Networks are becoming more complex, security requirements are increasing, and IT departments are having to keep track of more and more systems simultaneously.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) aims to address this very issue: artificial intelligence is set to bring network management and IT security closer together. To this end, HPE is integrating its EdgeConnect technology into the HPE Mist and HPE Aruba Central management platforms.
Whether in the office, whilst working from home or in the cloud: corporate networks today span many different areas. These include local area networks (LAN), wireless connections (WLAN), wide area networks (WAN) and cloud-based security services.
These areas are often managed using different tools. This can quickly become a problem in day-to-day operations. If, for example, an application is not working properly, administrators must first determine whether the cause lies with the Wi-Fi, a switch, the site connection or a security policy.
With its new development announced on 27 October 2026, HPE aims to reduce this disconnect. In future, network and security information will be more closely linked and analysed using artificial intelligence.
Mist and Aruba Central are not simply merged into a single piece of software. Rather, HPE EdgeConnect integrates with both management environments and enhances data exchange between network and security functions.
The key innovation is not merely the ability to display more information on a screen. What is crucial is that AI can identify correlations between different areas of the network.
Until now, administrators have often had to compare logs, error messages and performance data from multiple systems. This takes time, particularly when a problem only occurs intermittently or there are several possible causes. By combining telemetry and event data, AI is designed to identify such correlations more quickly.
HPE Marvis AI, HPE’s AI-based network assistant, plays a key role. Marvis processes network data, detects anomalies and assists administrators in analysing root causes. Thanks to the integration of EdgeConnect, the assistant will in future be able to take even more information from various network and security areas into account.
With HPE Mist and HPE Aruba Central, HPE has two management platforms that serve different customer environments. Both are being further developed as part of the new strategy.
HPE Mist is specifically designed for AI-powered network analysis and the optimisation of the user experience. Through EdgeConnect integration, existing monitoring is enhanced with additional information from WAN and SASE environments.
The WAN Assurance feature assesses the quality of connections based on defined Service Level Expectations (SLEs). Factors such as latency, jitter, packet loss and utilisation can be taken into account.
HPE Aruba Central is also set to benefit from the integration. The platform combines information from the management of switches, access points and network access points with additional EdgeConnect data. This includes, for example, details on device status, availability, routing information, WAN interfaces and network connections.
In addition, Network Access Control (NAC) functions play an important role. They help to identify devices and control access to network resources in accordance with defined policies.
Alongside more efficient network operations, IT security is at the heart of HPE’s strategy. To this end, HPE relies on Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). This approach integrates network functions with security services and is designed to enable secure access to applications and data.
HPE Networking EdgeConnect brings these areas together within a unified SASE architecture. This is complemented by security functions such as firewalls, intrusion detection (IDS) and intrusion prevention (IPS), as well as options for segmenting network zones.
The basic principle is that a user or device is not automatically trusted simply because it is located within the corporate network.
Instead, identities, devices and access permissions are verified against defined security policies. To achieve this, HPE combines, amongst other things, network access control, device detection, segmentation and SASE technologies. The closer integration of these functions can help organisations manage access more consistently and better contain potential security risks.
However, it is important to note that integration alone does not automatically make a network secure. Careful configuration, appropriate security policies and regular review of the systems in use remain crucial.
With its new AI capabilities, HPE is pursuing the long-term vision of a so-called ‘Self-Driving Network’ – in other words, a largely self-managing network.
1. Detection: The system monitors network operations and identifies unusual events.
2. Analysis: The AI examines correlations and determines possible causes.
3. Action: The system recommends measures or automatically carries out supported corrective actions.
HPE relies on what is known as agent-based AI. Such AI agents can process information from various areas and initiate actions within defined workflows.
However, this does not mean that administrators will become redundant in future. Changes that are particularly critical to security, complex network architectures and company-wide policies will continue to require specialist knowledge and clear lines of responsibility.
With the closer integration of HPE Mist, Aruba Central and EdgeConnect, HPE is taking another step towards AI-powered network management.
The real strength of this approach lies in no longer viewing network and security information in isolation. Instead, the aim is to reveal interconnections across LAN, Wi-Fi, WAN and cloud security services.
Whether this will result in a largely self-managing network in the long term remains to be seen in practice. However, it is already clear today which direction HPE is taking: away from purely reactive network management and towards a proactive, more highly automated IT infrastructure.
