country Manager of Aruba in Spain: “Today’s technology allows a qualitative leap in the capacity of the networks, but it is necessary to accompany its adoption with partners that transfer to the market the in-depth knowledge of our solutions in such a way that the projects can be successfully implemented and completely cover the requirements demanded by the customers. Telefónica, with a long history of collaboration with Aruba, is a Partner with the highest certification and the largest number of experts in our technology and this puts them in a privileged position to lead the transformation of the networks in which our customers are immersed”.