HPE Aruba Networking vs OpenCloudFactory OpenNAC Enterprise: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)

HPE Aruba Networking

Mid-market and enterprise networking teams managing mixed wired, wireless, and IoT environments will get the most from HPE Aruba Networking Central because it consolidates network access control with SD-WAN and SSE into one console, eliminating the tool sprawl that usually forces separate vendor relationships for each layer. The platform covers all three NIST CSF 2.0 infrastructure resilience functions,identity management, continuous monitoring, and security architecture,which means you're not inheriting detection gaps downstream. Skip this if your organization runs a purely cloud-native network or lacks the operational depth to operationalize zero trust; the deployment complexity and integration touchpoints demand mature NetOps teams, not quick wins.

OpenCloudFactory OpenNAC Enterprise

Mid-market and enterprise security teams managing sprawling IoT and OT networks will see immediate value in OpenNAC Enterprise's Layer 2 device isolation tied to real-time threat detection, which stops compromised assets from moving laterally before detection even reaches your SOC. The platform covers PR.AA and DE.CM strongly, meaning it enforces access control at the network boundary and catches anomalies continuously, though it prioritizes prevention and detection over recovery orchestration. Skip this if your organization is primarily cloud-native or lacks the on-premises infrastructure to justify the deployment complexity; OpenNAC Enterprise is built for hybrid environments with significant legacy device populations that need granular segmentation without wholesale network redesign.