HPE Aruba ClearPass review
A self-hosted NAC platform with deep access policy, profiling, onboarding and guest controls.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager is a paid network access control platform for enterprises managing employees, contractors, guests, IoT devices and BYOD across multivendor wired, wireless and VPN environments. Its scope combines authentication, authorization, context-based policy enforcement, device profiling, posture assessment, onboarding and guest access. The platform is available through web and API interfaces and can run as a dedicated hardware appliance or virtual machine, making it suited to organizations that want self-hosted control over network access.
The published plan is a one-year subscription for 100 concurrent endpoints. ClearPass is sold in multiple license, appliance and virtual-appliance configurations, so the plan structure is relevant when matching endpoint capacity and deployment format to the environment. Its standout capability is the policy and visibility layer: administrators can apply role- and device-based controls, evaluate context, profile devices, assess posture and support BYOD onboarding with a built-in certificate authority. RADIUS and TACACS+ support extend its fit across authentication and network administration workflows.
ClearPass also connects with Active Directory, LDAP, SQL databases, EMM/MDM systems, firewalls and Aruba Exchange security partners. REST API administration supports integration with network and security systems, while guest access management broadens its use beyond employee access. It is a strong choice for teams that need detailed NAC capabilities in a self-hosted deployment, particularly where Aruba access-control workflows and multivendor infrastructure meet. Organizations seeking a broader network provisioning platform rather than a focused NAC system should consider an alternative.
HPE Aruba ClearPass pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Policy-based access control with profiling and posture assessment
- Supports RADIUS, TACACS+, BYOD, guest access and REST administration
- Integrates with directories, databases, MDM systems and firewalls
- Where it doesn't
- Focused on NAC rather than broad network provisioning
- Self-hosted deployment requires appliance or virtual-machine infrastructure
- The listed subscription plan covers 100 concurrent endpoints
HPE Aruba ClearPass fact sheet, pricing and score →
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