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Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers VS Cisco Meraki Systems Manager

Compare Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers VS Cisco Meraki Systems Manager and see what are their differences

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers logo Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLAN), wireless controller, provides wireless performance of all mobile devices, offers limited hotspot coverage and more.

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager logo Cisco Meraki Systems Manager

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager offers cloud-based mobility management solutions.
  • Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-06
  • Cisco Meraki Systems Manager Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-25

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers features and specs

  • Scalability
    Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) are designed to handle the needs of both small-scale and large-scale wireless deployments, offering models that can manage a wide range of access points and clients.
  • Centralized Management
    WLCs provide a centralized platform for managing all wireless access points, simplifying configuration, monitoring, troubleshooting, and updates across the network.
  • Advanced Security Features
    Cisco WLCs offer robust security features, including role-based access control, rogue access point detection, and wireless intrusion prevention systems to ensure secure wireless network environments.
  • Quality of Service (QoS)
    Cisco WLCs support QoS features that prioritize traffic to ensure optimal performance for voice, video, and data applications, enhancing user experience.
  • Seamless Roaming
    These controllers provide smooth roaming capabilities, allowing clients to move across access points without interrupting connectivity, which is essential for mobility-driven environments.

Possible disadvantages of Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers

  • Cost
    Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers tend to be more expensive compared to some other vendors, which might be a barrier for smaller companies with limited budgets.
  • Complexity
    The advanced features and capabilities of Cisco WLCs can also introduce complexity in setup and management, requiring skilled IT staff or specialized training.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Organizations using Cisco WLCs may become reliant on Cisco products and technology, making it challenging to integrate or switch to solutions from other vendors without significant changes.
  • Licensed Features
    Some features offered by Cisco WLCs require additional licenses, which can increase the overall cost and complexity of deployment for organizations.
  • Hardware Limitations
    In some cases, older models of Cisco WLCs may not support the latest wireless standards and technologies, necessitating hardware upgrades to take full advantage of new features.

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager features and specs

  • Cloud-Based Management
    Cisco Meraki Systems Manager offers cloud-based management, which allows administrators to monitor and configure their devices from virtually anywhere with internet connectivity.
  • Scalability
    The platform supports a wide range of devices, from small businesses to large enterprise environments, making it highly scalable.
  • Ease of Use
    The intuitive dashboard simplifies network management tasks, reducing the complexity typically associated with network administration.
  • Integration with Other Cisco Products
    Seamless integration with other Cisco products and services, such as their security solutions, enhances overall network performance and security.
  • Automatic Updates
    Automated firmware and security updates ensure that devices are always running the latest software, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities.
  • Centralized Management
    Provides centralized control over network policies, device configurations, security settings, and compliance reporting.

Possible disadvantages of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager

  • Cost
    Cisco Meraki solutions tend to be more expensive compared to some other network management solutions, which may not be suitable for organizations with tight budgets.
  • Reliance on Internet Connectivity
    Being cloud-based, the management system relies heavily on internet connectivity. Any disruption can impede management capabilities.
  • Limited Advanced Customization
    While the interface is user-friendly, it may lack some advanced customization options that experienced network administrators could need.
  • Licensing Model
    The licensing model can be complex and somewhat restrictive, requiring ongoing subscription fees for cloud management.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Adopting Cisco Meraki products may result in vendor lock-in, making it harder to switch to other solutions in the future.
  • Latency Issues
    In regions with poor internet speed, there might be latency issues when managing devices in real-time through the cloud platform.

Analysis of Cisco Meraki Systems Manager

Overall verdict

  • Cisco Meraki Systems Manager is generally considered a good choice for organizations looking for a comprehensive mobile device management (MDM) solution.

Why this product is good

  • Cisco Meraki Systems Manager offers a range of features that make it a strong contender in the MDM market. These features include easy deployment and management of devices through a cloud-based dashboard, comprehensive security protocols, and seamless integration with other Meraki products. The platform supports a variety of devices and operating systems, ensuring flexibility and adaptability to different organizational needs. Additionally, its intuitive interface and detailed reporting capabilities make it user-friendly and efficient for IT administrators.

Recommended for

  • Businesses of all sizes seeking a scalable MDM solution.
  • Organizations with a diverse range of devices and operating systems.
  • Enterprises looking for integrated solutions within the Cisco Meraki ecosystem.
  • IT departments prioritizing security, compliance, and easy management of devices.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers videos

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Cisco Meraki Systems Manager videos

Getting Started with Cisco Meraki Systems Manager

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  • Review - Cisco Meraki MS Switches - Basic Setup (Connect and Configure Guide)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers and Cisco Meraki Systems Manager)
Network & Admin
100 100%
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
8 8%
92% 92
CMS
100 100%
0% 0
Office & Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Cisco Meraki Systems Manager seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers yet. Tracking of Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Cisco Meraki Systems Manager mentions (3)

  • iPhone MDM without ABM
    Incidentally, Meraki System Manager (MDM) is free and plays nice with Apple ABM. Link: https://meraki.cisco.com/products/systems-manager/. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Can I SSH into my father's laptop in Ukraine?
    I am using MDM solution from Meraki: Https://meraki.cisco.com/products/systems-manager/ Remote command line, remote screenshot and remote desktop. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Managed switch with decent mobile web/app interface?
    Likely you won't like the price/terms, but there's also Meraki. Technically cloud managed but that includes via mobile (several apps). Source: over 3 years ago
  • Inexperienced and given a partially set up/dismantled Meraki
    They do have Mobile Device Management: https://meraki.cisco.com/products/systems-manager/. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers and Cisco Meraki Systems Manager, you can also consider the following products

FortiAP - Integrated Secure Access Managed Wireless LAN

Hexnode MDM - Mobile Device Management solution from Hexnode helps you monitor, manage and secure mobile devices across your organization.

Fortinet Wireless LAN - Simplify WLAN planning and deployment with our graphical Wireless LAN planning and post-deployment site survey tool.

IBM BigFix - Endpoint Management

Aruba Networks Wireless - People move. Networks must follow. Connect your world with intelligent mobility. @arubanetworks

ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus - ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus is an enterprise mobile device management solution that is designed to enhance employee productivity without compromising on corporate security.