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Tonderai Tandi - PeerSpot reviewer
Infrastructure Engineer at Alfred H Knight
Real User
Top 20
Provides good coverage but needs to improve the security part
Pros and Cons
  • "It is a very scalable solution."
  • "Even though the tool offers a cloud-based central management option, the product needs to work on improving the security part a bit since it is an area of concern."

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of the solution is the coverage it provides. My company bought six to eight pieces of the tool, considering the coverage it offers.

With Cisco Wireless, users need the solution to offer good coverage and receive good support from Cisco Meraki.

What needs improvement?

Even though the tool offers a cloud-based central management option, the product needs to work on improving the security part a bit since it is an area of concern.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Wireless since April 2023. My company is a customer of the tool.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

There are some instances where the connectors in the tool don't allow users to browse the internet.

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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a very scalable solution. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Around 2000 people in my company use the product.

How are customer service and support?

The support offered for the solution is good. I rate the support a seven out of ten. Sometimes, users have to talk to support to get updates.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

To handle the setup phase of the tool, one just needs to be tech-savvy. The setup and implementation are easy for anyone who has dealt with such processes in the past for any business.

I rate the product's initial setup phase an eight on a one to ten scales, where one is difficult, and ten is easy.

If I consider the access points, the solution is deployed on-premises.

The solution deployment phase doesn't even take an hour.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate the product price an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price.

What other advice do I have?

The tool is available on the cloud to manage and optimize our company's network performance. Through a cloud-based, the tool allows you to access your access points. You can choose to change or optimize your network from a central location to all the sites that your organization has, which is a good feature for me.

I have integrated Cisco Wireless with other network management tools, like Cisco DNA Center, in my previous job but not at my current workplace.

The integration capabilities of the product are good. I would rate the tool's integration capabilities an eight out of ten.

I recommend the product to those who plan to use it.

I rate the tool a seven and a half out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Advisor at Flex Office 365
Real User
Top 5
An expensive solution for monitoring functionalities with security features
Pros and Cons
  • "The product’s stability is great."
  • "The internet speed is high within environments. As you move further away from the access point, there is a decline in speed. Omada or Ruckus don’t have the speed degradation as you move away from the access point."

What is our primary use case?

We have some clients with hotels who use Cisco wireless systems. Others have entertainment centers that use Cisco wireless systems. Additionally, we have retail businesses utilizing Cisco wireless systems. However, we are primarily transitioning towards TP-Link Omada systems because they do not require subscriptions, which is cost-effective for our customers.

What is most valuable?

The features include maintenance and monitoring functionalities. Additionally, knowledge-based data is available for implementation and installation scenarios. Currently, Cisco systems are highly robust but need to catch up slightly compared to Ruckus and Omada systems regarding innovation. Using alternative suppliers can be advantageous as they provide cutting-edge innovations and detailed information about roadmaps.

What needs improvement?

The security and encryption features of Cisco Wireless are robust but need to be updated compared to other providers. Cisco offers enterprise-grade encryption. Setting up a radio server based on networking filtering may require some effort to configure profiles. Once established, Cisco provides clean and straightforward possibilities for configuring functionalities like setting up a radio server system.

The solution's pricing is high. Pricing, features, and innovation are the fundamentals of choosing a provider or supplier. Despite the higher price, we migrated to other profiles like Ruckus and Omada because they offer more robust solutions. If you look at benchmarks, you'll see that Ruckus is one of the top-tier providers, with Cisco falling behind.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Cisco Wireless for 5 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The product’s stability is great.

The internet speed is high within environments. As you move further away from the access point, there is a decline in speed. Omada or Ruckus don’t have the speed degradation as you move away from the access point.

I rate the solution’s stability a seven out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is suited for medium-sized businesses.

I rate the solution’s scalability an eight out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

We sometimes need second-line agencies because the first-line agencies may not have sufficient expertise to address complex issues.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup depends on the complexity of the infrastructure, ranging from hours to days.

