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Cisco Catalyst Center Reviews

Vendor: Cisco
4.3 out of 5
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What is Cisco Catalyst Center?

Cisco Catalyst Center offers a comprehensive platform for network management, providing scalable solutions and advanced analytics for enterprise-level operations.

Get the Network Management Applications Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Catalyst Center, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, Cisco DNA Center and more!
Cisco Catalyst Center is the #5 ranked solution in top Network Management Applications. PeerSpot users give Cisco Catalyst Center an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Cisco Catalyst Center is most commonly compared to Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN: Cisco Catalyst Center vs Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN. Cisco Catalyst Center is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 63% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a government, accounting for 15% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Network Management Applications
March 2025
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Featured Cisco Catalyst Center reviews

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Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

Cisco Catalyst Center offers Wireless Assurance, robust security, and centralized management. Its standout features include dual functionality for both observability and management, scalability, reliable performance, and strong hardware. Users appreciate its robust analytics, efficient third-party software integration, simple VLAN configuration, and comprehensive documentation. The platform's threat intelligence, particularly Talos Intelligence, is highly valued, alongside features like SDM for streamlined switch configuration, advanced throughput, and reliable device stability.
  • "Cisco's technical support is excellent."
  • "Cisco Catalyst Center has greatly enhanced the user-friendliness of configuring Catalyst switches."
  • "Customer service has been excellent."

Room for Improvement

Cisco Catalyst Center could improve by supporting diverse vendor environments beyond Cisco devices with a DNA license. Deployment complexity and abundant software bugs necessitate frequent updates. Enhanced threat detection and auto-healing AI capabilities are also needed. The graphical interface requires refinement for easier use without extensive Cisco training. Documentation clarity and data retention periods require enhancement, and a more seamless command-line and GUI integration is desirable. Opportunities exist for licensing flexibility for smaller user groups.
  • "Cisco Catalyst Center could improve its graphical user interface. Currently, it is CLI-based, which makes it challenging for those without Cisco training."
  • "For someone new, the documentation is not very clear."
  • "Some features in terms of security should be there, especially in threat detection. Cisco Catalyst Center lacked intelligence in this area and required reliance on third-party appliances like firewalls or threat protection devices."

ROI

Cisco Catalyst Center decreases the necessity for extensive technical resources by simplifying network management. While its entry cost is high, it offers long-term value and reliability. Customers notice performance improvements and positive returns on investment, which encourages continued use. Deployment is straightforward, support is robust, and its availability is a key advantage. Users acknowledge its efficacy in addressing performance demands, streamlining operations, and providing a worthwhile return.

Pricing

Enterprise users find Cisco Catalyst Center to be priced on the higher end compared to other OEMs, but it offers strong value for money with potential discounts. Setup costs can be significant, yet many view the pricing as average and reflective of Cisco's high-quality hardware and service. Although there are more affordable alternatives, few match Cisco's stability and effectiveness for critical workloads, making it a worthwhile investment for many organizations.

Popular Use Cases

Cisco Catalyst Center is primarily used for visibility into Cisco products and day-to-day operations. Users utilize it for managing, monitoring, and provisioning wireless and wired devices, focusing on telemetry, simplicity, fabric SD Access, and enterprise connectivity. It offers automation, device onboarding, and observability features, aiding diverse sectors like education, government, financial, and large enterprises. It provides network management solutions and is pivotal in integrating networking technology across multiple locations.

Service and Support

Cisco Catalyst Center customer service and support are highly rated. Many describe Cisco's support as the best in the industry, offering excellent, efficient service and timely issue resolution. Their technical support often scores eight to nine and a half out of ten. Customers appreciate the dedication of support teams, including overnight assistance, and benefit from specific support types with purchase agreements. Additionally, support through chat boxes and preconditioned questions is highlighted as user-friendly.

Deployment

Setting up Cisco Catalyst Center varies in complexity. Some find the process straightforward if prerequisites are met, while others note challenges due to documentation and architecture size. Loading iOS software on devices can be time-consuming, impacting costs. Although the initial configuration might be complex, particularly in larger setups, basic tasks are manageable. A cluster of appliances or switch size can influence the number of people needed for deployment.

Scalability

Cisco Catalyst Center's scalability is praised for its flexibility and adaptability across different organization sizes. Users appreciate its features like switch stacking, robust architecture, and model-specific choices. Ratings range from eight to ten out of ten, highlighting effectiveness in handling device management and performance requirements. Business requirements influence scalability, making it suitable for both medium enterprises and larger organizations. Users note the importance of choosing the right form factor for future needs.

