Business white paper

Grow your small or midsize business with a scalable networkA guide to understanding networking technologies

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As a small to midsized business (SMB), you enjoy advantages over larger competitors—being “lean and mean” compared to companies with big budgets and staff. When it comes to technology, networking can cause SMB owners to scratch their heads or it can be an opportunity to leapfrog the competition by establishing a robust, scalable network capable of growing right along with you, handling any workload securely and reliably.

Multiple factors underscore the need for a flexible, secure network, including:

• The growth of cloud services that grant access to solutions that formerly required the support of enterprise IT infrastructures, but can now be obtained through a Web browser

• The use of unified communications and collaboration technologies, such as Microsoft® Lync®, which lets your teams connect via instant messaging, video conferencing, and voice over IP (VoIP), or voice over the data network

• The bring-your-own-device (BYOD) movement, in which employees use their personal mobile devices to access company data and stay productive from anywhere

• The need to properly protect your company and customer data as well as your intellectual property

• Technology trends such as virtualization and software-defined networking (SDN), which help streamline IT and increase its performance as your business grows

Innovations such as mobility, social media, and cloud computing (by which you can access, through a Web browser, the same level of IT services and applications as any large enterprise) are leveling the playing field for businesses. You don’t have to be a global corporation to be able to win business halfway across the world or hire the most skilled specialists—even if they live thousands of miles away. Respondents to a survey of SMBs found that the top five priorities for businesses in 2014 include social media, mobility solutions, cloud computing, and collaboration.1

In this guide, you’ll learn about ideal small-business as well as midsize networking solutions. You’ll find out how to create a network that can keep pace with your business growth, and also what to look for in networking technology. No matter what stage you’re in today and how much you plan to expand your reach in the future, creating the right network is crucial for successful business expansion and cost savings.

Switches and routers: the backbone of your network

The two main building blocks of any network are switches and routers. Switches connect your devices—computers, printers, and servers—to each other. They enable users to communicate and share information over your local area network (LAN).

1 “Top 10 SMB business issues, IT priorities, and IT challenges,” Techaisle, 2014.

Business white paper | Grow your small ormidsize business with a scalable network

Table of contents

2 Switches and routers: the backbone of your network

6 Wireless vs. wired networking—what about both?

7 Tackle network security and management challenges

9 Develop a network strategy that works for you

11 Partner with HP for networking success

11 Let us be the foundation of your support network

12 Flexible support and financing to suit your needs

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Routers connect networks to each other and computers to the Internet. Their reliability is paramount, especially if your business relies on cloud computing services or cloud-based applications. Also, routers allow your company’s devices to share a broadband Internet connection.

Switches: extending your network intelligently

A network switch uses its physical connection points (ports) and software intelligence to transmit information as data packets between client devices, including PCs, printers, IP cameras, IP phones, LAN devices such as servers, wireless access points (APs), other switches, and routers. Data packets carry digital voice, video, or data.

The switch inspects the packets as it receives them. It determines the source and destination of each packet, sets up the best network path to get it there, and then forwards it appropriately. Speed and coordination are essential, so packets don’t collide or get dropped. While routers and switches serve some similar functions, they work together to create a robust network.

Some switches can be configured and managed so that certain traffic is segmented—that is, transmitted only through specific ports—for performance or security reasons. Packets from a payroll application, for instance, may be segmented to pass only through ports that connect the authorized users in finance or human resources. And because packets from voice applications are latency sensitive (delays cause the data to decompose and voice “breaks up”), they should be partitioned and prioritized over other applications.

A switch also receives and sends packet traffic outside the LAN through a router or gateway. This edge device connects the LAN to external wide area networks (WANs) such as the Internet, using a broadband service.

Your network will connect a variety of devices depending on your needs and industry, including wireless gear and VoIP devices, such as IP phones. Switches make these connections—which involve a variety of speeds, signals, and/or cables—possible.

Switch management: choices based on your needs

With cloud computing leveling the playing field for organizations of all sizes, small businesses can ill afford to hire teams of network engineers to design and maintain their network architectures. Many small businesses just want a network that provides out-of-the-box, plug-and-play simplicity, so long as it’s comprehensive, reliable, and secure enough to quickly support evolving business needs. Some small businesses may need a network that can be easily customized. Hence, it’s important to find a manufacturer that can provide a variety of options.