I rate the initial setup a 7 out of 10, where 1 is difficult, and 10 is easy.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The product is nearly too expensive in terms of quality. It varies depending on the project’s scope and specific requirements. Prices range from around 5000 euros to 30,000 for larger, more complex implementations.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I rate the solution a seven to 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
PeerSpot user
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Cisco Wireless
July 2025
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Abubakar Bello - PeerSpot reviewer
Security Administrator at NDIC
Real User
Top 5
A robust and easy-to-manage solution that is compatible with a lot of mobile devices
Pros and Cons
  • "The product is compatible with a lot of mobile devices."
  • "The security must be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for switching and routing. We also have access to resources around the local area network.

What is most valuable?

The product is compatible with a lot of mobile devices. It is easy to manage and administer.

What needs improvement?

The security must be improved. The vulnerabilities are easily exploitable. Security features must be added.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for 13 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The tool is very stable. I rate the stability a nine out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The tool is easy to scale. I rate the scalability an eight out of ten. We have 2000 users in a single location. A user can have four to five devices.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We were using another solution, but it was incompatible with the Identity Services Engine we deployed. So, we switched to Cisco Wireless.

How was the initial setup?

I rate the ease of setup a seven out of ten. The time taken for deployment depends on the number of access points we want to connect. It takes a week to deploy the tool for 1500 to 2000 devices.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The product is expensive. I rate the pricing a ten out of ten. We are dependent on the dollar. There is a global economic issue.

What other advice do I have?

I recommend people use the solution even if it means that they have to start small. Initially, the investment can be expensive, but the product is robust and enduring. We can use it for a very long time. Overall, I rate the product an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Pratik Kadam - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Network Specialist at Anheuser-Busch InBev
Real User
Top 10
The product can be deployed and scaled easily, but it is costly, and the interface must be improved
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco's support team is the best in the industry."
  • "The product’s interface must be improved."

What is our primary use case?

I work for a manufacturing company.

What is most valuable?

We can support clients over wireless networks. We get free and easy roaming.

What needs improvement?

The product’s interface must be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for the last ten years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The tool is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The tool is easily scalable. Smaller companies would not be able to afford the solution. They should choose products like Aruba and Meraki. I don't recommend Cisco for smaller companies.

How are customer service and support?

Support is excellent. Cisco's support team is the best in the industry. I rate support a seven or eight out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy. The deployment doesn’t take much time. We can deploy the tool in three to four hours if the configuration is ready.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution is very costly.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Cisco has collaborated with Meraki. Meraki products are much more economical than Cisco Wireless. Meraki’s interface is better. It’s a plug-and-play solution.

What other advice do I have?

I would advise people not to choose Cisco Wireless. They should choose Meraki Wireless. It is also a Cisco product. It is much better and easier to operate. Overall, I rate the solution a seven or eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Network engineer at Teva Pharmaceuticals
Real User
Easy to deploy with a user-friendly GUI, but can be expensive
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution is scalable."
  • "The current issue with Cisco is I don't have centralized management."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use the solution for wireless connectivity.

What is most valuable?

You don't have to meddle around with licenses, considering they're onboard with the access points. That took a load off when creating a build of material for a new wireless deployment. 

We didn't exactly dig deep into these yet. However, they're fairly easy to deploy. We have been using the virtual machines, the 1900 CL virtual controller. 

They're pretty stable, pretty good.

The solution is scalable. 

I like the new troubleshooting mechanism. With a couple of clicks, you can get a PCAP file, pick up the traffic from a client, and analyze it in Wireshark notepad.

I like the new way the wireless is getting built right now, so you have groups with policies that you simply apply to an access point, or you apply a group with all kinds of features like RF policies, and SSIDs to a certain access point and the back point, that access point gets those features up and running immediately or directly after a reboot.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see centralized management, something like what Aruba offers. The current issue with Cisco is I don't have centralized management. For example, we're building wireless controllers that are basically standalone, and something like a centralized, single management pane would be nice. Something like Cisco Prime, or rather, an improved version of that would be very, very good.