Stability

Cisco Catalyst Center is praised for its reliability and stability, with many reports of prolonged uptime and no significant issues. While there are occasional software bugs and some users rate its stability as moderate, the general sentiment is positive. The amount of problem tickets is low, and feedback highlights robust performance in network stability and security. Ratings vary from five to nine out of ten, reflecting a strong confidence in its dependable operation.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Network Management Applications Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
15%
Manufacturing Company
13%
Healthcare Company
10%
Energy/Utilities Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Retailer
7%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
5%
Non Profit
3%
Computer Software Company
3%
Educational Organization
3%
Outsourcing Company
3%
Wholesaler/Distributor
2%
Construction Company
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Insurance Company
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Logistics Company
2%
Performing Arts
2%
Photography Company
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Transportation Company
2%

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Learn more about Cisco Catalyst Center

Focusing on efficient network management, Cisco Catalyst Center effectively addresses dynamic enterprise environments, ensuring operational scalability and actionable insights through its robust feature set. It emphasizes seamless management with an intuitive interface tailored for professional use, facilitating enhanced network visibility and control among IT professionals and service providers.

What are the standout features of Cisco Catalyst Center?
  • Automated Provisioning: Simplifies and speeds up network configuration processes by automating repetitive tasks.
  • Advanced Analytics: Provides real-time insights and trends for network optimization and security enhancements.
  • Policy-Based Configuration: Ensures consistent network settings adherence with centralized policy management.
  • Comprehensive Monitoring: Offers in-depth visibility into network performance, facilitating quick identification of issues.
What benefits should users look for in reviews?
  • Improved Efficiency: Streamlined operations lead to reduced manual input and increased productivity.
  • Cost Savings: Automation and analytics reduce operational expenses and enhance ROI.
  • Enhanced Security: Policy enforcement and monitoring provide robust defense against vulnerabilities.
  • Scalability: Supports growing network infrastructures and evolving enterprise demands.

Cisco Catalyst Center is widely implemented across industries like finance, healthcare, and education due to its ability to handle complex network requirements. It addresses specific needs by offering tailored solutions designed to enhance operational efficiency and security, catering to professionals managing large-scale IT ecosystems.

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Cisco Catalyst Center reviews

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Ahmad Attal - PeerSpot user
Cyber Security Architect at Spie Ics
Verified user of Cisco Catalyst Center
Feb 7, 2025
Delivers strong analytics and integration capabilities but requires regular updates and training

Pros

"The analytics feature is quite good, and the hardware is very performant."

Cons

"My customers often complain about numerous software bugs requiring frequent software patches and updates to resolve these issues."

What is our primary use case?

I use Cisco Catalyst Center for network connectivity for customers who either have limited IT staff and need a simple solution to administrate or want to build a complex architecture and platform. It is user-friendly and often used with Wi-Fi solutions.

What is most valuable?

The analytics feature is quite good, and the hardware is very performant. The integration with third-party software is useful, especially when paired with Cisco solutions such as ICE and ICI. This level of integration proves to be both useful and performant for users.

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: reseller
Read full review (375 words)
KR
Network engineer at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
Verified user of Cisco Catalyst Center
Feb 8, 2025
Efficient management and troubleshooting have been significantly enhanced through unified control and streamlined updates

Pros

"Cisco Catalyst Center allows me to manage all the fabric SD Access from one location. "

Cons

"The retention period of data could be improved from seven days to 30 days."

What is our primary use case?

I use Cisco Catalyst Center mainly to manage the fabric SD Access. I check MAC addresses for end users who are not connected for a certain period. The MAC address is stored in the database for seven days. This allows me to track where users were previously connected.

What is most valuable?

Cisco Catalyst Center allows me to manage all the fabric SD Access from one location. I can upgrade multiple switches or routers at once by selecting them and scheduling the updates. This capability enables efficient management and troubleshooting. The system also provides significant help with troubleshooting.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (346 words)
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Network Management Applications
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Premnath Jaganathan - PeerSpot user
Product Manager at Uop Ipl
Verified user of Cisco Catalyst Center
Mar 4, 2025
Offers robust monitoring and management for large enterprises

Pros

"Cisco Catalyst switches are reliable and stable."

Cons

"There is room for improvement in introducing auto-heal AI capabilities. In the current setup, incidents are always reactionary, and it would be beneficial if Cisco Catalyst Center could proactively handle issues such as bandwidth crunches and packet drops."