Manufacturers that have designed products with SMBs in mind would offer a choice of unmanaged, smart-managed, or fully managed solutions to match the level of control you want over your network, including the degree of security. If your business requires you to set additional controls for security and performance without adding complexity, smart-managed switches are the ideal choice.

Managed switches are typically selected for performance or security reasons, as they’re ideal for business-critical applications such as customer relationship management, sales force automation, video surveillance, medical imaging, and regulatory compliance—as well as for real-time applications such as audio/video streaming, distance learning, sales demos, and VoIP. Many businesses that have multiple switches prefer the managed versions because they can configure them for consistency.

Networks can have a mixture of managed and unmanaged switches.

The benefits of unmanaged switches

Unmanaged switches come preconfigured by the manufacturer, based on industry-standard best practices for security and performance. This makes setup quick and easy and reduces the price. You cannot use an unmanaged switch to segment one group from another or give priority to certain users. In that case, you may want to select unmanaged switches that support the IEEE 802.1p standard, which can assign voice or video traffic priority over data traffic.

LAN speeds

LANs run at a variety of speeds, depending on the protocol used. Common protocols are:

• Ethernet, also known as IEEE 802.3, transmits data at 10 Mb/s.

• Fast Ethernet, an extension of the Ethernet standard, runs at 100 Mb/s.

• 10/100 Ethernet, a hybrid of Ethernet and Fast Ethernet, allows for backward compatibility for slower devices and faster connections for devices that support Fast Ethernet (100 Mb/s).

• Gigabit Ethernet (GbE), as the name implies, runs at 1,000 Mb/s, which is equal to 1 Gb/s—10 times faster than Ethernet and supports both copper and fiber cabling.

• 10GbE, is even faster—10 times faster—than GbE, and supports both copper and fiber cabling.

HP 1405 switch HP 1410 switch

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The benefits of smart-managed switches

Smart-managed switches provide control capabilities that can increase LAN security and performance and allow you to segment traffic. For example, you could set it up so only certain employees have access to your financial applications. You could also give some applications more bandwidth or ensure that video and voice communications take priority over data.

There are different levels of management among smart-managed switches. Because of their user-friendly Web interface and appealing price points, smart, Web-managed switches are often an appropriate choice for SMBs. Consider smart Web-managed Gigabit and Fast Ethernet switches that offer your business the flexibility and ease of use you need, along with advanced features. Such features include Layer 3 static routing for network segmentation and expansion; support for IPv6, the latest Internet Protocol; and access control lists (ACLs), so you can assign specific security processes to a specific device. Lifetime warranty is also a must for small businesses that want peace of mind for crucial components such as the unit, fans, and power supplies.

The benefits of fully managed switches

Fully managed switches tend to cost more. However, they do make the most sense for organizations that have grown out of the “small business” category to a point where the number of employees or the size and type of business require more full-featured IT solutions. Fully managed switches such as HP Networking mid-market solutions, based on the HP FlexCampus architecture, are specifically designed to support wired and wireless networking, cloud computing, and rich-media traffic, such as video and audio.

Routers: your network’s traffic cop

A router is a device that passes data between networks, which could include LANs and wireless LANs (WLANs). The data could be traditional network data, such as information in spreadsheets and text documents, as well as rich media data and VoIP traffic. After connecting your company’s networked computers to your broadband Internet connection, the most common function of a router is to act as a dispatcher for network data and ensure it is routed correctly and efficiently.

Routers are placed at a network gateway (where one network meets another) or at a network point of presence (an AP from one place to the rest of the Internet). Routers determine the best route for a given packet (a unit of data divided up for efficient routing), so that it travels to its destination most efficiently.

On the LAN side, a router interfaces with switches, wireless APs, IP phones, and analog devices such as facsimile machines, analog phones, and analog modems.

On the WAN side, a router can interface with a service provider, Internet service provider, PSTN, cellular networks, or any combination of these.

Basic routers carry out routing functions and allow remote computers, for example devices on the Internet, to connect to a specific computer or service in your LAN. These routers can also support wireless networking, enabling your wireless devices to connect to the Internet. This would be ideal for small businesses that want to connect the LAN and WLAN to the Internet, but also allow external computers to connect to the LAN.

For businesses that require more functionality, you could consider multiple services routers.

