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reviewer1644933 - PeerSpot reviewer
Co-Founder and CFO at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Reseller
Easy to deploy remotely and has automatic updates
Pros and Cons
  • "What I like best about Meraki MX is that it's easy to deploy remotely. The product works. It has automatic updates. I also like that Meraki MX is a brilliant device. You turn it on, stick the key in there, activate it, and then you're done. Meraki MX does what my customers need at the end of the day, so I also like that."
  • "An area for improvement in Meraki MX is that it needs some provision, as supplying the unit through Cisco can be tedious at times, but as far as the product itself and its offerings, Meraki MX is five-star all the way."

What is our primary use case?

We use Meraki MX for cloud-based networking, particularly as a firewalls and routers.

What is most valuable?

What I like best about Meraki MX is that it's easy to deploy remotely. The product works. It has automatic updates.

I also like that Meraki MX is a brilliant device. You turn it on, stick the key in there, activate it, and then you're done.

Meraki MX does what my customers need at the end of the day, so I also like that.

What needs improvement?

An area for improvement in Meraki MX is that it needs some provision, as supplying the unit through Cisco can be tedious at times, but as far as the product itself and its offerings, Meraki MX is five-star all the way.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been dealing with Meraki MX for four years now.

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, Meraki MX is okay. It performs as it's supposed to. There was one hardware failure, and the Meraki team replaced the unit practically overnight, no questions asked.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support for Meraki MX is a ten out of ten for me.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

Meraki MX has a straightforward setup.

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

The pricing for Meraki MX is all right, but as the hardware needs to be licensed, the cost depends on the complexity of the device and the term. Pricing could be $100 to $10,000 yearly or even more for a more complex device.

What other advice do I have?

My company is a Cisco partner and a reseller of Meraki MX.

My rating for Meraki MX is ten out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner/Reseller
PeerSpot user
Dolf Krikke - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Network Architect at INISI b.v.
Real User
Top 10
Stable platform, but its dashboard features need improvement
Pros and Cons
  • "It is a robust SD-WAN solution."
  • "The configuration options for firewall and IPS have limitations."

What is most valuable?

It is a robust SD-WAN solution. It has multiple valuable features, including cellular gateways and cellular failover.

What needs improvement?

The configuration options for firewall and IPS have limitations. We do not have access to CLI, similar to other Cisco products. This particular area needs improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Meraki MX for ten to twelve years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable platform.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The platform is suitable for small to enterprise businesses.

How are customer service and support?

We have had some experience working with Meraki MX's technical support team. Their response depends on the engineer's location. The support is good in some areas. For a few places, the Level 1 engineers don't have enough knowledge to deal with issues, and we have to get Level 2 or Level 3 support.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup requires basic technical knowledge. It is easy to install. You can use the Zero Touch deployment method if your organization is spread across multiple locations worldwide.

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

The product's price depends on use cases. The equipment is overall reasonable. Although, enterprise licensing is expensive.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

In comparison with FortiGate, Meraki MX is very competitive with SD features. It is easy to use and set up. It has a simple configuration process, making it a robust product point. However, in terms of interface, FortiGate and Palo Alto can display more complicated information, is simple to use, and has more configuration abilities.

What other advice do I have?

Meraki MX needs improvement in a few areas, including the dashboard, configuration options, firewalls, and technical licensing model. I advise others to go for it if they have more technical expertise for an easy setup process. 

I rate Meraki MX a seven out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Meraki MX
February 2025
Learn what your peers think about Meraki MX. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: February 2025.
838,713 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Director of IT at a consumer goods company with 201-500 employees
Real User
User-friendly and has good usability and analytics
Pros and Cons
  • "To me, the analytics feature is one of the most valuable in Meraki MX. I also find that it has good usability as it's cloud-based. Another valuable feature of Meraki MX is that it's simple to use and it's user-friendly."
  • "We had minor issues with Meraki MX. We had a couple of RMAs, so that could be an area for improvement, but in terms of how the RMAs went, the turnaround time and getting those back into redeployment were quick. Another area for improvement in Meraki MX is that when you're scaling for multiple locations, you need to use the same model, but the model you'd need is only available for a short time. The specific model you require could be out of stock, or Meraki isn't making that model anymore, so Meraki should improve that."

