Network Engineer at NGN Bilgi ve İletişim Hizmetleri
Real User
Top 10
Sep 29, 2025
I am just a customer in relation to Cisco. I don't know anything about prices and licensing of Cisco DNA Center because it's not my job; I'm just using it. I have Cisco DNA Center deployed on-premises. I have approximately three years of experience working in my current field. I rate Cisco DNA Center overall nine out of ten.
I am a Cisco Gold partner and currently Managing Director at CONNECT-PS ConnectProfessional Services Saudi Regional Office. The overall rating for Cisco DNA Center is 8 out of 10.
Cisco needs to review the pricing of the Cisco DNA license. Otherwise, they might lose customers. I rate the overall solution between eight out of ten.
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.
I recommend the solution mainly because of its standout features like automation, which simplifies troubleshooting and configuration from a single pane of glass. The easy integration and advanced segmentation are also key benefits. These features make it an excellent choice for any IT organization. Cisco DNA Center has been very supportive of our network security and compliance initiatives. I'd rate its support a nine out of ten. Moreover, the solution has significantly contributed to our AI-driven networking projects. I'd rate it a nine out of ten. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
The product's automation capabilities are fine, especially considering the tool's areas like day 0 and day 1. The product does offer support in terms of compliance. Even though I have not worked with use cases relating to compliance, I know that it works well. If you want to use a tool for your operations, and if you want to get visibility on your network, especially if you have Cisco products, and you want and then without having Cisco L3 Switches, if you want to support in terms of troubleshooting, Cisco DNA Center can be a good option. I rate the tool an eight out of ten.
Consultant - Enterprise Managed Services Centre Of Excellence (EMS-COE) at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees
Consultant
Nov 22, 2023
We are partners with Cisco. People wanting to use the product must compare it with other tools and choose accordingly. Overall, I rate the product a six out of ten.
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.
Technical Consultant at KPN IT Solutions - Trusted Services
Real User
Sep 19, 2023
The choice of the solution depends on the organization's size, network complexity, and whether they have its own maintenance or operational department. Organizations can opt to outsource to Cisco partners, but this decision relies on their specific needs. It's crucial to determine whether to keep network knowledge in-house or rely on external expertise. Skill versions and portfolio updates should be approached cautiously, considering customer requirements and the timing of upgrades to avoid disrupting operations. I would rate it eight out of ten.
My advice is to categorize before implementing the DNA cluster. If the architecture is not good enough, you might face some issues with the transceiver. It might not be compatible with other solutions. I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Tech Specialist, Client Network DeliveryTech at AT&T
Real User
Feb 13, 2023
I would tell potential users not to buy Cisco DNA Center as it's a considerable expense that isn't worthwhile. On a scale from one to ten, I would give Cisco DNA Center a seven.
Principal Associate IT at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 20
Oct 6, 2022
I have hands-on experience with Cisco DNA Center. I've worked on three projects using Cisco DNA Center, either a single standby or three-cluster node. Whenever there's a large-scale network, my company tries to go with Cisco DNA Center. As a whole, my company has between ten to fifteen projects utilizing Cisco DNA Center. Whoever wants a network upgrade would use Cisco DNA Center, but there'd be different setups for every region, such as APAC, EMEA, etc. Currently, my company has nine clusters or nine boxes. A single company can have multiple projects that use Cisco DNA Center. Because it's an evolving networking technology, people get accustomed to it and may want SD access, not just LAN. My advice to others who may want to implement Cisco DNA Center is that before buying a product, you need to understand what it can do and how to handle it. A typical engineer working on a legacy network won't be able to work on Cisco DNA Center because it has a different protocol, technology, and configuration. It would be best if you learned how to handle Cisco DNA Center before going with it, so I suggest getting trained by Cisco first. Without the training, using Cisco DNA Center isn't going to be easy for you. You won't know how to integrate a switch with Cisco DNA Center unless you get the training. Through the training, you'll also learn the protocols. Before making the purchase, you need someone to explain Cisco DNA Center to you. I would rate Cisco DNA Center as seven out of ten. It's a new technology with Software-Defined Access capability, which allows centralized LAN management, so I prefer Cisco DNA Center over other solutions. Cisco DNA Center still requires a lot of improvements, though, so I deducted three points out of ten. I'm a customer of Cisco DNA Center.