HP 2530 switch

HP 5400 switch

HP 2920 switch

HP 8200 switch

Power over Ethernet provides efficiency

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a cost-efficient technology that allows electricity to pass along the same network cable (Cat5) as data—a useful capability if you need to attach devices such as IP phones and/or cameras or wireless APs on your network.

PoE is an industry standard ratified by the IEEE and is known as IEEE 802.3at. A later standard, PoE+ or IEEE 802.3at, is also available. The main difference is the maximum amount of power each provides over the Cat5 cabling—15.4 watts for PoE versus 25.5 watts for PoE+.

PoE technology offers three major benefits:

• Flexibility: PoE increases the placement options for devices. For example, you can place a wireless AP up high on a wall or on the ceiling to get optimum RF coverage. All you need is one Ethernet cable; there’s no need for another power source.

• Cost and time savings: You save on labor and materials—and avoid delays—that you would incur if you had an electrician run additional electrical wiring and install extra outlets. The lower voltage of PoE means that twisted-pair Ethernet cabling can safely be installed in many locations by anyone. You could place and connect a video surveillance camera yourself rather than relying on a paid technician.

• No downtime in the event of power outage: Devices that are connected to the switch’s PoE ports can continue operating after a power failure, if you have provided your PoE switch with redundant power circuits connected to an uninterruptible power supply.

HP 1810 switch HP 1910 switch

Business white paper | Grow your small ormidsize business with a scalable network

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Multiple services router: a single device with many uses

Modern routers perform multiple functions. Multiple services routers (MSRs) are modular devices used to pass data from and between your LAN, WLAN, WAN, and 3G cellular networks. Some MSR routers allow businesses to bridge the WAN to the LAN at branch offices.

MSRs are ideal for small business network solutions because they can perform multiple functions with a single device. Businesses benefit from the cost efficiencies of using MSRs that are based on an open system and industry standards, because you can continue using third-party applications and network devices, protecting your investments.

Let’s look two important features of MSRs: Quality of service (QoS) and security.

QoS

Network QoS is the ability of the network to handle traffic so that it meets the service requirements of certain applications. Through the MSR, you can set network QoS based on traffic types and whether or not they can tolerate delays or loss. For example, you could ensure that there is enough bandwidth for video traffic or determine how the network should handle voice traffic compared to traffic that can tolerate delays, such as data. By controlling the allocation of network resources to application traffic, you can ensure priority applications are given the network resources required.

QoS parameters could include:

• Bandwidth: the rate at which an application’s traffic must be carried by the network

• Latency: the delay that an application can tolerate when delivering a packet of data

• Jitter: the variation in latency

• Loss: the amount of lost data

MSRs help to provide smooth and fast delivery of your network applications through traffic policing, congestion management and avoidance, and traffic shaping (regulating network data transfer to provide a certain level of performance).

Security

When you connect your network to the Internet, keeping your business data secure is paramount. MSRs have built-in security features to safeguard your business. Among the features are ACLs, network login, and IPSec virtual private network (VPN).

ACLs are used to filter traffic to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the network or to control network traffic in order to save resources. You can set rules to either deny or permit traffic to be forwarded.

Network login allows for authentication of multiple users per port. Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service (RADIUS) login authenticates dial-in users and authorizes their access to the requested system or service.

IPSec VPN provides an encrypted, secure tunnel for IP data traffic across the Internet. It is useful for implementing a VPN (a private network across the public Internet) and for remote user access through dial-up connections to private networks.

Performance

As your business grows, so does your network traffic. This leads to concerns over network performance. MSRs provide integrated features to help maintain performance. Such features include forwarding performance, embedded encryption, and support for GbE.

Forwarding performance provides up to 300Kp/s (kilo packets per second). This allows your network to not only meet current needs but also future bandwidth-intensive application demands as your business grows.

MSR93x router

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If your workforce is scattered remotely, seek an MSR that allows you to scale your VPN. Embedded encryption can support up to 100 VPN tunnels and up to 160 Mb/s encryption throughput. This means your network is safeguarded even as your workforce grows.

Wireless vs. wired networking—what about both?

For proof that the world is going wireless, you need only stop by at your neighborhood coffee shop. The folks hunkered down at the best tables are taking advantage of the establishment’s free Wi-Fi to stay productive even while they are offsite. These people will only multiply. As a result, your company—and your network—will no doubt feel the impact of the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend.

