Great solution for simple management of iPads
May 04, 2021

Great solution for simple management of iPads

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Cisco Meraki SM

We use Meraki SM to manage our fleet of iPads. We have just over 100 iPads within the primary school. We use Meraki SM to manage the apps and permissions on each iPad as well as to track the iPads if any go missing. I am the main user, however, we also have another IT technician who has access. Meraki SM saves us so much time as I am able to remotely install apps, update OS and change home screen layouts all without even seeing the devices. Previously, I had to collect all devices and plug them into a cart and use a laptop to make these changes.

Pros

  • App management
  • Permission management
  • Device tracking

Cons

  • Compatibility with older devices.
  • Better device location tracking.
  • Ability to show Wifi name on dashboard.
  • Saves time, and therefore money, on IT requirements.
  • Allows quick location of devices in case of loss or theft.
  • Protects students by allowing permissions based on geolocation.
The ability to set up out-of-the-box iPads really quickly if paired with Apple's DEP is fantastic. The only thing required is connecting the iPads to a wifi network and Meraki SM is able to handle the rest. The menus are very easy to navigate and tags make it easy to pinpoint specific devices. The ability to customize home screens and set up folders on devices is also great for a primary school environment.
Providing that the site has adequate wifi, Meraki SM is able to quickly update OS, install apps, and sync profiles. It is incredibly fast and generally only takes a few seconds for instructions to be sent to the device. I have only given 9 out of 10 as there are sometimes some connectivity issues with older iPads running iOS10 or earlier, despite Meraki's documentation saying that they are compatible.
The only product I have used that is similar is Apple Configurator. While a powerful solution, it requires physical access to the devices which is not always possible, especially on a large site. Meraki is able to achieve many of the same functions as the Apple configurator but without ever needing to physically access the device, other than initial setup and registration.
The free tier of Meraki SM was excellent and we used it for a few years. We now use the paid version. Meraki SM is excellent for schools that need to manage large amounts of iPads without needing to maintain physical contact with them. We are a small primary school on a single site however Meraki SM is able to handle larger sites. Devices are able to be configured so that the permissions are automatically set depending on the current user, or the current location. This allows for excellent customization. In my experience, Meraki SM works best when used with iPads. It does have some features for managing other devices but I have not used it for this.

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