The initial setup can be difficult for beginners. 

It is a pricey product.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using Cisco since 2012 and the new OS since 2021.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable and reliable. There are no bugs or glitches, and it doesn't crash or freeze.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is scalable and easily expands. 

We have been coving entire countries with a single deployment. We have a huge number of devices - likely tens of thousands. There's a swarm of incoming IoT devices, plus everyone who has a corporate phone is basically connected to the wireless.

How are customer service and support?

I haven't contacted technical support. Considering we don't have a subscription, we're on our own. Cisco support is unlike Aruba, where it's free as far as I can tell. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I also use Aruba. I've been working with Aruba for the past two years, sporadically now and then.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not something a beginner can deal with; it's not Cisco Meraki. Cisco Meraki is easy to deploy, yet limited in abilities. 

With this solution, you need to have some knowledge about wireless. The new Cisco IOx is an improvement over the IOS. The command line interface is good, and you can use it to deploy. 

I'd rate the ease of setup a three out of five.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Cisco is on the expensive side. 

I'd rate the product a three out of five in terms of affordability of the product.

They could improve their lead times. The wait time for their equipment is very long now and the pricing is very steep for Cisco.

What other advice do I have?

I'm a customer. I'm an engineer in a midsize enterprise that employs 40,000 people. It's a global company spread throughout the world. Scalability and wireless is something that we are looking for right now.

This product is great for someone who is looking to improve their connectivity. Of course, new users should check whether or not this is suited for the company. There are some cheaper, smaller solutions that they could use - even Cisco's Meraki. 

The solution we are using is big due to the fact that we have 300 or 400 access points per country, so we are using 80% of its features. We are tweaking everything from RF policies, and we're using advanced-style SSIDs like 802.1X authentication via radius, on the external radius server. We are using simple pressure key authentication. We are also using captive portal authentication with Cisco ISE. And we are also currently trying to implement a more advanced form of pressure key ossification, a segmented policy-based pressure key based on Cisco ISE, which is going to be used for the IoT devices. We get a lot out of Cisco.

I'd rate the solution seven out of ten.

There were some issues during the initial installation. You need to be very careful of the images for some reason. For example, the GUI can trick you. That's my beef with them. Sometimes not everything gets displayed correctly in the graphical user interface. One example would be I would load an image and upgrade the cluster, the virtual virus control cluster, and it would go through everything. And then after the reboot, I would see it basically didn't do anything. It didn't upgrade it. Therefore, I have to stop using the  GUI and revert to CLI. That's my concern, especially during the configuration part.

Of course, for somebody who's new to the product, the GUI is the way to go since you have everything nicely presented in the graphical user interface they really did upgrade from the previous version. They've done a good job of making the user interface somewhat friendlier and better composed than the previous versions. Yet, that's small considering that sometimes they don't display the real situation and that can be sometimes very confusing. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Peter Arabomen - PeerSpot reviewer
Security Engineering, Team Lead at Fidelity Bank Plc
Real User
Top 5
Stable, documentation readily available and easy to setup
Pros and Cons
  • "Stability is fine."
  • "The pricing could be better. It could be cheaper."

What is our primary use case?

Most of the routers are in the enterprise network for connections and branches. We used to use them in the data center, but we stopped.

What is most valuable?

The signal at the branch is good and has been the most valuable aspect for network management. The documentation is readily available and accessible.

What needs improvement?

The pricing could be better. It could be cheaper.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using it for about ten years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability is fine.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate the scalability a seven out of ten. There are about 4,000 end users. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. The documentation is available.