BYOD poses a security concern as it increases the number of ways employees can access company data. In a survey conducted at the end of 2012, two-thirds of respondents said BYOD would increase IT and security costs.2 BYOD also increases the risk of company data being exposed to security threats via mobile malware.

Stopping the BYOD movement is not an option. Employees want the freedom to use their device of choice—and they expect to be able to access applications on their mobile devices no matter where in your offices they are. When it comes to designing your company’s network, you can choose to create a wired or a wireless one. Or you can enjoy the best of both worlds with an integrated wired and wireless network.

A mobile workforce is a wireless workforce

A wireless network allows you to connect devices to your Internet connection and to each other without installing yards and yards of physical cabling. That said, wireless networks present tradeoffs—most notably in the area of performance and security.

A wireless AP allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi technology. The APs connect to your network router(s) via a wired connection.

If your company is very small and you require only a limited area of wireless coverage in your facility, you could be adequately supported by routers with a built-in wireless capability. As your business expands—along with your office space and the number of employees—it is worth investing in multiple APs. This expands your wireless coverage, so users can work wirelessly, no matter where they are in your facility.

AP clustering for simplified WLAN management

When your APs number more than two, it’s time to consider simplifying their management and maintenance. Simplified management can help reduce the cost of maintenance and minimize the risk of human error, if you need to set network management policies among multiple devices.

A technique called AP clustering provides a single point of administration for APs and lets you deploy, view, configure, and secure your wireless network as a single entity rather than a series of separate wireless devices. When you change the settings of one AP, others in your network are automatically updated. You can create clusters of up to 10 APs each and have multiple clusters on your network for optimum performance. APs with integrated clustering technology enables you to easily deploy clustered AP groups on the same network or separate networks or locations.

2 “State of the enterprise” survey, Computerworld, 2013.

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In a nutshell, clustering technology enables you to:

• Create a group of up to 10 APs

• Form multiple clusters on the same network (up to 10 APs total)

• Configure APs with the same wireless parameters (examples):

– SSID (wireless network name)

– Wireless encryption—security

– Virtual LANs (a single network that is partitioned to create multiple distinct broadcast domains)

WLAN controllers for refined user control

Another way to optimize your wireless network performance is with WLAN controllers. Businesses that are growing rapidly may choose to use a WLAN controller to manage more than 10 low-cost Wi-Fi APs.

While clustering technology is most appropriate for a maximum of 10 APs, WLAN controllers are most suited for networks with more. WLAN controllers are used to improve wireless scalability and performance through centralized management, making them ideal for midsize businesses that may have campus networks for supporting a mobile and BYOD workforce.

WLAN controllers provide refined user control and management, comprehensive radio frequency management, and security. The key features include:

• Fast roaming—is the ability, of the controller to facilitate the mobile client association and authentication with APs, which needs to happen when mobile users move around the facility.

• Support for both centralized and distributed forwarding—is the option of centralized or distributed forwarding of data to help prevent network bottlenecks and delays. The controller intelligently selects the most effective method to maintain high performance.

Midsize organizations with increased needs may prefer integrated controller modules for switches, as they provide the necessary high availability and redundancy with just one device to manage. They also allow you to scale as your wireless network grows.

This brings us back to the topic of integrated wired and wireless networks that allow your growing business to embrace BYOD and establish appropriate security policies and protocols. In fact, integrated networking can strengthen security—especially in the case of HP solutions that use HP Intelligent Management Center (IMC), which offers comprehensive visibility into your entire network—both wireless and wired. You get increased efficiency using one management application versus having to use multiple management applications.

Tackle network security and management challenges

As your business grows and your network becomes more complex, you’ll start to notice that managing it is not as straightforward as it was when your organization was just starting up. The same goes for network security.

We’ve already talked about how BYOD poses a security challenge; but it also presents a network management challenge, because the more devices on your network, the harder your networking gear must work to pinpoint and break up bottlenecks and maintain performance.

Growing businesses are best served by an integrated network management solution that provides end-to-end management of your combined wired and wireless network. Seek a management solution that is modular and can grow as your business expands, or when you are ready to increase the scalability and performance of your network by taking advantage of technologies such as cloud computing, virtualization, or SDN.

Another requirement of a management solution is that it is open and standards based. Such a solution would protect your existing investments, enabling you to use best-of-breed products that can be managed within a single environment.

