Supercharge speed and security in M&A with HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA

[Jaye_Tillson]

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are exciting opportunities, but IT integration can be a complex hurdle. Traditional VPNs, the go-to for connecting disparate networks, introduce security vulnerabilities and slowdowns. HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA offers a powerful alternative, streamlining M&A integration while enhancing security.

This article explores how HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA can transform M&A success by accelerating deal completion, reducing risk, and delivering faster time-to-value.

Why legacy VPNs hinder M&A

Traditional VPNs establish a secure tunnel between a user's device and the entire corporate network. This "always-on" access presents challenges in M&A:

• Security risks: Granting broad network access to acquired company users increases the attack surface. Sensitive data across both networks is vulnerable if a single device is compromised.
• Complexity and delays: Configuring VPNs for a merged network is lengthy, requiring time-consuming policy adjustments and user credential management. This delays access to critical resources and hinders collaboration.
• Limited visibility and control: IT teams lack granular control over user access within the VPN environment. Tracking user access to specific applications or data is difficult, making least-privilege access principles challenging to implement.

HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA: a secure and agile approach

HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA flips the script with a zero trust approach. Users and devices are continuously verified before granting access to specific applications, not the entire network. This offers several advantages for M&A:

• Enhanced security: HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA eliminates the need to expose sensitive data and applications across the entire network. Acquired company users can access only the resources they need, minimizing potential damage from a security breach.
• Faster integration: Cloud-based HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA requires minimal configuration changes on existing network infrastructure. This allows for quicker deployment and user provisioning, speeding up the M&A timeline.
• Granular access control: HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA empowers IT teams to define fine-grained access policies. They can control which users from either organization can access specific applications, data sets, or resources. This ensures compliance and minimizes unauthorized access risk.

Benefits of HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA for streamlining M&A

By overcoming VPN limitations, HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA unlocks key benefits for M&A success:

• Faster deal completion: Quicker network integration and streamlined user provisioning facilitate smoother collaboration and knowledge sharing between teams, potentially accelerating the overall deal timeline.
• Reduced security risk: HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA's zero trust approach minimizes the attack surface and prevents unauthorized access to sensitive data during the critical M&A integration phase.
• Improved productivity: Authorized users from both companies can securely access the applications and resources they need to be productive, minimizing disruption during the integration process.
• Simplified management: Cloud-based HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA is easier to manage than complex VPN infrastructure, reducing the burden on IT teams during a critical integration period.

HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA: as part of the wider SSE offering

HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA is a powerful component of the comprehensive HPE Aruba Networking Security Service Edge (SSE) platform. This unified SSE offering goes beyond ZTNA for a holistic approach to secure access. It integrates seamlessly with other critical security services:

• Secure Web Gateway (SWG): SWG safeguards users from online threats by filtering malicious content, enforcing web access policies, and protecting against malware.
• Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): CASB secures access to cloud applications, preventing data leakage and ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM): DEM provides real-time visibility into network connectivity, ensuring optimal performance. This translates to faster troubleshooting and proactive risk mitigation.

By combining these capabilities into a single platform, HPE Aruba Networking SSE offers a centralized approach to security, simplifying management and enhancing protection for M&A integrations.

HPE Aruba ZTNA: delivering faster time to value

Beyond streamlining integration, HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA accelerates value realization from an M&A. Here's how:

• Enhanced collaboration: Secure and immediate access to critical applications fosters collaboration between teams from both companies. This can lead to faster knowledge transfer, innovation, and the identification of synergies that drive value.
• Improved decision making: HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA enables secure access to shared data across both organizations. This allows for better informed decision making during the integration process, leading to more strategic business choices.
• Reduced integration costs: The faster deployment and simpler management of HPE Aruba ZTNA compared to VPNs can result in cost savings during the M&A process. This can free up resources for other critical integration activities.

Conclusion: HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA for secure and agile M&A

In today's fast-paced business environment, a streamlined and secure M&A process is essential for success. HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA offers a compelling solution by overcoming the limitations of traditional VPNs. By providing secure, granular access control and faster integration times,

HPE Aruba Networking ZTNA empowers organizations to achieve faster deal completion, reduce security risks, and ultimately deliver greater value from mergers and acquisitions. As M&A activity continues to rise, HPE Networking Aruba ZTNA is poised to become a critical tool for navigating complex integrations and achieving successful outcomes.