What is our primary use case?

I've used Meraki MX in warehouses for small medical offices and, recently, dispensaries.

What is most valuable?

To me, the analytics feature is one of the most valuable in Meraki MX. I also find that it has good usability as it's cloud-based.

Another valuable feature of Meraki MX is that it's simple to use and it's user-friendly.

What needs improvement?

We had minor issues with Meraki MX. We had a couple of RMAs, so that could be an area for improvement, but in terms of how the RMAs went, the turnaround time and getting those back into redeployment were quick.

Another area for improvement in Meraki MX is that when you're scaling for multiple locations, you need to use the same model, but the model you'd need is only available for a short time. The specific model you require could be out of stock, or Meraki isn't making that model anymore, so Meraki should improve that.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using Meraki MX on and off over the past seven to eight years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

As far as stability goes, Meraki MX is pretty good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

In terms of scalability, the process of scaling Meraki MX is straightforward.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup for Meraki MX is very straightforward.

What other advice do I have?

I work in a mid-sized company, and I've used Meraki MX in small business and enterprise settings. On the small business side, two people use the product, but on the enterprise side, about twenty people use Meraki MX because of the number of locations and equipment. My enterprise customer had about forty thousand employees and at least ninety locations.

I'd rate Meraki MX as nine out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
MXfirew677 - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at ITSG SA
Real User
Good scalability options but it's not easy to manage a product remotely across the world
Pros and Cons
  • "We work also with domain control (DC) from Microsoft or Amazon. We use a whole virtual appliance with Meraki."
  • "The problem is that the two licenses do not currently integrate. We have to create separate companies and do an interconnection."

What is our primary use case?

Meraki MX Firewalls solutions are very customized for our groups. We are a worldwide group. We are currently implementing an IT solution worldwide. 

We have to replace old firewalls in the next couple of years in many countries. We are working on this project. We used Meraki MX 55005 firewalls previously. 

In between, we used many different firewalls from other companies. We won't be doing the acquisition of many new parts by these companies now.

We have tested different brands of firewalls. We have to consolidate to handle a better solution. We chose Meraki because we are already familiar with the products. 

Meraki MX firewalls are one point, but also have good availability. We have many people from different countries in which we have Cisco contracts to serve.

It's not only a technical aspect but also a commercial reason for our choice of Meraki.

How has it helped my organization?

We are currently replacing all other old firewalls with new Meraki systems in the next two years. We do this first for new sites and for sites that need to change. 

We do not change everything in one step also because of budget and also because of deployment requirements. This is a worldwide deployment. It will take time.

What is most valuable?

One of the things I found very important for us is for our sites to have a new device. Another was to be able to have two solutions with the ease of firewalls to control everything.

We use Meraki MX firewalls remote for small to bigger sites. One also was to have integration with have physical DC. We work also with domain control (DC) from Microsoft or Amazon. We use a whole virtual appliance with Meraki.

One aspect of the problem is that we need to have the ability to do connections that are fully integrated, i.e. between one solution at home and at the data center. The short box epicenter is from Microsoft Azure in the future.

What needs improvement?

We are currently having a problem with Meraki in the end product. They have two kinds of enterprise licenses and an advanced security license. 

The problem is that the two licenses do not currently integrate. We have to create separate companies and do an interconnection between these licenses. 

Even to do a full free trial run, we need the same kind of licenses. This is something we seek to change because it's not fair. With this license mode, we should be able to choose which sites we use and which sites we do not need.

We often see a break in the connection between both modem and dish. We found that if we communicate with Cisco, we can find the right solution to solve this.

Currently, we have found all the things we need for our company already. Only perhaps compatibility for mobile lines is still required. 

Meraki MX is the program for us. We should have enterprise licenses.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Meraki MX Firewalls for about two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of Meraki is that we have to fight working readiness. Meraki MX firewalls are perfect. We have no problems. We do agreements for a system. 

