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Big Switch Networks vs Meraki SD-WAN comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary
 

Categories and Ranking

Big Switch Networks
Ranking in Software Defined Networking (SDN)
10th
Average Rating
9.0
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
Network Packet Broker (NPB) (5th)
Meraki SD-WAN
Ranking in Software Defined Networking (SDN)
1st
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
75
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Software Defined Networking (SDN) category, the mindshare of Big Switch Networks is 3.2%, down from 5.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Meraki SD-WAN is 24.8%, up from 22.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Software Defined Networking (SDN)
 

Featured Reviews

Jason Best - PeerSpot reviewer
A flexible solution that can be integrated with third-party solutions whilst maintaining its automated nature
I think if I was to say something that could be improved, it would be a multi-data center nature of the implementation. Meaning, having an active-active data center with multiple entrance-exit points. I think that feature could be improved to provide a kind of anycast gateway solution into the functionality that would make it a lot more flexible and versatile. Maybe also making the solution a bit more like the NSX-T from VMware, more on the logical part of the solution, like micro-segmentation and the ability to have a distributed firewall across the whole solution, to implement it in an easier way than they currently do with the security aspect of the solution.
Premnath Jaganathan - PeerSpot reviewer
Manage enterprise network traffic seamlessly but security features need enhancement
The security integration in Meraki SD-WAN is not as good as the competition, such as Fortinet. Customers are moving away due to this reason, as Meraki lacks in offering advanced security features, which is crucial for many enterprise clients. Cisco's AI capabilities and Meraki are about seventy percent caught up with competitors like Juniper Mist in terms of AI integration.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"What I liked about the solution is the quick and easy way you can build a network data center fabric."
"The seamless end-to-end setup is really what makes it beautiful; that's why Meraki is good."
"The centralized console manageable from the cloud is one of the advantages."
"The dashboard is the solution's most valuable feature."
"The most valuable feature of Meraki SD-WAN is the Auto VPN."
"The product does have a variety of features we can work with."
"The solution's ability to prioritize traffic is its most valuable feature."
"This is a high availability solution that is easy to configure and has a nice GUI."
"The solution's most valuable feature is its ease of maintenance."
 

Cons

"I think if I was to say something that could be improved, it would be a multi-data center nature of the implementation."
"The security integration in Meraki SD-WAN is not as good as the competition, such as Fortinet."
"The granularity could be improved."
"This solution can only support up to two WAN ports."
"If Meraki obtains the technology to provide network assistance, then it can implement it manually in Meraki SD-WAN."
"I'd like to see improvements in the client VPN area. Currently, we use L2TP over IPSec, which, while widely supported, can be buggy on Windows due to Microsoft's implementation, not Meraki's."
"The product should be able to support more than three internet lines."
"The configuration from the firewall side could be improved a little bit more."
"Overall, we are satisfied with the support, although I cannot state this unequivocally."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing cost depends on the number of switches that are going to be licensed to run the software."
"The tool is costly. I rate the tool's price as a ten out of ten since it is very expensive."
"For a pure SD-WAN solution, the pricing is competitive. However, our clients are on the lower tier in terms of budget, viewing IT more as a necessary expense rather than integral to their business. While Meraki's solution might be pricey for them, there aren't many cheaper, reliable options."
"One of the most valuable aspects of Meraki SD-WAN is the price. It is highly cost-effective."
"Pricing is a significant concern for me. Amongst all the firewall brands, Cisco is one of the most expensive options. Despite its reputation and security features, many customers opt for other brands, such as SonicWall because of their lower prices. These other brands offer similar features to Cisco but at a lower cost. Cisco's pricing is something that could be improved to attract more customers. The brand has a good reputation, but when it comes to budgeting and pricing, it is not always the first choice."
"Our clients pay Meraki an annual licensing fee and the pricing is not too bad when compared to other products in the Cisco portfolio."
"The product is not very expensive."
"The price of this solution is good, it is not expensive."
"The solution's pricing is in line with what we expected."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Manufacturing Company
11%
University
9%
Computer Software Company
20%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Energy/Utilities Company
5%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

Ask a question
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What do you like most about Meraki SD-WAN?
The auto VPN feature is important because it automates many tasks, making things simpler and faster. It helps with setting up devices and changing configurations without manual effort.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki SD-WAN?
Even though it is more expensive than other options, it's reasonable when factoring in the remote management capabilities which eliminate the need for additional staffing.
What needs improvement with Meraki SD-WAN?
From a dashboard perspective, identifying issues can be challenging if one or two individuals experience trouble. Another area for improvement is in wireless management, where external tools might ...
 

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Overview

 

Sample Customers

A10 Networks, Edge-Core Networks, Blue Coat Systems, BlueData, Broadcom Corporation, Canonical, Check Point Software Technologies, Citrix, Dell, FireEye, Garland, Hortonworks, Mirantis, Nexenta, Riverbed
École Jeannine Manuel
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Aviatrix, Juniper and others in Software Defined Networking (SDN). Updated: December 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.