Inova Health System, a large regional health system in Northern Virginia, dramatically improved its network infrastructure by migrating to HPE Aruba Networking. We sat down with Inova Associate CTO Jake Marshak to talk about this migration.
The Migration Journey
Facing challenges with their previous vendor, Inova chose Aruba in 2019, initially focusing on Wi-Fi, then expanding to CX switching in 2022. The migration, expedited by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in significantly improved network reliability and eliminated trouble tickets.
Network Management Evolution
Inova also moved from on-prem to Aruba Central to manage its estate. Marshak is excited about the potential of AI-driven network management tools for enhanced visibility and troubleshooting.
Technology Strategy and Cost Benefits
Inova acknowledges the need for a diverse technology environment due to medical partners and FDA regulations. However, it also appreciates the cost savings (projected at over 30% over five years) and simplicity offered by a largely single-vendor solution.
Supporting Growth and Future Plans
The HPE Aruba network supports Inova’s growth too, we hear from Marshak. This includes two new hospital builds and the integration of new medical devices. This should ultimately enhance both patient care and staff workflows. Future plans include exploring private 5G for improved communication reliability.