Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) Reviews

I work with system management in Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) products.

Our usual use cases for Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) involve network tools, such as firewall, switches, and some IPs we have added to Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM). We are monitoring 24/7, and if there are any issues related to that, such as if any firewall switches or IPs go down, we will troubleshoot. If it is not resolved, then we will directly connect to that systems provider or that responsible person.

We are using Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) and Centreon for application management, mostly for monitoring. If there are any network tools or devices, all the network devices are connecting through Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) only.

Features such as being very easy to use and troubleshoot have been the most valuable for me, and we can identify if there are any hardware issues easily. For switches or IP, mostly it comes with cable issues, which will not resolve online, so we have to tell someone from L1 support to come to the spot and resolve the issue manually.

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) has a positive impact on my company because it is very easy to use, and we can resolve issues easily, allowing us to resolve issues within the SLA.

An area of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) that could be improved is if we could connect directly with the responsible person from that device, which would be very useful. Currently, we use phone calls or emails, manually sending emails from Outlook or collecting contact details from Excel or ServiceNow. If there were a facility to connect with the person directly from Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM), then it would be very useful.

I have been working with Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) for two years.

I find it to be very stable and reliable.

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) is very scalable, as we can configure multiple devices, handling a lot of devices, such as 100 plus devices.

My experience with the technical support of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) involves configuring firewalls and troubleshooting switches and IPs, which is our primary focus. I don't have any experience connecting with Cisco for additional support. We already have knowledge regarding firewall configuration, switches, and IPs, so we have no other doubts. If there are issues, for example, if any switches are down, after troubleshooting it is not working, then if there is any warranty, we will connect to the technical person for replacing the device.

I would rate the technical support of Cisco an eight out of ten.

Positive

Before using Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM), I did not use a different solution for these use cases. Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) is what I have experience with.

I participated in the initial setup of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) and that experience involved configuring firewalls. They provided the IP to connect and configure the firewall, while we restricted some websites such as sports and YouTube, based on company policies. We managed this with the help of the manual and also set up VPN connections.

I have seen a return on investment from this tool; it is a good product.

Before choosing Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM), I did not evaluate other options, as I don't have experience before that.

We have monitoring capabilities and we are monitoring some network tools from Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) and troubleshooting as well.

I am currently working with version MR 32.1.4.

Policy involves connecting mostly through emails, as we don't have any special kind of policy features. If any alert comes, we connect via mail.

We don't utilize the geolocation tracking feature.

The unified dashboard helps me simplify device management for my team based on the location, as we have configured devices from many different countries. We give the device's name based on the location, allowing us to identify easily in the dashboard.

Regarding operational cost savings, it is cost-saving because in other companies, they use different tools for different networks, such as one for Windows, another for Linux, and a different one for VMware. We use all the systems including Windows, Linux, and networking under Cisco, Centreon, and Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM), which is very cost-efficient.

Regarding pricing and licensing of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM), I don't have information about that, as we are from the technical department. Details about subscription and quotation come from another department.

I rate this solution 8 out of 10.

Positive

It is a central portal where you can add, stack, configure, and maintain your devices. You can also upgrade your devices from there. If you have any Meraki devices that are not in serial or not listed in your network but were purchased by you, Meraki support can directly assist you. 

They have access to the portal and can help with various scenarios, such as connection issues, network issues, or locating devices. They can provide detailed information about your devices, including their validity, license status, etc. Additionally, they can assist you in configuring your network.

It supports user-based policies. They could include bandwidth-based policies.

Nearly 35,000 users are connected to Systems from America because their network is configured to cover worldwide areas. 

I have approximately 450 devices connected, which can scale based on requirements. For instance, if you have around five hundred to six hundred users in one office, the MR14 and MR24 series are suitable. For environments with a larger number of standard device users, the MR24 series is recommended. Cisco Meraki provides various series to meet your requirements, allowing you to manage your users efficiently.

I rate the solution's scalability a nine out of ten.

It is an excellent choice because you can manage your devices from anywhere through the Meraki portal, providing direct access to the devices within your network. If you encounter any issues or cannot access your devices, Cisco support can assist you in resolving the problem through the Meraki system.

The initial setup is straightforward. Engineers don't need extensive knowledge about networks and wireless devices. When you have a new device, click the number on your portal to access its details and the console to configure the device. From there, you can add the device to your network directly. Some configurations are mandatory; the device will connect to your network once completed. You can then manage everything from the portal, monitoring user activity, visiting websites, and data usage.

If you know about the network and some wireless devices, you can easily configure them. Cluster deployment is also easy.

First, the Cisco Meraki Systems Manager offers central management. If you encounter any issues, you can easily get help from their support team by raising a ticket and describing your problem. They will provide you with the necessary details and updates through the ticket system. Additionally, if you prefer to speak to someone directly, they have a central call number available 24/7. The support team handles these calls and assists you. 

