Protecting your data and network with zero trust strategy and HPE Aruba Networking

[Jaye_Tillson]

HPE Aruba Networking provides a comprehensive portfolio of products to help with your zero trust strategy.

Introduction

The rapid evolution of cyber threats continues to challenge organizations worldwide. Legacy infrastructure, once considered robust, now struggles to withstand modern attack vectors. The financial and reputational costs of cyber incidents—including ransomware attacks, data breaches, and regulatory noncompliance—can be devastating.

To address these challenges, HPE Aruba Networking provides a comprehensive portfolio of products to help with your zero trust strategy that is designed to safeguard users, devices, applications, data, and networks.

The rising threat landscape

Cyber adversaries exploit vulnerabilities in outdated network infrastructure, preying on unpatched systems and weak security policies. A striking example is the Akira IoT ransomware attack of March 2025, which leveraged unsecured Internet of Things (IoT) devices to infiltrate an organization’s network. This attack underscores the importance of implementing modern security measures to prevent unauthorized access, detect anomalies, and contain threats before they escalate.

The zero trust approach

Zero trust is a security model that assumes no entity, inside or outside the network, should be inherently trusted. Instead, every access request is authenticated, authorized, and continuously monitored. HPE Aruba Networking helps you implement zero trust principles across multiple layers, offering a robust defense against cyber threats.

1. Device identification and authentication

Unmanaged and unauthorized devices are prime targets for attackers. To counter this:

• HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass network access control (NAC) enforces authentication for network-connected devices.
• Multifactor authentication (MFA), certificate-based authentication, and MAC authentication with device profiling helps ensure only authorized devices gain access.

If a device is unknown or non-compliant, it is automatically denied or quarantined.

2. Policy-based access control

Controlling device interactions within the network is crucial:

• Dynamic segmentation isolates IoT devices, such as webcams, from sensitive enterprise systems.
• Role-based access control (RBAC) helps ensure each device is assigned strict policies, preventing unauthorized communication.

Stateful firewall inspection and HPE Aruba Networking Network Analytics Engine provide continuous monitoring and policy enforcement.

3. Wireless and network security enhancements

Modernizing network connectivity enhances security resilience:

• WPA3 enterprise security ensures strong encryption and authentication.
• Intrusion detection/prevention system (IDS/IPS) identifies and blocks unauthorized firmware updates.
• Wireless microsegmentation dynamically applies security policies at the wireless edge, preventing lateral movement of threats.

4. Application-aware traffic control

Malicious activities often hide within legitimate network traffic:

• HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect SD-WAN detects and blocks ransomware command-and-control (C2) traffic.
• WAN microsegmentation prevents the spread of ransomware across branch offices, data centers, and cloud environments.
• Encrypted tunnels with zero trust access policies secure sensitive workloads.

5. Zero trust network access (ZTNA) and security service edge (SSE)

To prevent over-permissive network access:

• ZTNA helps ensure only necessary applications are accessible to users and devices
• Secure web gateway (SWG) scans traffic to detect and block suspicious data transfers
• Cloud access security broker (CASB) monitors and prevents unauthorized firmware updates or malware downloads

6. AI-powered threat detection and response

Automation and AI-driven security improve threat response times:

• HPE Aruba Networking AI insights identifies unusual network behaviors, such as excessive outbound traffic from an IoT device.
• Network detection and response (NDR) leverages a digital twin to visualize potential attack paths before deployment.
• Automated response mechanisms isolate compromised devices, mitigating damage before an attack spreads.

Step-by-step defense against Akira ransomware

HPE Aruba Networking offers a structured defense mechanism to counter ransomware attacks like Akira:

Attack phase	Zero trust solution
Compromised webcam	HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass NAC blocks untrusted devices
Unauthorized network movement	Dynamic segmentation isolates webcams
Malicious firmware update	SSE CASB blocks unverified downloads
Data exfiltration attempt	HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect SD-WAN/SSE SWG detects and blocks unusual traffic
Ransomware spread prevention	HPE Aruba Networking AI quarantines compromised devices

The business benefits of HPE Aruba Networking zero trust

1. Simplifies zero trust implementation—Makes enforcement easier with AI-powered security and cloud-driven automation
2. Prevents ransomware entry—Blocks unauthorized IoT devices from gaining network access
3. Stops lateral movement—Enforces segmentation across LAN, Wi-Fi, WAN, and cloud
4. Prevents data theft—Detects and blocks abnormal device behavior before data exfiltration occurs

Conclusion

Organizations cannot afford to rely on traditional security models in today’s evolving cyber threat landscape. By adopting HPE Aruba Networking solutions, businesses gain a modern, adaptive security approach that mitigates risk, facilitates compliance, and safeguards critical digital assets.

With AI-driven threat detection, automated response capabilities, and robust network segmentation, HPE Aruba Networking empowers organizations to confidently face the future of cybersecurity.

Start your zero trust journey today by leveraging HPE Aruba Networking solutions. Protect your network, users, and data from advanced threats and ensure a secure digital future.