I am a solution architect. I design for the data center and I also write technical presentations.
IT Architect at LTI - Larsen & Toubro Infotech
The data centers are mainly on-premise enterprise environments
Pros and Cons
- "Cisco is a leading network company."
- "From the recent DNA point of view, there are some stability challenges with Cisco, but very minor."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
Cisco is a leading network company. Every organization uses networks and data centers. The data centers are mainly on-premise enterprise environments.
For how long have I used the solution?
Cisco has been used in our organization for 14 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
From the recent DNA point of view, there are some stability challenges with Cisco, but very minor.
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How are customer service and support?
I have not worked with Cisco technical support for over three years. From my experience, Cisco support is available. They have their own SMEs in each area. There is a gap in between the information shared between Cisco and the technical teams. Cisco should provide a clear view of what has caused the problem when they do the RCA. By providing more information, we can be more proactive and do the upgrades if it is impacting security compliance.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
We have been using Cisco for so many years that setup is straightforward. The DNA solutions are there and SD-Access is in place. With these, we have come to zero touch provisioning. Deployment is easier than it was five or six years ago.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have a large Cisco portfolio in our organization. We have a three-year license with them.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution a seven out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
System Engineer at Packet System Indonesia
Automates workflows and deployments across disparate systems in order to streamline operations across domains
Pros and Cons
- "The automation features are significant, reducing configuration time. This means outstanding functionality. By deploying the controller automatically, the rest becomes automated"
- "When it comes to deploying wireless fields, integrating defaults into the DNS interface can be challenging."
What is our primary use case?
It can assess traditional networks.
What is most valuable?
The automation features are significant and reduce configuration time. This means outstanding functionality. By deploying the controller automatically, the rest becomes automated.
What needs improvement?
When it comes to deploying wireless fields, integrating defaults into the DNS interface can be challenging.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have experience with Cisco DNA Center.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
In the dashboard, we observe that the integration with IT is functional. However, when inspecting the system, we encounter occasional errors in the desktop.I would rate it 8 out of 10.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate it 8 out of 10.
How was the initial setup?
Deployment is not difficult; it could take approximately a day to complete, assuming we have all the necessary information and the initial email from Cisco.
What about the implementation team?
Maintenance can be challenging because we're unsure about the number of applications utilized in the studio.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would rate it 7 in terms of pricing.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate it an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
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January 2025
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Cloud and Digital Transformation Architect at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Provides visibility into device health as well as automation capabilities for pushing out a configuration to branch networks
Pros and Cons
- "It gives us automation capabilities for pushing out the configuration to branch networks. It also provides visibility into the health of user network devices."
- "There should be an option for automation of template deployment by using the stored data. It is not easy to save configuration information for lots of devices without using other tools. There should be a tighter, better repository of information that can be merged with the templates."
What is our primary use case?
We use it to manage and monitor our branch network equipment.
What is most valuable?
It gives us automation capabilities for pushing out a configuration to branch networks. It also provides visibility into the health of user network devices.
What needs improvement?
There should be an option for automation of template deployment by using the stored data. It is not easy to save configuration information for lots of devices without using other tools. There should be a tighter, better repository of information that can be merged with the templates.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Its stability is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I haven't really got a view on that one because we haven't had a need to scale.
In terms of its users, we probably have 15 people, which also includes our partners, who use it as well as manage it.
How are customer service and support?
I have used their support. I would rate them a four out of five.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I didn't use any similar solution previously.
How was the initial setup?
It was relatively quick. I don't remember exactly, but it was probably in the order of a month or so to implement.
What about the implementation team?
We had help from Cisco themselves on Advanced Services, but from my memory, it was relatively straightforward.
What other advice do I have?
It is a good product. It does a good job. I can't think of any specific technical challenges we've had.
I would rate it an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
Network and Security Engineer at Lutech Group
With ISE integration you now have really centralized authentication, authorization, and profiling
What is our primary use case?
Automating customers' campus networks, redesigning their networks and giving much more visibility on traffic flows.
How has it helped my organization?
As a company, we significantly reduced operation and maintenance costs for our top customers, and simplified network resources planning.
What is most valuable?
- Analytics, because it really can improve your network based on what your company really does.
- Security, because with ISE integration you now have really centralized authentication, authorization, and profiling.
What needs improvement?
Better compatibility with third parties and to other Cisco products because if versions are not perfectly matching requirements, it gives a lot of problems.
For how long have I used the solution?
Less than one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We've still not received long-term feedbacks from customers, but for now, I can totally suggest the solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It can scale very well from really small to huge and distributed networks.
How are customer service and technical support?