We do the changing of old IT systems. It's working very well.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is very good. We use it for plans that are electrified and on bigger plans for our domain. We have all of our plans and software licenses that match. We have deployed with this company responsibly. 

Currently, we are 400 people. We may need two more devices for 800 users. We decided to go bigger because of our proposed acquisition of many companies in the next couple of years.

How are customer service and technical support?

Technical support is very good and quick. We have had some incidents and best response on a couple of various issues. They are very efficient.

What other advice do I have?

On a scale from 1 to 10, I would rate this product a 7. For us, the license is a big issue and we need to get better facilities, i.e. the original problem.

From any country, it's not easy to manage a product remotely across the world. We are supporting little companies and compatibilities for three countries with different languages. 

It's not easy to deal with because the provider we use doesn't deliver to our country, even Israel. It's a problem we encounter more than the physical system. It's complicated.

The one question we get about the system in Switzerland is that when we send it to the target countries, it's not good.

We need a solution that merges both to be able to access the system and theoretically to target businesses. We don't have this possibility

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2401428 - PeerSpot reviewer
Product Specialist- Storage at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Completely cloud-controlled and provide an SD-WAN kind of experience for the customer with multiple WAN provider links to optimize
Pros and Cons
  • "In terms of WAN optimization, it's completely cloud-controlled. Anyone can manage their network environment from a mobile phone."
  • "When it comes to cost, that's a pain point."

What is our primary use case?

It is a complete network security solution, including switches, routers, and everything else. It's a cloud-managed solution from Cisco. 

If a customer wants to deploy a remote office and have things managed remotely, and if they want to have control and provide an SD-WAN kind of experience for the customer with multiple WAN provider links to optimize, then the customer will go for a Cisco Meraki kind of solution.

How has it helped my organization?

In terms of WAN optimization, it's completely cloud-controlled. Anyone, even an IT hitch, can manage their network environment from a mobile phone. That is how easy it is. And users will get an immediate alert if something goes wrong.

What needs improvement?

There are strong and weak areas for each and every provider. 

So, when it comes to cost, that's what the pain is. There are other providers, like Fortinet and all those people. They can provide a more cost-effective solution when compared to Cisco.

So cost is something they should work on, like, to reduce the price.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using it for ten years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the stability an eight out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate the scalability an eight out of ten. We also deal with other Cisco products. So, I specifically work with the enterprise-level businesses. 

How are customer service and support?

We provide support for this product. 

How was the initial setup?

Meraki is very easy. It's very easy to manage the setup and all that stuff. I would rate my experience with the initial setup an eight out of ten, with ten being easy.

Cloud Deployment:

It is a solution where this can be managed through the cloud, Cisco's cloud. Meraki is the solution. You can manage it in Cisco's cloud. Generally, if you look into any router or that kind of thing, you need to put in the local IP, plug in, and do the configuration. 

Whereas in Cisco, you'll have a user ID and password. All your equipment will be listed in the Cisco Meraki cloud itself, where you can configure everything centrally and deploy it.

Deployment time:

The deployment took a few hours. Management is easy. It's centrally managed through the cloud. I don't see a challenge.

What was our ROI?

Everything is fine. But when it comes to the initial CapEx cost, it's really high.

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

I would rate the pricing a ten out of ten, with one being cheap and ten being expensive. 

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten. However, my recommendation depends on the use case. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
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Meraki Business Development Manager at Alef Nula a.s.
MSP
Top 20
An easy-to-setup tool with a single pane of glass dashboard
Pros and Cons
  • "I am happy with the technical support for the solution. I rate the technical support a ten out of ten."
  • "Meraki MX can come across as an expensive solution."

What is our primary use case?

I use the solution for some simple usage in our office for the people, so there is nothing too much. I am interested in the scalability of the tool.

What is most valuable?

The solution's most valuable features stem from the single pane of glass dashboard, along with other components of the tool like configuration, administration, monitoring part, integration capabilities with Cisco solutions, and ease of comparison with other Cisco equipment or Cisco Meraki hardware devices.

What needs improvement?

I don't think I can comment on what needs improvement in the solution because of the usage of Meraki MX in our company. The tool is not complex. For my type of usage, I am satisfied with the results of the product. I think that I may use the product on a larger scale.

