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Cisco DNA Center vs Cisco Prime [EOL] comparison

Cisco DNA Center and Cisco Prime [EOL] are both solutions in the Network Management Applications category. Additionally, 89% of Cisco DNA Center users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Cisco Prime [EOL] users who would recommend it.
Cisco DNA Center
Read 41 Cisco DNA Center reviews
  • 6,512 Views
  • 3,890 Comparison Views
89% willing to recommend
Cisco Prime [EOL]
Read 35 Cisco Prime [EOL] reviews
    91% willing to recommend
     

    Comparison Buyer's Guide

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    Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 12, 2025

    Cisco DNA Center and Cisco Prime are both competing in the network management platform category. Cisco DNA Center has the upper hand with its innovation and integration with new technologies.

    Features: Cisco DNA Center offers modern network automation, policy enforcement, and analytics. Cisco Prime [EOL] provides robust monitoring, configuration, and troubleshooting tools essential for traditional networks.

    Room for Improvement: Cisco DNA Center could enhance its user training to aid those less experienced with advanced technology. Some users find complexity in initial setups. Compatibility with legacy systems might be improved. Cisco Prime [EOL] could benefit from integration with newer technological standards, improved user interface, and enhanced automation capabilities for modern network environments.

    Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco DNA Center focuses on seamless deployment with automation to reduce complexity. Cisco Prime [EOL] might require more manual configuration but is supported by reliable customer service valued for solving connectivity issues.

    Pricing and ROI: Cisco DNA Center involves a higher initial cost but offers long-term ROI benefits through automation reducing operational expenses. Cisco Prime [EOL] appeals to budget-conscious buyers due to its lower upfront costs yet may struggle to provide the same ROI as network technology evolves.

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    To learn more, read our detailed Network Management Applications Report (Updated: March 2025).
    Buyer's Guide
    Network Management Applications
    March 2025
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    Review summaries and opinions

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

    Categories and Ranking

    Cisco DNA Center
    Average Rating
    8.0
    Reviews Sentiment
    6.3
    Number of Reviews
    41
    Ranking in other categories
    Network Management Applications (1st), Network Monitoring Software (13th), Network Automation (2nd)
    Cisco Prime [EOL]
    Average Rating
    7.8
    Reviews Sentiment
    6.5
    Number of Reviews
    35
    Ranking in other categories
    No ranking in other categories
     

    Featured Reviews

    AvrahamSonenthal - PeerSpot reviewer
    Efficiently manages our wireless network and provides valuable monitoring features
    The platform's biggest benefit has been in managing our wireless network. Having a single pane of glass to control all wireless controllers and access points and to monitor activity has been a significant advantage. We're a small federal agency with around 300 network devices, so automation is a minor focus. It's more relevant for larger networks. The main benefits we've seen are in inventory management and the potential for configuration automation. However, I recommend using the DNA Centre only for larger networks with over a thousand devices; otherwise, it may not be cost-effective. Before proceeding, ensure that your devices are compatible with DNA Center, as not all Cisco devices are supported. Also, investing in proper training is different from plug-and-play. I rate it an eight.
    Read full review
    ZeeshanAli1 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Robust, cost-effective, and provides good visibility, but the scalability could improve
    We are extremely satisfied with the reliability and robustness of Cisco Prime Infrastructure, which we have been using for many years. Compared to newer products such as DNS centers or others, it has proven to be much more stable, which is important for large-scale operations. Stability is a primary concern for us, and we are glad that Cisco Prime Infrastructure meets our expectations in that regard. Furthermore, in regards to Legacy Plus new hardware, Cisco Prime has proven to be a reliable and adaptable solution thus far. Not only can it support older hardware, but it also has the capability to handle new features with the latest updates. If we consider new solutions such as DNS Center, we may have to sacrifice some legacy features that we still rely on. We may need to continue using these legacy features for a few more years due to various reasons such as budget constraints or the site not being a high priority. However, if we switch to a new product at this stage, we may lose a lot of the monitoring and other capabilities that we have with Cisco Prime. We have a close relationship with Cisco and understand that they are not prioritizing investments in Cisco Prime as they are encouraging customers to adopt the Cisco DNA Center. This means that we don't anticipate many new features to be added to the product in the future. While we know that we will eventually have to transition to a new solution, in the meantime, we plan to do a quick refresh of our legacy products.
    Read full review