HP MSM720 controller

HP MSM775zl controllers

HP MSM760 controller

HP M220

HP MSM460

HP M425

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What an integrated management solution provides

At the basic level, an integrated management solution should provide comprehensive fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and security management functions. Seek a solution that is designed for diverse environments, so you can be sure it will support your network through rapid business growth. Can your network management solution manage devices from different manufacturers? A simple single-pane-of-glass solution gives you a cohesive view that spans physical and virtual resources—from a variety of device manufacturers—wired and wireless infrastructure, and company-issued and employee-owned devices.

Figure 1. A comprehensive view of your network

A baseline management solution should provide an extensive collection of management, configuration, monitoring, analysis, and reporting features. Seek solutions that also provide optional modules for additional capabilities for managing network services, monitoring and controlling users and endpoints, and analyzing network traffic.

Management solutions for your BYOD needs

Specifically for BYOD, seek a management solution that includes a user access manager (UAM) module, so you can set uniform security policies and assign consistent access privileges across your wired and wireless network. You can do this by creating centralized user authentication, authorization, and accounting functions. Use an access manager that lets you integrate with Microsoft Active Directory, so you can accelerate your BYOD deployments, while protecting and extending previous investments.

As added security, you may consider endpoint admission defense (EAD). This capability helps mitigate risks that accompany BYOD initiatives. Working in conjunction with UAM, EAD reduces security vulnerabilities by verifying that an endpoint’s applications and settings comply with defined policies.

With many users accessing many different types of applications—from bandwidth-intensive video streaming to transaction-processing systems—you need to be able to see how many users and applications are consuming bandwidth. A comprehensive network management solution should provide a network traffic analyzer module, so you can view bandwidth statistics, identify bottlenecks, and resolve problems. You can monitor the impact of non-business activities (for example, your users accessing sites such as Facebook and YouTube) and set suitable policies.

In short, with an integrated wired and wireless network management solution, you can address concerns about security and network optimization, so your network can continue to drive your business forward.

Five reasons for integrated wired and wireless network management

1. Lower operating expenses and improved total cost of ownership (TCO) due to automated features, default alerts, and a consolidation of tools and correlated information

2. Improved network availability and reliability with fewer trouble tickets, thanks to automated configuration management and comprehensive auditing

3. Quicker problem recognition and troubleshooting through improved visibility

4. Enhanced endpoint defense, control, and visibility

5. Unified management of wired and wireless networks as well as physical and virtual networks—enabling flexibility and scalability for networks of all sizes

Business white paper | Grow your small ormidsize business with a scalable network

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Develop a network strategy that works for you

There is a lot to consider when building your company’s network from scratch or looking to modernize your existing network. In the beginning, you will likely opt for plug-and-play network hardware that is preconfigured for ease of use and a no-brainer setup. In other words—no IT geeks required. However, as you grow, it may become appropriate to expand your network with hardware solutions that offer greater control over network performance and security, such as smart, Web-managed switches.

If you ultimately become a midsized business with, say, 200-plus users and a branch office, you’ll find yourself “playing with the big boys,” complete with an IT staff—even if it’s one or two dedicated pros. You’ll then be able to engage enterprise-level competitors by matching your business roadmap with an IT strategy that lets you control all aspects of your network for security, performance, application priority, and more.

Let’s take a closer look at the anatomy of an optimal network for SMBs.

Open and standards based: The last thing growing businesses need is to be restricted by vendor lock-in. A single network vendor strategy means having to hire specially trained network engineers to manage the complexity of a single-vendor network. With an open and standards-based network, you can be sure that your existing investments are protected. If your existing equipment is based on open standards, you can integrate it into your enhanced network. Your network can be a foundation that can scale as your business grows—and you have the freedom to select best-of-breed solutions to add to your network.

Scalable and secure: The ideal network architecture for growing small businesses is one that’s based on modular systems. You start small with some basic functionality and you add features as your needs expand. A modular network enables you to grow your network smartly and take advantage of integrated solutions that provide multiple functions in a single platform.

For instance, you could start with a basic smart-managed, fixed-configuration Gigabit and Fast Ethernet Layer 2 switch that provides a flexible connection and deployment options. As your needs grow, you could upgrade to an advanced Layer 2+ smart-managed Gigabit switch that provides customized operation using an intuitive Web interface. This switch would offer Layer 3 static routing with additional routes for network segmentation and expansion.

