2011 marks the beginning of the post-laptop era. Mobile devices - whether or not they were intended for corporate use - are making their way onto enterprise networks in their millions.

Enterprise mobility has come to the mainstream along with many other attributes of the socialised consumer-Internet experience: multimedia content, heavy use of rich collaboration technologies and cloud-based applications.

Users are embracing these changes as an integral part of how work gets done. But for IT, the new realities are overwhelming a network budget whose foundation supports a legacy design that dates back to the client-server era, and includes:

• Siloed networks that duplicate functions and infrastructure at the access layer;

• Fragmented services at the edge of the network where applications meet users and devices; and

• Multiple bolt-on technologies that fail to address the unique needs of user mobility.

As long as enterprises remain entangled in this legacy access infrastructure, IT will be forced to respond to users by saying no - to mobility, to mobile devices and to accessing business-critical applications.

Aruba Networks changes all this with its Mobile Virtual Enterprise (Move) architecture.

Aruba Move unifies disparate wired, wireless and remote access methods into one cohesive access solution, for travelling business professionals, remote office workers, corporate headquarters employees and guests. Access privileges are based on user, device, application and location, and this dictates the type of network resources to which each person is entitled.

Consequently, the entire mobile workforce has consistent, secure access to the appropriate network resources based on who they are - no matter where they are, what device they're using or how they're connected.

Because Move securely unifies disparate networks and eliminates redundant services, it achieves capital and operational cost savings and frees up budget so that IT can say yes to mobility, to the influx of mobile devices, access to applications and other new business initiatives.

Move consists of a centralised set of network services that are managed in the data centre, such as identity management and role-based policy enforcement. It also includes affordable access on-ramps - for example, wireless, wired and VPN connectivity - that utilise these services across all locations and access methods.

Collectively, these services and on-ramps deliver:

• An integrated access architecture costing up to 70 per cent less than legacy network approaches;

• Simpler access from remote locations;

• Faster campus additions, moves and changes;

• Stronger security; and

• Lower end-user support costs and higher satisfaction.

Albert Tay is general manager for Aruba ASEAN.