HPE Aruba launches IoT solutions to boost retail security

Hewlett Packard Enterprise's Aruba Networking has unveiled new solutions aimed at enhancing security and efficiency in IoT data collection and edge processing for retail environments.

HPE is focused on elevating the level of connectivity within retail environments, addressing the diverse needs across shopfronts, warehouses, offices, and car parks through its HPE Aruba Networking Central platform and accompanying hardware. "Australian retail environments have very demanding and diverse connectivity needs across shopfronts, warehouses, office spaces and even their car parks. The HPE Aruba Networking Central platform, along with these new hardware offerings, provides a simplified approach to deploying connectivity for IoT protocols, Wi-Fi 7, wired connections, and 5G," Carlos Gómez Gallego, HPE Aruba Networking Chief Technology Officer, stated.

The company has introduced several new products to ensure secure, streamlined connectivity for real-time applications. These include the HPE Aruba Networking 100 Series Cellular Bridge, the CX 8325H store-friendly switch, 750 Series wireless access points, and new AI capabilities within the HPE Aruba Networking Central platform for enhanced security and performance.

The Cellular Bridge is designed for easy deployment of primary or backup WAN access, ensuring connectivity during fiber or broadband WAN disruptions or at temporary locations such as pop-up stores where cabling is not feasible. This tool is crucial for maintaining continuity in services like credit card processing.

The new store-friendly switch, the CX 8325H, optimises the use of space and energy, and is compatible with the HPE ProLiant DL145 Gen 11 server for edge computing. Additionally, the 750 Series wireless access points support IoT data processing in real-time, enhancing AI applications.

HPE's latest innovation, Central AI Insights, provides optimisation for retail curbside operations, able to detect and rectify any issues impacting customer transactions by adjusting Wi-Fi settings to maintain service quality. "Our unified connectivity layer not only streamlines network design and management, but it also dramatically simplifies the data pipelines used to feed real-time AI workflows at the edge or in the cloud," Gómez Gallego added.

Given the rise in IoT device usage within the retail sector, HPE focusing on secure connectivity is a significant strategy. The new AI Insights can detect anomalies indicative of potential security breaches, crucial for protecting against vulnerabilities commonly exploited by hackers.

With an expanded focus on private 5G and Wi-Fi wireless networks, HPE integrates these new initiatives with its existing edge compute portfolio, allowing for broader management capabilities across on-premises, cloud, and edge resources. This addresses the wider challenge of IT resource constraints faced by retailers with distributed operations.

HPE also announced an upgrade to its IoT Operations Dashboard, enabling seamless communication between access points and third-party retail partner applications, thereby supporting a broad array of retail applications ranging from fraud detection to inventory management. The company's IoT partner portal supports a range of partners such as Hanshow, Simbe, SOLUM, VusionGroup, and Zebra, each contributing to different aspects of retail operations.