Discover how coffee shop networking facilitates hybrid working and streamlines branch networks, while enabling zero trust principles. Explore how HPE Aruba Networking SASE supports this architecture.
As businesses migrate applications to the cloud, traditional branch networks have become overly complex and inadequate for modern security and connectivity needs. The rise of hybrid work has further amplified the need for a simple, secure, and consistent user experience, similar to coffee shops, whether employees are on-premises or working remotely. This architecture implies a simplified branch architecture that enforces zero trust, treating all endpoints as untrusted until verified.
What is coffee shop networking?
Coffee shop networking refers to an architectural model that delivers a consistent, simplified user experience across all work environments. The user experience is as follows: an employee takes a seat, connects to the internet, and gets to work from anywhere—just like in a coffee shop. This model doesn’t just apply to remote work; it also transforms branch office networks by eliminating complexity.
At its core, coffee shop networking shifts the focus from centralized data centers to internet-first, cloud-delivered services. It supports hybrid work, cloud adoption, and zero trust security without compromising performance or user experience.
The building blocks of coffee shop networking
A successful coffee shop networking architecture requires a combination of lightweight SD-WAN to break out internet traffic to the cloud, security service edge (SSE) to secure access to the cloud, cloud-native network access control (NAC) to authenticate and authorize users and devices, and wireless LAN to connect them.
1. Local internet breakout with lightweight SD-WAN and cloud-first access
A foundational pillar of coffee shop networking consists of using an SD-WAN solution for its local internet breakout capabilities. Rather than forcing all branch traffic to be backhauled to a data center for security inspection, this approach allows traffic to exit locally and be routed directly to a cloud-delivered security service edge (SSE) platform. SD-WAN also optimizes traffic by combining multiple links from different internet service providers, reducing reliance on MPLS.
In the coffee shop networking model, the SD-WAN connection from the branch to the data center is optional. Branch locations can establish direct tunnels to the data center for specific use cases (such as access to legacy systems), but by default, all traffic—including access to SaaS, internet, and private cloud-hosted applications—is securely routed through the SSE.
Remote and mobile users follow the same principle. Equipped with ZTNA or SSE agents, they connect directly to the SSE platform over any internet connection, from any location—including homes, hotels, or coffee shops—ensuring consistent access policies, enforcement, and threat protection inside or outside the corporate network.
HPE Aruba Networking offers a versatile portfolio of SD-WAN solutions tailored to every branch size and remote office use case:
- HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect SD-WAN is a secure SD-WAN with a built-in next-generation firewall, providing advanced optimization features such as AppExpress, tunnel bonding, and path conditioning.
- HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect SD-Branch consolidates wired, wireless, security, and SD-WAN, with centralized cloud management via HPE Aruba Networking Central, reducing infrastructure sprawl and simplifying operations.
- HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect Microbranch is ideal for small offices or home workers. Using remote access points (RAPs), it enables secure WAN connectivity and integrates with cloud-delivered security.
2. Zero trust security with cloud-native SSE and NAC
Coffee shop networking assumes all devices and users may be compromised. Therefore, it enforces strict identity-based access controls using zero trust principles to reduce the attack surface and minimize lateral movement.
HPE Aruba Networking SSE is a cloud-native security platform that consolidates ZTNA, secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), and data loss prevention (DLP) into a unified policy engine.
- ZTNA applies least-privilege access to remote users. Universal ZTNA extends zero trust principles on-premises, allowing users in branch locations to access local applications without sending traffic through the cloud with private edge capabilities.
- SWG inspects web traffic to block access to malicious or inappropriate websites. CASB provides visibility and control over SaaS usage, preventing shadow IT, data leaks, and enforcing compliance.
In addition to its cloud-delivered SSE capabilities, HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect SD-WAN integrates next-generation firewall functionality directly into the branch edge. This includes intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), adaptive DDoS protection, and role-based segmentation—essential components of a zero trust architecture. By consolidating firewall and router functions into a single SD-WAN platform, this significantly simplifies the branch stack, lowers operational costs, and accelerates security policy deployment.
HPE Aruba Networking Central NAC, based on a cloud-native architecture, redefines access control by shifting it to the cloud, enabling zero trust enforcement across diverse environments without requiring dedicated on-site appliances.
A key advantage lies in its ability to provide multivendor observability and authentication across third-party infrastructure, making it ideal for distributed networks with mixed-vendor deployments. With AI-powered device profiling, it offers detailed visibility into all connected clients—whether managed or unmanaged, user or IoT—regardless of the underlying network hardware.
3. Integrated and easy-to-manage architecture
Simplification is a defining benefit of coffee shop networking—and it’s made possible through tight integration across all network and security components. With HPE Aruba Networking Central, organizations gain a unified cloud-native management platform that orchestrates wired and wireless LAN, SD-WAN, NAC, and security services from a single pane of glass.
This integration reduces the need for fragmented tools or manual configurations, significantly reducing operational overhead for IT teams.
HPE Aruba Networking Central enables consistent visibility and policy enforcement across distributed environments. Role-based access controls, segmentation, and application-aware routing can be centrally defined and pushed to all connected infrastructure, ensuring consistent behavior regardless of site’s size or location.
Figure 1. An example of coffee shop networking architecture
Conclusion
HPE Aruba Networking delivers coffee shop networking as a comprehensive, cloud-first solution to modernize office and branch connectivity. By offering a flexible SD-WAN portfolio, cloud-native SSE and NAC, and centralized management through HPE Aruba Networking Central, the architecture empowers IT teams to support hybrid work, enforce zero trust, and streamline operations.
To learn more, visit our SASE page.
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Gabriel_Gomane
Gabriel Gomane has more than 15 years of experience in product marketing and product management, focusing primarily on networking, security and digital transformation. He has broad international experience, having held marketing positions based in Europe and in the US. Before joining HPE Aruba Networking, Gabriel worked for various high tech companies including Meru Networks and MEGA International. Gabriel holds a BS in engineering from Grenoble INP and an MBA from HEC Paris.