Another advantage is that they have control over your devices from their end. If you face issues such as being unable to access a specific page on a device, they can assist you remotely. For instance, I experienced a situation where my internet was not working as expected during a device upgrade, but the device was still connected. The support team completed the upgrade remotely, demonstrating their ability to manage devices effectively from their end.

Integration is straightforward, though it may require some guidance. With support, it is achievable to integrate or migrate it with systems.

I recommend Cisco devices for organizations with many users. The centralized device management portal allows easy and efficient management from anywhere.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine-point five out of ten.

Cisco is very easy to use and helpful. It operates in the cloud. If we have many remote sites, such as in China, Korea, and England, and some server websites in France, we can use the Meraki Systems Manager to connect to the cloud and manage all these remote sites efficiently.

The most efficient way is to prepare your integration in the cloud. After that, we can push your configuration from the cloud to the site once you connect the device. This process makes connecting the cloud and the new devices seamless and allows for easy configuration pushing.

It offers high performance and personalized configuration because it operates in the cloud. This cloud-based management allows for extensive CPU and RAM capabilities, resulting in superior performance.

Cisco manages company networks or remote sites. With traditional systems, you need to configure the WLC, often on-premise or on a virtual machine. Then, you deploy the access points and configure many settings through a console, pushing the configuration to each access point. If you want to integrate with Cisco CyberArk, additional configuration for the Cisco Campus is required.

You can prepare your configuration, including VPN settings, in a unified interface. You can push your configuration quickly; if it doesn't work, you can easily retrieve and modify it. This streamlined process allows you to test configurations efficiently and deploy them rapidly, often within minutes.

The difference between the two systems is substantial regarding configuration time, testing, and deployment. Cisco Meraki offers significant time savings and ease of use compared to traditional systems. Additionally, the budget and resource requirements for managing these two models are very different, with Cisco Meraki often being more cost-effective and simpler to manage.

If Cisco Meraki Systems Manager integrates with other solutions or models, such as ACA's radio solution, on the same equipment or within the same cloud environment, it will offer significant benefits."

It is very stable.

The solution is easy to scale.

If you have a valid license, any issues you encounter, such as problems with on-premise switches or other equipment, can be managed effectively.  However, if there is a problem and we can't resolve it, we can open a support ticket with Cisco. It takes about two to three hours to address and resolve the issue.

Positive

Setting up a site can take two or three days if you have different equipment that needs to be racked and configured. For example, managing a hundred users with the MX84 or MX85 MS switches and configuring them in an active-passive setup might take three to four days. You might also need to link a cluster of switches and set up four or five access points. This entire configuration process can take three to four days for a site with a hundred users.

ROI is positive because it simplifies remote site management. For example, when comparing a site using Meraki to another using Cisco and FortiGate, we often encounter problems requiring physical visits to these remote sites. To illustrate, we deployed Meraki in Korea, China, England, and remote sites in France to avoid frequent trips to these locations and resolve issues. With Meraki, we can troubleshoot and change configurations remotely through the cloud. This remote management capability of Meraki reduces the need for on-site visits and makes resolving issues more efficient.

Pricing is moderate, for example, between the MS48 and the MX85. We paid approximately thirty thousand dollars for licenses, filtering, IPS, and other features, including a discount.

If you need to configure your network, for example, setting up wireless or digital wireless, you can manage it using Cisco. You may need to configure a VPN and handle various elements of the VPN setup. With Meraki, you can quickly push the configuration to your equipment. If the initial configuration doesn't work, you can easily modify and test a new configuration. Meraki simplifies and reduces the configuration needed compared to Cisco's on-premises solutions.

The license includes web searching capabilities, EPS, and the advantage of deploying the solution with another cloud manager, such as Cisco Umbrella. Umbrella provides web filtering for Cisco, and mail filtering is also available in the cloud with Cisco. You can integrate and activate this solution in Meraki MX, configure it, push it, and test it afterward. 

To use Cisco Meraki Systems Manager effectively, you need to have a solid understanding of its architecture. First, you need to familiarize yourself with the system's architecture. Understanding your requirements and objectives with Meraki is crucial. You should review the datasheets for each type of equipment, such as MX security appliances, switches, and access points. Once you have this knowledge, you can integrate the equipment into your setup.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine to ten out of ten.

We use the solution primarily for MDM, which includes managing equipment, applications, packages, and files using the backpack feature with Meraki. However, we are considering changing our workspace management solution from Meraki to UniFi, which would cover all endpoints, including computers, tablets, and other devices.