Normally, we start with a proof of concept for a certain environment. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It is expensive.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I would rate it an eight out of ten. I would recommend others to use it. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Network Engineer at Hyundai Autoever Company
Real User
Top 20
Has easy installation which can be completed in a day
Pros and Cons
  • "I find the tool to be 99 percent stable."
  • "The main disadvantage of Cisco Wireless is its cost - it's expensive. Its interface is not easy. However, I like it since I am an engineer."

What needs improvement?

The main disadvantage of Cisco Wireless is its cost - it's expensive. Its interface is not easy. However, I like it since I am an engineer. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the product for ten years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I find the tool to be 99 percent stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Meraki is more scalable than Cisco Wireless.

How was the initial setup?

For Cisco Wireless installation, we usually need two people. The whole deployment takes about one day. Maintenance is good for engineers, but I'm unsure about regular users. It's easy, but we need about four people to maintain the product.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate the tool's pricing a nine out of ten. 

What other advice do I have?

I prefer Aruba over Cisco Wireless. It is cheaper and easier to deploy, and the Aruba system is easier to install than Cisco solutions. I rate it an eight out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
Mohamed_Rumaiz - PeerSpot reviewer
Head of business at E COAST Technologies
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Maintains a comprehensive product range across all levels and excels in comparison to other networking sites
Pros and Cons
  • "Cisco is one of the leading brands, particularly in the commercial sector. Other brands such as Extreme, cater to different categories at lower levels. Cisco maintains a comprehensive product range across all levels and excels in comparison to other networking sites. They also boast a team of highly qualified professionals, a feature that sets them apart from competitors like Netgear, which lacks such expertise."

    What is our primary use case?

    We used Cisco wireless for medical centers, including remote locations where the regional GMO and RMO are situated. They required real-time connectivity to maintain in-patient reports.

    What is most valuable?

    Cisco is one of the leading brands, particularly in the commercial sector. Other brands such as Extreme, cater to different categories at lower levels. Cisco maintains a comprehensive product range across all levels and excels in comparison to other networking sites. They also boast a team of highly qualified professionals, a feature that sets them apart from competitors like Netgear, which lacks such expertise.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The solution is stable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The solution is scalable but they have a limitation to each and every product based on the price points. If you go beyond that, there is a proxy error.
    Five people are using this solution. 

    How are customer service and support?

    We have good support from Cisco Wireless. We've never encountered any technical issues when going through them because once we follow the deployment plan and its steps, any repairs or detections are usually straightforward. If we deviate from the plan, we might encounter difficulties, as we lack the necessary tools.

    How was the initial setup?

    The initial setup is straightforward unless it's a manageable task; otherwise, we must configure their own parameters.

    For deployment, there are manuals available with instructions for both manual setup and automated setup. Based on these instructions, the technician will proceed to configure the Cisco wireless system using the provided panels.

    What was our ROI?

    Most devices are connected wirelessly. Previously, there were few security features, but now security measures are robust. They offer protection, so people trust the technology and use it.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The product is expensive.

    What other advice do I have?

    They have to have a permanent license. Without a license, we can't access the cloud. There is cloud management available, but it comes with a cost.

    These devices are not very complicated. They have a standard but extensive functionality that is really helpful. The standard feature is reliable data connectivity followed by bandwidth. However, the devices are almost the same because they meet the user requirements.

    Mostly, government or any corporate clients will prefer a standard product in their infrastructure.

    I recommend the solution depending on their budget. If they are willing to opt for a brand with prestige and reliability, then they can choose Cisco. Additionally, for a budget-friendly option, Alibaba is also available. So, if they aim to keep costs within certain limits, they can consider these options. However, government institutions may face constraints due to their funding limitations. In such environments, they may not prioritize premium solutions. Let's delve deeper into this. They might include that particular brand in a closed-end project. However, companies typically prioritize their annual costs and overall expenses.

    Overall, I rate the solution a nine to ten out of ten.

    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Integrator
    PeerSpot user
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