Nothing to complain about. Instead, they helped us to find alternative solutions and design when something was not still supported by the platform.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We always deployed traditional campus networks because there wasn't a real alternative.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is well driven; you can do it wrong only if you try to improvise.
What about the implementation team?
I've been very well supported by the vendor's technical team especially when versions were changing on a monthly basis.
What was our ROI?
As system integrators, we're now able to use an operations team to follow specific and highly difficult problems and not losing a lot of time in garbage ticket to configure a single port, a single policy, etc.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price is really high, but it's worth every single dollar you pay. Keep attention on licensing model because you don't really need top licenses on every node and that can help to spare some money.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Yes, we evaluated more traditional equipment like Catalyst 38xx/36xx/68xx and so on.
What other advice do I have?
If you plan to implement, I suggest you follow the guide step by step and do not proceed on your own, else you'll face a lot of problems and you'll need lots of support from Cisco TAC.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Techinical System integration
Head of Cisco Department at MUK
A stable solution for deployming managed services with integration and centralized management
What is most valuable?
Cisco DNA Center offers managed services and integration. It also has centralization of management. Centralized management is crucial; additional tools are available for invoicing and endpoint certification. The platform offers various features, including new Wi-Fi capabilities and access points. There is no licensing for users.
What needs improvement?
Cisco DNA Center is costly for Ukrainian customers. The functionality and connections are excellent. If the price decreases, it should become more accessible.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the solution’s stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is suited for large organizations.
How are customer service and support?
There are several compliance issues that they are unable to resolve. The response time is very slow, and we must change the agent frequently because the agents cannot address questions.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
What other advice do I have?
People should keep an eye on the Cisco DNA Center software, which is becoming more accessible. This software is not confined to a single device due to its large size and high cost. Some customers can utilize multiple sources or partner sources and can use virtual or software clients to install it on their network. This ensures certified features on the platform.
Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Analyst of IT at a government with 1,001-5,000 employees
A centralized network management and automation with significant room for enhancement of various features
Pros and Cons
- "It enables monitoring of various components such as access points, switch cards, and other elements within the company's solutions."
- "We encountered issues with their response times, which had a big impact on our workflow."
What is our primary use case?
We use it for incorporating around four hundred wireless access points into our network infrastructure.
What is most valuable?
It enables monitoring of various components such as access points, switch cards, and other elements within the company's solutions.
What needs improvement?
We encountered issues with their response times, which had a big impact on our workflow.
For how long have I used the solution?
We started using it this year, so for a couple of months now.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate it seven out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Presales Engineer at PT. Mastersystem Infotama
Good monitoring, analytics, and technical support
Pros and Cons
- "The monitoring features are very useful for network engineers."
- "DNA Center has been on the market for a few years and they need to update it."
What is our primary use case?
We are a solution provider and this is one of the products that we implement for our customers.
Our clients use this solution to manage their network, including their access points.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is the integration with Cisco devices and infrastructure.
The Wi-Fi analytics are helpful.
The monitoring features are very useful for network engineers.
What needs improvement?
We have had a lot of problems with the Cisco switches and have needed to upgrade the operating systems, which means that we have to upgrade the DNA. When we upgrade the DNA it means that we have to upgrade the ISE, also. If it is a large cluster then this process is painful.
DNA Center has been on the market for a few years and they need to update it.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with DNA Center for about two years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
This solution is scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
Cisco's technical support is good. We have had problems and still have an open case but this has been related to the switches. Cisco is good at helping both the partners and the customers, too.
What other advice do I have?
Cisco DNA Center is something that I recommend. We do not sell just the product, but rather, the entire DNA solution. We don't just upgrade a switch. Instead, we upgrade the entire network. DNA is definitely good for the customer.
Overall, this is a good solution but it has been a few years since it has been updated.
I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Sr. Solutions Architect, Consulting Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Enhances workspace mobility for users, employers, contractors, and partners
Pros and Cons
- "The solution helps in user microsegmentation."
- "The tool's IoT integration should be better."
What is our primary use case?
The solution helps in user microsegmentation.
What is most valuable?
I believe the main function of this solution is ideal for businesses aiming to enhance workspace mobility for users, employers, contractors, and partners. It offers comprehensive workspace capabilities while maintaining the complexity and perfection required by various business points and IT system policies.
What needs improvement?
The tool's IoT integration should be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with the product for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate Cisco DNA Center a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the tool's scalability a nine out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
Cisco is good at helping with technical stuff, and they have a special team to ensure customers have a great experience. They provide all the help and advice you need, starting immediately, even before you go.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
Cisco DNA Center's deployment is not difficult, but you need an engineer with a good background.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The tool is medium-priced.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Cisco DNA Center a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
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Updated: January 2025
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