The fact that the product is a little expensive and how it needs to be made cheaper from an improvement perspective is a debatable topic, in my opinion.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Meraki MX for a year and a half.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I use only Cisco hardware in my building, where I also have my network with Meraki MX. I don't have any problems, and I haven't tested the equipment in a multi-vendor environment.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I didn't reach the need to use a relevant scalability test in my company because I am using the tool for the first time for just two users and four guest users. Before I can talk about scalability, I should use the tool's scalability features.

I prefer Meraki MX for personal use. In professional terms, I am working with Cisco on a regional basis in Europe.

How are customer service and support?

I am happy with the technical support for the solution. I rate the technical support a ten out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

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

For networking and my personal use, Meraki MX is the first infrastructure I have experience with, but on a professional side, I use Cisco.

How was the initial setup?

The product's initial setup phase was simple, considering how Meraki's documentation is very intuitive, which explains how to use the platform, its configuration capabilities, and its administration.

The solution is deployed on the private cloud.

What was our ROI?

Depending on the purpose of the solution for the user, it might be worth the money. If a user wants to use extra hardware equipment at its full potential or full features on a long-term basis, Meraki MX is a good choice. If you don't want to have a complex tool with features, workload, and so on, Meraki MX can come across as an expensive solution.

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

The product is a little expensive.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I did not choose any other solutions in the market since I got familiar with Meraki MX. I wanted to start with Meraki MX because I thought it was the most appropriate hardware that I could use, especially to add access points, some IoT devices, and switches. Meraki MX is a tool that I can build an infrastructure around.

Within Cisco, I checked for second-generation MV cameras.

What other advice do I have?

For sure, I will recommend the tool's potential users to at least do a demo because one of the best parts of interacting with Meraki is that users can use a demo version for a certain period and do their own tests to see if it is okay or not. After I was okay with the functionalities, I went to use the product for myself.

I rate the overall tool an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Tenishan Fernando - PeerSpot reviewer
Solution Architect - Network and Cybersecurity at NCinga
Real User
Top 5
A multifunctional security and SD-WAN enterprise appliances with a wide set of capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "The cloud management system is really valuable."
  • "Direct logging is something that can be introduced. In the absence of cloud management, the possibility of local configurations and on-premise logins becomes restricted. This limitation stands as a primary concern. When it comes to resolving issues, the inability to access login options hampers troubleshooting efforts. The stability is noteworthy; but when compared to alternative products, its stability is comparatively lower. Additionally, certain limitations are observed in terms of remote control. Price-wise, the solution stands out for its competitive and cost-effective nature compared to other alternatives. Operationally, it is user-friendly and requires minimal effort from administrators, making configuration hassle-free."

What is our primary use case?

The solution is mainly based on the cloud which is highly adaptable to the needs of its users due to its large user base. By employing over fifty VPS, we strategically position these units where clients require them the most. Remarkably, the cost of this setup is notably more affordable compared to competing alternatives. The management dashboard allows users to oversee each branch within their network. This comprehensive view is unified within the dashboard, offering insights into the entire branch network. The system works mostly for financial institutions, particularly banking clients.

What is most valuable?

The cloud management system is really valuable.           

What needs improvement?

Direct logging is something that can be introduced. In the absence of cloud management, the possibility of local configurations and on-premise logins becomes restricted. This limitation stands as a primary concern. When it comes to resolving issues, the inability to access login options hampers troubleshooting efforts.

The stability is noteworthy; but when compared to alternative products, its stability is comparatively lower. Additionally, certain limitations are observed in terms of remote control. Price-wise, the solution stands out for its competitive and cost-effective nature compared to other alternatives. Operationally, it is user-friendly and requires minimal effort from administrators, making configuration hassle-free.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Meraki MX for the last three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable however there are issues and we need to reboot sometimes. I would rate it five out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Considering the needs of medium-class clients, scalability proves to be highly advantageous. I would rate it nine out of ten.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy via the cloud portal, primarily because managed support is needed for internet access. Without this, the direct configuration of the box becomes unattainable.The duration required is significantly shorter compared to alternatives. Occasionally, when dealing with a larger number of branches, like fifty or more, we managed to complete the implementation within 14 days. In cases involving complex processes and discussions, additional time might be necessary. However, once the system is set up and connected to the cloud, other configurations can be done within an eight-hour timeframe.