For efficient networking, you could opt for a multiple services router that integrates routing, switching, security, and wireless WAN in a single device.

Unified for integrated wired and wireless networking: Mobility has quickened the pace of business. You don’t have the time to spend installing and deploying complex wireless solutions. You want a solution that works alongside your existing wired network, so that you can manage both from a central platform.

A unified wired and wireless solution should be quick and easy to use, offering out-of-the-box, plug-and-play simplicity. Intuitive, Web-based, zero-management network operation saves you time, is eco-friendly, and offers for peace of mind. Reliability comes in products that are tested for worry-free operation.

Seek a vendor that offers different options for a range of networking scenarios to match your changing needs. Perhaps you want a high-performance wireless and wired LAN connection for servers, storage, printers, client PCs, and notebooks. A wireless AP provides flexible connectivity for mobile workers. Secure guest access can be implemented on a separate virtual LAN. This solution provides high-speed connectivity for business-critical applications and reliable and secure network infrastructure to mitigate business disruption.

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Or perhaps you’re a midsize organization with advanced needs. You can deploy a network that provides reliable connectivity to your primary and remote locations. This network design helps ensure high performance to support mobility and cloud computing; yet it is low maintenance, so you don’t have to worry about resourcing for your network. While it’s open and scalable, it does not compromise on security. Your employees and business applications are protected, regardless of the device they’re using or their physical location.

For any networking scenario, a unified network management solution helps simplify management and is scalable, so it easily grows as your business grows. You can use a single console to set, manage, and maintain your entire wired and wireless network. This is preferable to using separate management products to manage your wired and wireless networks, because you don’t need to train people to use the different products or hire specialists.

Even though management is integrated, a modern network management solution should allow you to control all or certain aspects of the network. Perhaps you want to set control for security, performance, or application priority—the management solution should provide a choice of management modules to suit your needs.

A choice of management: Shouldn’t your network be as easy to set up and use as a brand new tablet computer? Whether you want network devices that you can set and forget or the ability to configure to your needs, modern networking solutions are designed with ease of use in mind.

An unmanaged network gives you:

• Plug-and-play simplicity

• Reliable, high-speed wired connectivity for servers, PCS, notebooks, and printers

• Scalability based on industry-standard technologies

A smart-managed network lets you configure some features of the network to suit your needs. This setup is ideal for businesses that require high-performance wireless and wired LAN connections for servers, printers, client PCS, and access through a separate virtual LAN. You can manage switches, APs, and routers through an intuitive, easy-to-use Web interface from any PC on the network. In fact, the network is so easy to maintain that you can appoint anyone to manage it.

The benefits of a smart-managed network are:

• Customized operations using an intuitive Web interface

• Gigabit Ethernet networking

• Web-managed control for scalability and security

• Support for network-efficient and cost-effective PoE for wireless and voice applications

For wireless management, a modern network offers a choice of management options.

Alternatively, consider AP clustering if you want to deploy, view, configure, and secure your small business wireless network as a single entity. You can create clusters of APs and have multiple clusters with a maximum of 10 APs on your network for optimum performance. APs with integrated clustering technology enables you to easily deploy clustered AP groups on the same network or separate networks or locations.

Consider WLAN controllers if you are a rapidly growing business with more than 10 APs. WLAN controllers provide refined user control and management, comprehensive radio frequency management, and security.

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Partner with HP for networking success

We understand that you need a network environment that’s easy to deploy and maintain, and also one you can configure to accommodate your company’s changing needs.

HP Networking solutions are purpose-built for growing businesses and are part of the HP Just Right IT program for SMBs. Whether you’re just getting started and need the basic technology to launch a business or you’re poised to expand into new territories, the Just Right IT program is designed to meet your needs at each stage of development.

If your business is just getting started, you’ll need simple IT that can help you get up and running while supporting essential business functions such as email, file, print, networking access, and backup. The Just Right IT products and solutions are designed and priced just for you. This selection of end-to-end technology includes servers, storage, software, networking, and services that deliver the affordable value you’re looking for to launch your business.

Our network solutions are supported by a host of third-party applications from our ecosystem of HP AllianceONE partners, including Microsoft, Citrix®, and Avaya. You get a choice of best-of-breed solutions for every aspect of your network.