The solution is easy to use. However, AirWatch or Workspace might be more powerful because we've encountered issues, such as manually managing Windows updates. We have a CSM who is proficient with scripting, which helps automate updates and tasks with PowerShell. 

Meraki Systems Manager lacks scripting capability compared to Workspace. I've seen the product focused mainly on mobile solutions. They might need more development in endpoints like Windows desktops. They seem to be progressing in that direction, but compared to Intune or Workspace ONE, designed specifically for endpoints, those might deliver better results with computers. Meraki seems to have started more as a mobile solution, perhaps as a casual endeavor, but they are exploring broader possibilities in this area.

I have been using Cisco Meraki Systems Manager (MDM+EMM) for five years.

If we have had any issues in the past two years, they were likely only occasional performance hiccups during maintenance windows, which were well-notified in advance. The solution is stable.

The initial setup is simple and takes three and a half months. We manage the system ourselves, but we still have the deployment. I've only used Cisco Meraki Systems Manager two or three times, and it was quick and easy to access each time. Based on this, we think they provide good support.

The pricing for Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is reasonable. One notable aspect is Microsoft's expertise in pricing strategies. Microsoft charges differently for users and devices, which can complicate purchasing decisions. Meraki, on the other hand, simplifies this by charging per device rather than per user. This difference becomes significant in our organization, where many users have multiple devices. In Microsoft's environment, we only pay for each user once, whereas, with Meraki, we pay for each device separately. Despite this, Meraki tends to be more cost-effective overall. In our case, the savings amounted to around four hundred dollars, which is noticeable given our total solution costs of twenty-five to thirty-five thousand dollars. If Meraki adjusts its licensing to accommodate users with multiple devices, it could further enhance its attractiveness as a solution.

Meraki is better. It has the advantage that you can license by user and by device. So, if you have a user with several devices, it's probably easier to implement and cheaper than other solutions. Meraki handles everything on the side, which might make integration with Windows services more challenging. In Meraki, it's harder to implement and needs more effort. 

We still create all the scripting for updates and other tasks using Cisco Meraki Systems Manager. It's not too difficult to configure the network with it.

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager uses a six-step enrollment process for Android. We utilize the Managed Google Play Store to deploy applications to specific devices. Typically, we manage only company-owned devices, ensuring straightforward loss prevention through enrollment before any actions are taken on the device. This approach avoids handling user-owned devices, focusing solely on company assets, which is integral to the Meraki management strategy.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

We mainly use Cisco Meraki Systems Manager for managing our Wi-Fi units and controlling the rest of our Wi-Fi network. Some of our Wi-Fi units are connected to switches and firewalls, and various other devices are also part of our network. Cisco Meraki Systems Manager helps us handle and secure all these devices and connections in a simpler way.

The best features of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager include its simplicity and ease of use. It is straightforward to set up and manage devices compared to other products. It also excels in generating reports, allowing us to understand our network's performance, especially in environments with many devices. Its user-friendly interface and centralized control make it a standout choice for us.

One area for improvement in Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is the ability for more advanced users to make detailed and non-standard changes. It can be a bit challenging to customize things beyond the standard options. However, this simplicity can also be a strength for those who prefer an easy-to-use interface. Over time, more features are being added to the user-friendly front end, reducing the need for advanced customization.

I have been using Cisco Meraki Systems Manager for ten years.

The solution has been stable. Most issues have been external, like carrier problems or network issues, not related to the Meraki environment itself. Overall, the Meraki environment is pretty reliable.

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is scalable, and we haven't encountered any limits so far. At my previous company, we had over 100,000 users using Cisco Meraki Systems Manager internationally. At my current company, which is smaller, we have around 100 users. It is a solution that can scale for both large and small environments.

Tech support from Cisco for Meraki is generally good. Since it is easy to use for basic needs, you often don't require much support. However, for more complex issues, their support team is available and responsive. Overall, support has been reliable. I would rate it an eight out of ten since there is always room for improvement.

Positive

The initial setup of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager depends on the number of devices and different environments you are configuring. Typically, it can take anywhere from half an hour to a few hours to get everything up and running. So, overall, it is a process that may take a few hours, but it depends on your specific setup. Usually, just one or two people can handle the deployment of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager. If your setup is simple, one person is enough. For complex setups, you might consider extra help from engineers or architects to ensure stability, but this isn't needed for most deployments. Maintaining the solution is easy due to its simplicity. Replacing a device is straightforward; you just plug in a new one and connect it to the environment. Overall, it is very user-friendly and uncomplicated to maintain. We deployed it both on-premise and cloud.