    Quotes from Members

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

    Pros

    "The solution helps with the management and orchestration of campaigns. It helps with visibility and analytics. I also like its SDA configuration."
    "It gives us automation capabilities for pushing out the configuration to branch networks. It also provides visibility into the health of user network devices."
    "The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration."
    "Cisco VXLAN is a protocol that has been around for some time, but the practical implementation and operational capability of Cisco DNA Center bring it to life."
    "The most valuable feature of Cisco DNA Center is the AI (Artificial Intelligence) that provides us with valuable information."
    "We can monitor all devices and get the required information using the product."
    "Cisco is a leading network company."
    "The product gives a consolidated view."
    More Cisco DNA Center pros
    "The most valuable is the assistance for network support."
    "Cisco Prime allows us to do a lot of functions with the users and it is flexible."
    "The most valuable feature of Cisco Prime is its excellent audio and video conferencing with clear quality and no interruptions."
    "Enables oversight in order to tweak and tune."
    "Cisco Prime is a good tool for inventory monitoring and wireless management."
    "It gives you the ability to upgrade switches remotely, schedule the upgrade time, perform backups, and monitor the health of all networks."
    "The most valuable features of Cisco Prime include its comprehensive functionality as a one-stop solution for basic SNMP port management."
    "Cisco Prime allows us to manage all the wireless controllers and access points."
    More Cisco Prime [EOL] pros
     

    Cons

    "In terms of the clustering part, there are some concerns."
    "There are some software problems from version to version. It takes a long time for DNA Center to recognize the video and control access devices."
    "The solution's integration feature can be better."
    "The cost is very high."
    "From the recent DNA point of view, there are some stability challenges with Cisco, but very minor."
    "There is a limitation with the number of VRFs that you can have in your network, and this has caused us problems with some customers."
    "It seems to be a little bit more centered toward wireless than wired. You've got more options you can do wirelessly than you can with the wired switches, but it works for what we need it to do. We would like to see a little bit more about the traffic, and we're looking at what's out there to see about that. We are looking at something that might give us a bit more insight into the actual traffic. If they had the full functionality on the wired side, as they do on the wireless side in terms of being able to view traffic and everything, it would be good."
    "We encountered issues with their response times, which had a big impact on our workflow."
    More Cisco DNA Center cons
    "Cisco Prime could improve the notifications in the system. Having more details about what is happening would be useful, such as traffic numbers or who is connected. We can see them through the firewall controller, but it would be better if you can see them from one place."
    "Maybe it could be a little cheaper."
    "The reporting feature of Cisco Prime should be improved."
    "They can also improve the management of more enterprise devices."
    "If you look at some of the wireless site-survey tools that are available in the commercial space, Cisco should include similar solutions, which would help our on-plant engineers when they're doing a site survey."
    "The solution can be slow at times."
    "I would love for Cisco Prime to show bandwidth usage and consumption, but I can't monitor bandwidth usage at a given time."
    "Cisco Prime's initial setup is complex."
    More Cisco Prime [EOL] cons
     

    Pricing and Cost Advice

    "The licensing cost for Cisco DNA Center is not more than that of other solutions."
    "Affordability is a problem because it's created for large enterprises only. So, some customers, even if their engineers want the solution, might have problems with budget limitations."
    "We have a three-year license with them."
    "Our licensing agreement is for three years."
    "The price of the solution is expensive. The hardware is licensed on the device, but the hardware on the server is expensive."
    "I would rate the pricing a six out of ten, with ten being expensive."
    "Licensing for Cisco DNA Center is a little bit expensive, just like any Cisco solution. Its cost could still be improved."
    "The tool is medium-priced."
    More Cisco DNA Center pricing and cost advice
    "The product is expensive compared to other vendors in the market."
    "Cisco Prime is an expensive solution."
    "You need to get special quotes from the company for each order."
    "We update the license every five years."
    "The cost is quite high."
    "I rate the solution's pricing an eight out of ten."
    "The product's performance monitoring feature could be more intuitive."
    "The solution is not inexpensive but is worth it for large-scale environments."
    More Cisco Prime [EOL] pricing and cost advice
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    Top Industries

