Item: Cisco Meraki MX
Rating: 6
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Cisco Meraki MX for simple networks that are remote and don't need a lot of customization/demands. It works pretty well however feature set is limited for more complex applications. When used together with the gateway, switching, and wireless it provides a simplified network layer that is easy for L1/L2 techs to work on.

Pros and Cons

Simple Setup
Single pane of glass monitoring
Fairly reliable
Easy and fast configuration and changes via web

Site to Site VPN is very lacking - cant select hosts must select full networks
license cost adds up fast
smaller MX devices are underpowered - next step up is significantly more expensive

Key Insights

Do you think Cisco Meraki MX delivers good value for the price?

Not sure

Are you happy with Cisco Meraki MX's feature set?

Did Cisco Meraki MX live up to sales and marketing promises?

I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process

Did implementation of Cisco Meraki MX go as expected?

Would you buy Cisco Meraki MX again?

Return on Investment

relative ease of deployment
lowering remote office service calls / truck dispatch
Easy for L1 techs to do more

Simplified Management

Cisco Meraki MX is no doubt easy to deploy however advanced configuration and feature sets are lacking and many troubleshooting is TAC only. Site to Site VPN is very basic, cant do hosts, the whole network only. Overall remote office deployment was easy and saved money by avoiding "network guys" on-site, however, it could be better.

Scalability

Multisite management is built right in and is one of the main selling points. Cisco Meraki MX is scalable and offers the connectivity required for most orgs when scaling out. Again there are a few issues with VPN site-to-site and granular control over that portion that can be improved but for 90% of use cases, Cisco Meraki MX will be a good choice.

Alternatives Considered

WatchGuard Network Security, Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series and Fortinet FortiGate

Cisco Meraki MX is a different product targeted at different markets, not exactly a UTM / NGFW. Centralized management and a single pane of glass add a lot of value. Again there are sites where no MX can replace a PA due to the configuration requirements and performance requirements but different target markets. Think high-end, better quality, light years better support UniFi.

Other Software Used

WatchGuard Network Security, Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls - PA Series, Fortinet FortiGate, SonicWall NSA Series

Likelihood to Recommend

Cisco Meraki MX is good for small/remote setups where the cost of installation or travel is inhibitive, Cisco Meraki MX is good where less complex setups are required and L1/L2 tech training is easy on Meraki. For anything larger, Cisco Meraki MX isn't really the best fit due to the high license cost and lack of customization. Many troubleshooting and advanced configs are left for TAC only. Small and "medium" businesses can make good use, and for larger medium-scale and large businesses, it's not a good case.

Perfect multisite solutions

Modules Used

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Meraki MX