When you team up with HP to take care of your SMB’s networking technology needs, you tap into decades of IT expertise and a partner dedicated to ensuring that your technology—and your network—truly work for you and help drive your business forward. Our services and solutions cover the entire network lifecycle and are backed by mission-critical expertise delivered on a global scale. We invest in ongoing innovation to deliver modern, simplified network architectures that remove cost and complexity, while powering next-generation services and helping you innovate within your industry.

Built specifically for your SMB network, HP Networking solutions are:

Open and agile: Our solutions use industry-standard technologies, so you can easily integrate HP solutions into your existing infrastructure.

Scalable and secure: Our modular approach enables you to grow your infrastructure as needed. Our networking solutions are protected by HP TippingPoint network security products and are managed by a single console, saving you time and removing the need for multiple management platforms.

Optimized to provide proven business value: A study, by market research company IDC, of six midmarket businesses that use HP wireless solutions found that the products helped the customers reduce network TCO by 47 percent.3

There are four building blocks to HP FlexNetwork:

• FlexCampus—Helps converge and secure your wired and wireless network to deliver consistent, video-optimized, and identity-based network access

• FlexBranch—Enables you to deliver headquarters-like IT experiences to your branch workers

• FlexFabric—Facilitates convergence of data center networking, storage, and compute to provide a better virtualized infrastructure.

• FlexManagement—Converges network management and orchestration to support rich-media traffic, mobile access and exponential traffic growth.

Let us be the foundation of your support network

Whatever size your business and whatever your needs, you can rest assured that all HP products are backed by comprehensive warranty and network support. We’ve been providing industry-leading lifetime warranty for most of our networking products since 1993. In August 2013, HP announced Lifetime Warranty 2.0, which offers three years of 24x7 phone support as part of in the purchase price for most HP FlexCampus, FlexBranch, and small business products sold on or after August 1, 2013. This is in addition to the original HP Lifetime Warranty, which provides hardware warranty replacement for as long as you own the product,

3 “Enhancing business value with HP wireless networking solutions,” IDC, October 2013.

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with next-business-day advance replacement available in most countries. We also include software upgrades as part of your solution, so you don’t have to worry about making sure your software is up to date.

Visit our warranty site to learn more about HP Lifetime Warranty 2.0: hp.com/networking/warranty.

Flexible support and financing to suit your needs

Our warranty is just the beginning of what we include with our products. To help make it easier for you to implement, use, and maintain our products, we also include with our products many support features such as self-help tools that are available 24x7 on the Web, telephone and email support, electronic case submission, and software releases. For details on support features and to contact HP Networking technical support, visit hp.com/networking/support.

HP Network Support Services: working in partnership with you

The comprehensive Network Support Services portfolio helps you manage your network efficiently, mitigate risks and downtime, and increase the business value of your technology. You can extend the lifetime warranty coverage of your HP Networking product and increase the performance and availability of your network infrastructure with our simplified and standardized HP Care Pack Services.

You can select support levels suited for your environment. We provide reactive hardware support that provides advanced levels of repair and replacement response times and 24x7 software support. We also offer integrated and proactive mission-critical service options that address issues before they become a problem. With services such as installation, and startup, and assessment services included in the portfolio, we take care of your transactional or per-event service requirements, helping you free up staff to focus on more strategic activities.

HP Network Support Services provides a single point of accountability, professional expertise, and proven customer-support experience consistently across the globe. For more information on other network services offered by HP, visit hp.com/go/networks.

For more information on support services, visit hp.com/networking/services.

To look up the support level you require, visit hp.com/go/cpc.

HP Financial Services: getting IT on your terms

HP Financial Services provides innovative financing and financial asset management programs to help you acquire, manage, and ultimately retire your HP solutions. For more information, visit hp.com/go/hpfinancialservices.

HP Networking at your service

SMBs are the lifeblood of the world’s economy. Whether your opportunities and challenges are supporting a mobile workforce or allowing customers secure, 24x7 access to your network, HP understands your needs. Together, we can grow your business and innovate new products and services to better serve your customers.

Learn more at hp.com/networking/smb

© Copyright 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

Microsoft and Lync are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Citrix is the trademark of Citrix Systems Inc. and/or one of its subsidiaries and may be registered in the U.S. and other countries.

4AA5-0828ENW, May 2014, Rev. 1

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