What is our primary use case?

I primarily use Cisco Catalyst Center for monitoring large enterprises. It offers an additional option to tools like SolarWinds to monitor the Cisco estate specifically. It provides features like observability and management of the network.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of Cisco Catalyst Center is its dual functionality of observability and management. Unlike SolarWinds, which provides only network observability, Cisco Catalyst Center offers both management and monitoring capabilities. This dual functionality is crucial for monitoring large enterprises, providing a robust solution for IT teams.
*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
Read full review (507 words)
CD
Network Administrator at a healthcare company with 501-1,000 employees
Verified user of Cisco Catalyst Center
Jan 30, 2025
Wide user base and industry benchmark inspire confidence and facilitate problem-solving

Pros

"The best feature of Cisco is its industry-standard nature."

Cons

"There should be tighter cohesion between the web-based GUI and the command line configuration."

What is our primary use case?

I use them for pretty much my entire switching platform.

What is most valuable?

The best feature of Cisco is its industry-standard nature. Cisco is often the example used, with hundreds of code examples. There is a very wide user base providing support, so I almost never have to contact Cisco support due to the vast accessible knowledge base.

*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (383 words)
Muhammad Kabir Salihu - PeerSpot user
Deputy Director at NITDA
Verified user of Cisco Catalyst Center
Mar 17, 2025
Enhancements in user-friendliness and network security boost operational efficiency

Pros

"Cisco Catalyst Center has greatly enhanced the user-friendliness of configuring Catalyst switches."

What is our primary use case?

We use Cisco Catalyst Center for managing switches in our IT infrastructure. Our primary focus has been on utilizing Catalyst switches for configuration and management purposes.

What is most valuable?

Cisco Catalyst Center has greatly enhanced the user-friendliness of configuring Catalyst switches. The integration of SDM makes switch configuration much simpler than before. Additionally, the virtual LANs provide some security features, helping us manage our network more efficiently. The integration with Cisco firewalls further enhances our network security.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (341 words)
PB
Data Center Admin at Sysnet Global Technologies
Verified user of Cisco Catalyst Center
Mar 27, 2025
Clients leverage high throughput and sustainability for seamless integration

Pros

"Cisco's technical support is excellent."

Cons

"Cisco Catalyst Center could improve its graphical user interface. Currently, it is CLI-based, which makes it challenging for those without Cisco training."

What is our primary use case?

I am involved in implementing and maintaining switches, routers, firewalls, and load balancers at Cisco Catalyst Center. I support clients who have been using Cisco solutions due to various factors, possibly including cost, system integration, and market availability.

What is most valuable?

Throughput, scalability, sustainability, and device stability are the features of Cisco Catalyst Center that my customers value. These aspects encourage them to opt for Cisco solutions, as they look for scalability, good throughput, and stable devices that function well.
*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Implementer
Read full review (423 words)
PeerSpot user
Lead Network Engineer at a energy/utilities company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Verified user of Cisco Catalyst Center
Mar 13, 2025
Network management improves with centralized control and valuable assurance feature

Pros

"Customer service has been excellent."

Cons

"For someone new, the documentation is not very clear."

What is our primary use case?

Cisco Catalyst Center is used for network management applications. I have it installed in one location, but I use it to manage devices in multiple locations.

What is most valuable?

Some valuable features I have observed with Cisco Catalyst Center include software management, license management, and troubleshooting for both wired and wireless networks. These features are some of the main reasons I use it. Additionally, the assurance feature helps bring all different devices to the same configuration, which is vital for managing multiple device types in my environment.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Read full review (436 words)
Daniel Garcia Montes - PeerSpot user
Consultant at TECVA
Verified user of Cisco Catalyst Center
Jan 20, 2025
Comprehensive features enable universal platform access that's easy to use

Pros

"There is a lot of documentation for the platform, which is an advantage. "

Cons

"It is a little more expensive. "

What is our primary use case?

I am working with some product lines from Cisco, focusing on routing platforms, Catalyst, and firewalls. I also work with access points and wireless controllers. I can work with any product from Cisco's networking lines. With the Catalyst, I work in enterprise environments and educational institutions like universities and colleges.

What is most valuable?

I can work with the typical configuration involving VLANs and authentication with RADIUS. I can utilize the most popular features in Catalyst. Prox platform is a universal platform. 

There is a lot of documentation for the platform, which is an advantage. The best feature is its availability, easy deployment, and the good support for the solution.

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Read full review (347 words)