    By visitors reading reviews
    Computer Software Company
    17%
    Government
    10%
    Manufacturing Company
    9%
    Financial Services Firm
    6%
    Computer Software Company
    16%
    Government
    13%
    Manufacturing Company
    8%
    Healthcare Company
    7%
     

    Company Size

    By reviewers
    Large Enterprise
    Midsize Enterprise
    Small Business
     

    Questions from the Community

    What do you like most about Cisco DNA Center?
    The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration.
    See all answers
    What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco DNA Center?
    The cost is very high.
    See all answers
    What needs improvement with Cisco DNA Center?
    The system is working fine for me currently.
    See all answers
    What do you like most about Cisco Prime?
    The most valuable features of Cisco Prime include its comprehensive functionality as a one-stop solution for basic SNMP port management.
    See all answers
    What needs improvement with Cisco Prime?
    The product's performance monitoring feature could be more intuitive.
    See all answers
    What is your primary use case for Cisco Prime?
    We use Cisco Prime for centralized configuration management backups and monitoring.
    See all answers
     

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    Product Reports

    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco DNA Center
    March 2025
    Cisco DNA Center reportDownload Cisco DNA Center product report
    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Prime [EOL]
    March 2025
    Cisco Prime [EOL] reportDownload Cisco Prime [EOL] product report
     

    Also Known As

    DNA Center
    Cisco Prime Infrastructure
     

    Overview

    Cisco DNA Center offers a comprehensive platform for network automation and management, providing detailed analytics, enhanced security, and streamlined operations for both wired and wireless networks.

    Cisco DNA Center integrates with Cisco infrastructure to deliver efficient network automation and management, helping organizations improve network visibility, security, and control. It supports AI-driven analytics and automated workflows to enhance operational efficiency and reduce errors. Challenges include compatibility with third-party systems, steep learning curve, and complex deployment. Its interface facilitates centralized control, vital for troubleshooting, policy management, and configuration management, with support for zero-touch provisioning and SD-Access.

    What are the key features of Cisco DNA Center?
    • Robust Analytics: Provides detailed insights into network health with AI-driven analytics.
    • Centralized Security: Integrates with ISE for comprehensive security management.
    • Automated Device Management: Simplifies device provisioning and configuration transfers.
    • Wi-Fi Analytics: Offers deep insights into wireless network performance.
    • Zero-Touch Provisioning: Streamlines new device deployments with minimal human intervention.
    • Scalable Segmentation: Efficiently segments network traffic ensuring security and performance.
    What benefits should users consider?
    • Operational Efficiency: Automation reduces potential errors and streamlines workflow.
    • Enhanced Security: Integration with Cisco ISE bolsters security capabilities.
    • Network Visibility: Comprehensive dashboards and analysis tools enhance monitoring.
    • Troubleshooting: Real-time monitoring aids in identifying and resolving issues swiftly.

    In sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail, Cisco DNA Center is utilized for its ability to enhance security and compliance, manage large-scale networks, and provide detailed analytics for better operational decision-making. Its support for location tracking and policy automation ensures efficient network management across diverse environments.

    Cisco

    Cisco Prime products deliver next-generation management by supporting an intuitive workflow-oriented user experience and integrated lifecycle operations across Cisco architectures, technologies, and networks.

    Cisco
     

    Sample Customers

    Information Not Available
    Mohawk Industries, Universidad EAFIT, Halton Healthcare
    Buyer's Guide
    Network Management Applications
    March 2025
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