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


The solution has three licenses; enterprise, security, and SD WAN. This subscription-based method aligns with customer requirements. When procuring hardware, the minimum requirement is the enterprise license, granting access to cloud management and the portal. Customers can opt to acquire the security or SD-WAN licenses if needed. This adaptable pricing model offers great flexibility. All licenses are linked to the device count, proving advantageous for customers. If there's a future demand for additional devices, licenses can be expanded accordingly without any concerns. The flexibility of the licensing system is indeed valuable.

What other advice do I have?

This solution is viable for medium-sized enterprises and even larger ones, presenting an affordable option. The scalability aspect should be factored in, considering the specific branch alterations. For branch placements, Meraki offers a suitable scalability model, adaptable based on the branch size and user count. We own a range of appropriately sized Meraki boxes to address varying branch needs. When attending to any issues, especially during branch implementations, on-site visits might be necessary. However, in the absence of cloud management, Meraki can be easily managed centrally and remotely. This approach facilitates efficient updates, configuration management, and comprehensive visibility, all streamlined within a single dashboard. 

I would rate overall solution a seven out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
PeerSpot user
Real User
Lets us control all the traffic data and analyze it; warns us about any device with malware
Pros and Cons
  • "It prevents us from being hacked and delivers information about who and where the attack came from."
  • "Managed centrally over the web: You can manages all your Meraki devices in a single account."
  • "Site to Site VPN: The device can establish a VPN connection to multiple sites in a mesh environment in seconds, and without complex VPN knowledge."
  • "Traffic Shaping: The device lets you decide how you want to use your internet services. Due to the fact that Meraki can accept dual WAN, you can decide the way you balance the data traffic."
  • "It would be great if the Meraki devices let us see, in real time, the internet demand on a single device."
  • "The only stability issue is in Content Filtering. Sometimes we need to report these types of issues to Cisco support."

How has it helped my organization?

Meraki lets us control all the traffic data and analyze it. The Traffic Shaping lets us install voice servers and give quality of service. It prevents us from being hacked and delivers information about who and where the attack came from.

What is most valuable?

  • Managed centrally over the web: You can manages all your Meraki devices in a single account.
  • Site to Site VPN: The device can establish a VPN connection to multiple sites in a mesh environment in seconds, and without complex VPN knowledge.
  • Traffic Shaping: The device lets you decide how you want to use your internet services. Due to the fact that Meraki can accept dual WAN, you can decide the way you balance the data traffic. 
  • Content Filtering:  Excellent, and very easy to use. You can establish rules over specific content, what is allowed to be used, and assign them to a single device or a group.
  • Intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS): The best feature. It can detect malware, even a virus, and warn you by email about the device that has it. When the Meraki detects that something is wrong, it automatically blocks the connection or the intrusion, delivering a graphic report with all the necessary content.

What needs improvement?

It would be great if the Meraki devices let us see, in real time, the internet demand on a single device.

For how long have I used the solution?

One to three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The only stability issue is in Content Filtering. Sometimes we need to report these types of issues to Cisco support.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

You need to change the device based on information that Cisco provides. If you overload the Meraki throughput, it is time to change the device.

How are customer service and technical support?

Excellent.

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

Fortinet. We switched to Meraki because it lets you see what's happening in your LAN and WAN in a graphic and web environment. Our customers are very grateful because we let them log in to the Meraki and let them see their network activity.

How was the initial setup?

You only need to know about firewalls, content filtering, and networking.

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

It is more expensive than other solutions, but it is a cloud-managed network solution and support is given at the moment you call. That give a very big plus.

The Meraki UTM is excellent when you buy the Advanced Security license. If you buy a different license you lost all the valuable functions.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Fortinet, Barracuda, and other open source solutions.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Meraki MX Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: February 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Meraki MX Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.