Cisco Meraki Insight vs. SolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA)

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cisco Meraki Insight
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
Cisco Meraki Insight is a network analytics tool that supports troubleshooting, and helps IT administrators optimize the end user experience, so as to significantly reduce the time it takes to isolate network or application problems.N/A
SolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA)
Score 8.6 out of 10
N/A
SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer is a network monitoring tool within the broader SolarWinds ecosystem. It includes core traffic monitoring features, as well as customizable traffic reports and alerts.N/A
Pricing
Cisco Meraki InsightSolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA)
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Cisco Meraki InsightSolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA)
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeOptional
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Cisco Meraki InsightSolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA)
Top Pros
Top Cons
Best Alternatives
Cisco Meraki InsightSolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA)
Small Businesses
Pulseway
Pulseway
Score 9.5 out of 10
Auvik
Auvik
Score 8.0 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
PingPlotter
PingPlotter
Score 9.5 out of 10
InsightIDR
InsightIDR
Score 9.1 out of 10
Enterprises
PingPlotter
PingPlotter
Score 9.5 out of 10
InsightIDR
InsightIDR
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Cisco Meraki InsightSolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA)
Likelihood to Recommend
8.8
(2 ratings)
8.0
(61 ratings)
Usability
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(10 ratings)
Support Rating
-
(0 ratings)
8.0
(49 ratings)
Online Training
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(1 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
9.1
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Cisco Meraki InsightSolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer (NTA)
Likelihood to Recommend
Cisco
Within healthcare, services, or manufacturing organizations the Cisco Meraki systems have performed remarkably well. The security standpoint of Cisco aligned equipment needs no additional mentioning other than they are the top choice for Federal, State, and Local governments as well as a plethora of organizations from different market areas.
Read full review
SolarWinds
I would suggest this tool to any user that has to monitor multiple sites and locations where bandwidth monitoring can be a labor. This software works really well for central monitoring of multiple sites and services where having a technician onsite isn't feasible. I really like the reporting, though, and would recommend this for someone wanting to keep an eye on bandwidth usage for replication of data across sites.
Read full review
Pros
Cisco
  • Analytics
  • Simple Management
  • Robust options
Read full review
SolarWinds
  • The level of customization possible with Network Bandwidth Analyzer is very valuable. Rather than being stuck with a "one-size-fits-all" presentation, an administrator can easily create customized views, reports, and alerts so that users can have a more tailored view of the data provided by Network Bandwidth Analyzer. This has the effect of making the tool more attractive to the end user.
  • The NetFlow Traffic Analyzer piece of Network Bandwidth Analyzer provides the details on bandwidth usage on the network. More than knowing how much bandwidth is being used, one is provided with detailed information on how that bandwidth is being used. This provides invaluable information for capacity planning and even certain forensic tasks faced by the network engineer.
  • The ability to produce network maps provides an easy way to create an attractive and functional NOC/SOC view of the entire network. Both technician and the occasional passerby can quickly determine if there are issues to be addressed. The ability to customize a map with background images and custom icons and stencils can make these maps really pop.
Read full review
Cons
Cisco
  • A more useful tool for non-technical administrators to track and find systems or users on the network. Although these features exist today, you must traverse through several windows and areas to find them.
Read full review
SolarWinds
  • The ability to intuitively and quickly serve up specified information up to a dashboard for general “public” consumption, that cycles through several pages of information.
  • The ability to intuitively set up alerting on bandwidth levels, instead of having to dig through all types of alerts available to find the one needed.
  • Provide a pricing model based on different support levels: if I want only available update installations, don’t make me pay the same amount as those wanting full support.
Read full review
Usability
Cisco
No answers on this topic
SolarWinds
As far as rating for usability is concerned I would give 10/10 as NTA is very easy to use. All you need to do is install that module and ask network Team to configure the Netflow towards Server IP. [The] rest is pre-configured and reports are pre-built. Moment you receive the flows from Network all you will have is information about traffic.
Read full review
Support Rating
Cisco
No answers on this topic
SolarWinds
It is useful for our Infrastructure team and also provides valuable insights to our application team regarding the traffic being sent from various endpoints. They can monitor their applications and ensure there are no network issues that may impact their application.
Read full review
Online Training
Cisco
No answers on this topic
SolarWinds
The training offered by SolarWinds is some of the best out there. They have several different videos that go into great detail from initial setup to advanced configurations. In addition to the view at your own pace video, they also have live training for customers that focus on a single product and you can ask questions with the folks who develop the software. I have had good success with their live sessions and getting questions answered.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Cisco
Read full review
SolarWinds
SolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer compared to Wireshark and PRTG Network Monitor beats it by just the simple interface. Though all are manual setup, NTA takes it a step further with graphs and reports that analyze the data for you. In comparing to Extrahop from a bandwidth comparison, Extrahop wins but Extrahop is a lot more than just a bandwidth monitoring and cost.
Read full review
Return on Investment
Cisco
  • Administrators no longer have to monitor security patches and updates regularly, Cisco Meraki does it for them.
  • The overall cost of equipment and support is below that of using other equipment previously (SonicWall, HP, WatchGuard, etc).
  • We have a true partner in securing our organization from threat actors, Cisco Meraki is no "we sell you the appliance and here is a guide, have at it" company....they stand behind their equipment and support it at all levels...PRICELESS.
Read full review
SolarWinds
  • Be prepared to answer lots of questions. When people see the data in NTA they are going to want to know why App A is talking to App B. Be ready to explain!
  • Hand the keys to the NTA kingdom to the network team. They will thank you. Everyone wants to have friends on the network team, right?
  • Be prepared to invest in some significant compute and storage performance to keep up with your NTA monitoring
  • Running the latest firmware for your network gear is (often) required to take advantage of all the flow-monitoring. You upgrade regularly, right??
Read full review
ScreenShots