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is not the cheapest option, but considering it is an enterprise-grade solution, it offers good value for its price. It is competitive and ranks among the better-priced choices for such solutions. Licenses are typically paid on a monthly basis but are part of a longer contract period, often ranging from three to five years, depending on the equipment in use. With Cisco Meraki, there might be additional fees for higher levels of support, but standard support is usually covered as long as you maintain your license agreements. If you stop paying your licenses, the devices will eventually stop functioning, so it is essential to keep your subscriptions up to date for continued functionality.

Meraki is best for simple setups and SD-WAN, while Fortinet is ideal for complex environments, especially for advanced firewall needs. Choose Meraki for ease of use and straightforward setups, and go for Fortinet when you need deep customization and control in intricate network scenarios. Meraki has strong endpoint kill management capabilities, but when it comes to networking and firewall aspects, they might not be on the same level as some other solutions.

My advice for those considering Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is to carefully plan your deployment according to your specific environment's needs. Ensure you have the right devices and topology in place to deliver what you require. Some companies make the mistake of over-purchasing devices and licenses, while others under-plan and end up without sufficient coverage. Proper planning is key to a successful deployment. It may not have every single feature that some vendors offer, but it is a good fit for the majority of requirements. Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.

I have a smaller company and we use Cisco Meraki Systems Manager. We work with Urban Development Manager and use it for networking. There is no demand for the latest technology, so enterprise solutions, like ours, only use the available solutions. 

Security is the main feature because the company is reliable.

I've participated in numerous product launches primarily focused on HP and Dell. Consequently, there should be a vested interest in local gatherings to showcase product advantages and performance. Particularly in Singapore, it only has so limited integrators to engage in IP product sales. There's room for improvement through dedicated workshops and training. The European and Western markets differ significantly from the context here. The physical location holds more importance. Thus, they should have a survey to evaluate demand, supply, and sales points, tailoring strategies accordingly.

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is stable, and I rate it an eight out of ten. 

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is very scalable. I rate the scalability a ten out of ten.

The support from Cisco is very reliable. However, they need to provide local support.

Positive

We tried using Compass and also reached out to an Italian solution, Tanaza.

We now have higher bandwidth compared to the previous situations. Certain features are introduced on cloud versions, so we decided to migrate to the cloud version. It is based on both private and public clouds, based on the business environment.

The storage is affordable and the system has some price-related issues. Therefore, keeping the price in mind, I would rate it a seven out of ten.

I would recommend Cisco Meraki Systems Manager to anyone who has no budget limitations. I would rate it a nine out of ten.

I primarily use Meraki tools for management in a centralized manner, which makes it very easy to manage and identify issues.

The most valuable feature of Meraki tools is the centralized management aspect, providing a very easy and efficient way to find and solve issues. It helps with saving human resources and technical side management.

I have been working with Meraki for more than four years.

At the moment, I have not encountered any technical errors or critical issues with the system.

I could not find any issues regarding scalability.

I am definitely satisfied with Cisco support. I would rate them a ten out of ten.

Positive

The initial setup is very easy. It takes a couple of hours only.

Overall, I rate the Meraki management console a ten out of ten. I am very much happy to use it in its current state.

The solution is used for monitoring and configuring access points and BYOD (bring your own device). It is also used to configure many Cisco IoT products, such as CTC. The solution's remote troubleshooting capabilities are helpful for firmware patching.

The solution's integration with other products could be improved.

I have been using the solution for five years.

I rate the solution’s stability a nine out of ten.

Around 15,000 users are using the solution in our organization.

I rate the solution’s scalability an eight out of ten.

The solution has a good technical support team that guides us when we face issues.

The solution’s initial setup is simple.

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is an expensive solution.

Aruba Central is the main competitor for Cisco Meraki Systems Manager on the market.

You must comply with the policy to access an internet connection. You must have an antivirus for the laptops. The solution is deployed on the cloud. I would recommend the solution to other users.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

We can use the solution to manage the entire Cisco Meraki portfolio. Enterprises, educational institutions, and any mid-sized organization can use it.

The solution provides ease of access. It doesn't require much resources to install and commission it. The product provides a universal dashboard. We can manage the whole deployment from a single window across different locations. The integration with other tools is quite good. Cisco has a vast portfolio.

Sometimes, the integrations are a bit tough. It might require some technical information.

I have been using the solution for more than ten years.

We receive support based on the SLA agreement. Sometimes, we receive support within 24 hours. The team contacts us via telephone and Webex.

Positive

The initial setup is not that difficult. The tool provides ease of installation. The installation can be done within a day. We can deploy more than 100 access points across the enterprise network. Core switches might take approximately three to four days. It requires certain policies and restrictions to restrict access.

The price depends on the usage. If someone has a niche enterprise clientele, they will need more features and security in their network. Price will not be their primary concern.

Aruba and Ruckus have similar solutions. However, Cisco provides the best product and support.

We can use many features from a single application. Overall, I rate the product a nine out of ten.