Owner, GM & IT Architect at CHALLENGE Internetworking & Computer Consulting
Reseller
Apr 6, 2022
We are happy with this solution; we cannot design data center switches without Cisco DNA. On a scale from one to ten, I would rate Cisco DNA Center at nine.
Group Technology Services Senior Manager at a hospitality company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
Top 10
Feb 6, 2022
My advice to others is if you are a large enough company to have the Cisco DNA Center technology, you must try it. It may be useless for small enterprises, but for the large enterprise, for multi-site organization, it's impressive and it saves a lot of money and time. I rate Cisco DNA Center a nine out of ten.
Managing Director at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Real User
Top 20
Jun 22, 2021
We are a system integrator and we are providing network automation solutions and services to our customers. Overall, I would rate the solution at a six out of ten. It's quite good, however, it's not ideal for smaller organizations as it's cost-prohibitive. This solution is best for customers who are end-to-end, Cisco customers. For the customers who have a heterogeneous environment where security comes from let's say CrowdStrike or Palo Alto or Ruckus we would suggest that a customer goes with Ansible. Cisco has limitations in terms of integration and automation when working with solutions outside the Cisco family. Some sort of API interface has to be available.
Senior Network Engineer at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Real User
Mar 18, 2021
Cisco DNA does not have a Cloud solution. It's an on-premises appliance. They may stand up if they bring in another heritage. They may have some heritage or legacy sites that they may bring over to the new network. We are multi-national. Our organization is based in London, New York, and Sydney. Our clients are all multi-national global clients. We do have some regional clients as well, but we are well-positioned to serve multi-nationals across three regions. My advice is to read the release notes thoroughly. Understand how to deploy, in a single or three-node cluster. Most importantly be aware of release notes and read the documentation. Do your homework, read the manual, it's there for a reason. Be patient when standing up a new fabric site. Don't do too many tasks at one time. The biggest lesson that I have learned is to be patient. When you have a series of tasks that you need to do, don't initiate too many at one time, initiate three or four, allow those to finish, and then continue on. From when I first started working with DNA, it's come a very long way. From a programmability standpoint, it really is quite solid. I really like the LAN automation capabilities. In terms of software-defined networking, I think it's an outstanding product. I would rate Cisco DNA Center a nine out of ten.
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.
Group Technology Services Senior Manager at a hospitality company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
Top 10
Jan 12, 2020
The Cisco Digital Network Architecture is the first solution with these types of capabilities that I have used. It allows me to monitor everything in the network, including end-to-end packet travel and tracking the specific packets. This solution is really stable and scalable. My advice for anybody who is considering this solution is to consider the size of the environment. If there are a very large number of switches or visitor access points then I recommend DNA. However, if there are a small number of switches and access points then I would recommend the Cisco Meraki because it is fine for small and medium-sized networks. The biggest lesson that I have learned from working with this solution is that this technology is much easier now. I think it's a revolution in networking and wireless communication where it is becoming easier and nothing like traditional networking. It is now an overlay and an underlay network. All of the people working in this field have to be up to date with the technology. It is very new and there are many capabilities when it comes to network control, analytics, and security compliance. IT people have to adapt to new technologies. I have not yet tested the IoT for our smart building because we don't use it in our current location. I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.
Solution Selector Communication and IT Security at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Dec 19, 2019
My advice for anyone who is looking into implementing this solution is to start with Cisco Assurance and do the mapping of the network. I would suggest asking for help from the partners to help with the installation. You can do it on your own but you will easily save the money that you spend on the consultants because they are experts. You will not waste time getting it up and running, and you will be back on track quickly. This is a good solution but nothing is perfect. That said, they are ahead of the other vendors. I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.
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.
