HPE Kept Separate Aruba and Mist Platforms
The company maintains distinct management systems for on-premises and cloud networking while unifying underlying technology.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Remote Work
Live Poll
Do you trust that technology mergers ultimately improve the products you use?
Hewlett Packard Enterprise will continue to operate Aruba Central and Mist as separate network management platforms following its acquisition of Juniper Networks. The strategy maintains on-premises and cloud-based deployment choices while unifying AI applications and sales programs.
Why it matters
The two-platform model provides investment protection for existing enterprise customers and enables data sovereignty for public-sector clients. By maintaining separation, the company can meet strict in-country operational requirements while sharing common technological building blocks.
The combined HPE and Juniper entity captured a 17.2% market share in Q2 2026, trailing Cisco which held 39% of the enterprise WLAN market. HPE also reported revenue growth of 7.5% for the combined businesses during the same period.
The players
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
This global technology company provides edge-to-cloud solutions and enterprise networking hardware.
Juniper Networks
This networking company was acquired by HPE to expand its capabilities in AI-driven network management.
Cisco
This multinational digital communications technology conglomerate remains the leader in the enterprise WLAN market.
The details
HPE released the AP-723H dual-platform Wi-Fi 7 access point in May 2026 to ensure hardware compatibility across both management environments. The company is also consolidating its partner sales programs to facilitate the distribution of its full networking portfolio globally.
Timeline
2012: Cisco purchased Meraki.
July 2025: HPE acquired Juniper Networks.
November 2024: Cisco unified its Wi-Fi hardware and licensing.
May 2026: HPE released the AP-723H Wi-Fi 7 access point.
November 1, 2026: HPE merges partner programs for both companies.
Market Landscape
HPE's integration strategy mirrors the approach used by Cisco following its 2012 acquisition of Meraki to consolidate enterprise networking market share. The move pits the combined HPE and Juniper portfolio directly against Cisco's unified hardware and licensing ecosystem.
Enterprise customers gain more deployment flexibility by retaining their choice of on-premises or cloud management while accessing unified AI-driven network insights. Future hardware purchases will likely simplify procurement as new devices are built for compatibility with both platforms.
The takeaway
Maintaining multiple management platforms allows companies to balance technological innovation with the need for data sovereignty. Businesses should evaluate their specific regulatory and on-site requirements before choosing between the cloud-based or local deployment models.
What happens next
HPE is scheduled to merge the companies' partner programs on November 1, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about corporate infrastructure changes in our Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fierce Network.
Live Poll
Do you trust that technology mergers ultimately improve the products you use?
