Budget-Friendly, Secure Wired and Wireless for Retailers

Retail organizations face a number of complex challenges. Geographically distributed sites all require connectivity to corporate for mission-critical applications, yet small sites often do not have dedicated IT staff. This can pose significant problems when rolling out new sites or managing/maintaining existing stores, as well as when deploying wireless LANs. There is a huge burden placed on corporate IT, which must configure new VPN routers, install client software, instruct users on how to work with the network, and monitor its performance. The situation can be even more difficult with Wi-Fi networks, particularly as new interactive displays and hot spot offerings require guest access for shoppers that are easy to use and distinctly separate from corporate networks. Meanwhile, security mandates – particularly the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (known as PCI DSS) – are among the strictest in any industry. Lastly, stores are looking to optimize business operations by understanding customer behavior both inside and outside the store. Leveraging the same infrastucture to provide secure retail applications, customer Wi-Fi access, and actionable customer behavior analytics is an ideal retailers are trying to achieve.

The distributed, scalable Aerohive architecture is optimized for fully centralized, efficient operations and management in these organizations, while features like Private Pre-Shared Key (PSK) enable simple, secure guest access. Aerohive’s  routers are literally plug and play, with configuration that is pushed down from a central HiveManager location when the device is turned on. And Aerohive’s award-winning WLANs function the same way, getting their configurations, changes and updates from the same HiveManager.With Aerohive, managing thousands of branch office networks and access points can be nearly as easy as managing a single instance.

Aerohive also provides their Retail Analytics solution as a free part of every access point and router with Wi-Fi. Aerohive Retail Analytics uses standard Wi-Fi signalling and advanced heuristics to report actionable customer behavior analysis to improve shopper experience and optimize business operations.


Features & Benefits

Feature

Benefit(s)

Simple, Zero-Touch Deployment Model for branch routers and WiFi networks
  • No need for wireless or networking expertise
  • Just plug in the router or access point
  • The device will “phone home” and get its configuration from a single, centralized HiveManager
  • Changes are automatically pushed to the device

Centralized Management across multiple sites from a single console or online service
  • Same HiveManager for routers and access points
  • Unified wired/wireless policies enable the same experience for both wired and wireless access
  • Offers easy-to-use management for streamlining operations and reducing opex (operating expenses)
  • Enables management in central locations, simplifying operation in distributed sites
  • Provides easy access to PCI reports

Fast, Secure Roaming and Identity-based Security enforced in every access point and branch router as a user connects
  • Enhances security above and beyond 802.11's inherent authentication and over-the-air encryption including firewall, WIPS, VPN, RADIUS, and Active Directory support
  • Users can easily and securely roam between access points and the router with no loss in connectivity.

Secure Guest Access with Integrated Captive Web Portal
  • Provides easy-to-deploy guest access
  • Offers multiple methods to ensure acceptable use or guest authentication
  • Provides protection against intrusions by temporary users

Mesh Technology for AP-to-AP Direct Communications
  • Ensures highest levels of network availability and resiliency, as network "self heals" around any failure points
  • Eliminates need to cable APs to switches in difficult-to-wire locations

Simple Pricing Model and No Feature Licensing
  • Grows with your needs (linear cost curve as you grow)
  • Eliminates budget "surprises" as you need additional features for new applications (i.e. QoS, VPN, mesh)

Fully Distributed Processing, Data Forwarding, and Control Architecture
  • Reduces capex (capital expenditures) because no controller purchases are required
  • Results in higher network performance and uptime – no controller bottlenecks and no dependence on a vulnerable WAN connection to a remote controller
  • Improves budget control with the ability to "pay as you grow"
Subscription Model for Remote Sites
  • Provides maximum flexibility enabling easy storefront provisioning or even temporary deployments
  • Eliminates pre-staging and remote IT expertise requirements
  • Built in network-based mobile device management