Cisco DNA Center delivers powerful centralized security, automation, and comprehensive analytics for enhanced network management. With an intuitive dashboard and integration with Cisco devices, it reduces errors, boosts efficiency, and ensures seamless wired and wireless network operations. Organizations leverage Cisco DNA Center for network management and automation, offering increased visibility into traffic flows and efficient device provisioning. It supports real-time data transmission,...
I am just a customer in relation to Cisco. I don't know anything about prices and licensing of Cisco DNA Center because it's not my job; I'm just using it. I have Cisco DNA Center deployed on-premises. I have approximately three years of experience working in my current field. I rate Cisco DNA Center overall nine out of ten.
I am a Cisco Gold partner and currently Managing Director at CONNECT-PS ConnectProfessional Services Saudi Regional Office. The overall rating for Cisco DNA Center is 8 out of 10.
Cisco needs to review the pricing of the Cisco DNA license. Otherwise, they might lose customers. I rate the overall solution between eight out of ten.
Overall, I rate Cisco DNA Center a nine out of ten.
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.
I recommend the solution mainly because of its standout features like automation, which simplifies troubleshooting and configuration from a single pane of glass. The easy integration and advanced segmentation are also key benefits. These features make it an excellent choice for any IT organization. Cisco DNA Center has been very supportive of our network security and compliance initiatives. I'd rate its support a nine out of ten. Moreover, the solution has significantly contributed to our AI-driven networking projects. I'd rate it a nine out of ten. Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
The product's automation capabilities are fine, especially considering the tool's areas like day 0 and day 1. The product does offer support in terms of compliance. Even though I have not worked with use cases relating to compliance, I know that it works well. If you want to use a tool for your operations, and if you want to get visibility on your network, especially if you have Cisco products, and you want and then without having Cisco L3 Switches, if you want to support in terms of troubleshooting, Cisco DNA Center can be a good option. I rate the tool an eight out of ten.
Overall, I would rate it an eight out of ten.
We are partners with Cisco. People wanting to use the product must compare it with other tools and choose accordingly. Overall, I rate the product a six out of ten.
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.
Overall, I rate Cisco DNA Center a nine out of ten.
Overall, I would rate it seven out of ten.
Cisco DNA Center is a good product. There could be more features added to the dashboard. Overall, I rate it a ten out of ten.
The choice of the solution depends on the organization's size, network complexity, and whether they have its own maintenance or operational department. Organizations can opt to outsource to Cisco partners, but this decision relies on their specific needs. It's crucial to determine whether to keep network knowledge in-house or rely on external expertise. Skill versions and portfolio updates should be approached cautiously, considering customer requirements and the timing of upgrades to avoid disrupting operations. I would rate it eight out of ten.
I rate the product a six out of ten.
My advice is to categorize before implementing the DNA cluster. If the architecture is not good enough, you might face some issues with the transceiver. It might not be compatible with other solutions. I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.
The solution works best in an API environment than in a traditional network. I rate it nine out of ten.
I would tell potential users not to buy Cisco DNA Center as it's a considerable expense that isn't worthwhile. On a scale from one to ten, I would give Cisco DNA Center a seven.
There is some room for improvement so I rate this solution eight out of 10.
I have hands-on experience with Cisco DNA Center. I've worked on three projects using Cisco DNA Center, either a single standby or three-cluster node. Whenever there's a large-scale network, my company tries to go with Cisco DNA Center. As a whole, my company has between ten to fifteen projects utilizing Cisco DNA Center. Whoever wants a network upgrade would use Cisco DNA Center, but there'd be different setups for every region, such as APAC, EMEA, etc. Currently, my company has nine clusters or nine boxes. A single company can have multiple projects that use Cisco DNA Center. Because it's an evolving networking technology, people get accustomed to it and may want SD access, not just LAN. My advice to others who may want to implement Cisco DNA Center is that before buying a product, you need to understand what it can do and how to handle it. A typical engineer working on a legacy network won't be able to work on Cisco DNA Center because it has a different protocol, technology, and configuration. It would be best if you learned how to handle Cisco DNA Center before going with it, so I suggest getting trained by Cisco first. Without the training, using Cisco DNA Center isn't going to be easy for you. You won't know how to integrate a switch with Cisco DNA Center unless you get the training. Through the training, you'll also learn the protocols. Before making the purchase, you need someone to explain Cisco DNA Center to you. I would rate Cisco DNA Center as seven out of ten. It's a new technology with Software-Defined Access capability, which allows centralized LAN management, so I prefer Cisco DNA Center over other solutions. Cisco DNA Center still requires a lot of improvements, though, so I deducted three points out of ten. I'm a customer of Cisco DNA Center.
I would rate this solution a seven out of 10.
I rate DNA Center seven out of 10, but it's not accessible to all companies who would benefit from the solution.
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.
We are happy with this solution; we cannot design data center switches without Cisco DNA. On a scale from one to ten, I would rate Cisco DNA Center at nine.
I would rate Cisco DNA Center a seven out of ten.
My advice to others is if you are a large enough company to have the Cisco DNA Center technology, you must try it. It may be useless for small enterprises, but for the large enterprise, for multi-site organization, it's impressive and it saves a lot of money and time. I rate Cisco DNA Center a nine out of ten.
We are a system integrator and we are providing network automation solutions and services to our customers. Overall, I would rate the solution at a six out of ten. It's quite good, however, it's not ideal for smaller organizations as it's cost-prohibitive. This solution is best for customers who are end-to-end, Cisco customers. For the customers who have a heterogeneous environment where security comes from let's say CrowdStrike or Palo Alto or Ruckus we would suggest that a customer goes with Ansible. Cisco has limitations in terms of integration and automation when working with solutions outside the Cisco family. Some sort of API interface has to be available.
Cisco DNA does not have a Cloud solution. It's an on-premises appliance. They may stand up if they bring in another heritage. They may have some heritage or legacy sites that they may bring over to the new network. We are multi-national. Our organization is based in London, New York, and Sydney. Our clients are all multi-national global clients. We do have some regional clients as well, but we are well-positioned to serve multi-nationals across three regions. My advice is to read the release notes thoroughly. Understand how to deploy, in a single or three-node cluster. Most importantly be aware of release notes and read the documentation. Do your homework, read the manual, it's there for a reason. Be patient when standing up a new fabric site. Don't do too many tasks at one time. The biggest lesson that I have learned is to be patient. When you have a series of tasks that you need to do, don't initiate too many at one time, initiate three or four, allow those to finish, and then continue on. From when I first started working with DNA, it's come a very long way. From a programmability standpoint, it really is quite solid. I really like the LAN automation capabilities. In terms of software-defined networking, I think it's an outstanding product. I would rate Cisco DNA Center a nine out of ten.
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.
The Cisco Digital Network Architecture is the first solution with these types of capabilities that I have used. It allows me to monitor everything in the network, including end-to-end packet travel and tracking the specific packets. This solution is really stable and scalable. My advice for anybody who is considering this solution is to consider the size of the environment. If there are a very large number of switches or visitor access points then I recommend DNA. However, if there are a small number of switches and access points then I would recommend the Cisco Meraki because it is fine for small and medium-sized networks. The biggest lesson that I have learned from working with this solution is that this technology is much easier now. I think it's a revolution in networking and wireless communication where it is becoming easier and nothing like traditional networking. It is now an overlay and an underlay network. All of the people working in this field have to be up to date with the technology. It is very new and there are many capabilities when it comes to network control, analytics, and security compliance. IT people have to adapt to new technologies. I have not yet tested the IoT for our smart building because we don't use it in our current location. I would rate this solution a nine out of ten.
My advice for anyone who is looking into implementing this solution is to start with Cisco Assurance and do the mapping of the network. I would suggest asking for help from the partners to help with the installation. You can do it on your own but you will easily save the money that you spend on the consultants because they are experts. You will not waste time getting it up and running, and you will be back on track quickly. This is a good solution but nothing is perfect. That said, they are ahead of the other vendors. I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.
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.