Cisco Meraki MR Wireless Access Points
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
We use Cisco Meraki MR Wireless Access Points for a secure and stable Wi-Fi solution for enterprise environments of business clients. It's incredibly easy to configure and manage via a cloud-based Meraki Dashboard. Once everything is configured correctly, you'll have few problems afterward. The network is very easy to expand or contract.
Pros
- Advanced network security without additional hardware
- Real-time monitoring and troubleshooting via the Meraki Dashboard
- Support for Wi-Fi 6 and 6E for high performance, e.g. models MR46 and MR57
- Fast and easy rollout across multiple locations
Cons
- Internet connection dependency for management. Management is cloud-based, requiring a strong internet connection. Local management is not possible in the event of network problems or internet outages.
- Limited in-depth configuration options. Some more detailed configuration settings are missing or difficult to configure, such as RF tuning and QoS. These are available in some other Cisco products.
- License costs: an active license must always be present in the environment, otherwise the product won't work. It's easy to purchase, but if you're going to be expanding regularly, the costs will add up considerably. Ultimately, it's wise to factor this into your purchase.
Return on Investment
- If you have multiple locations or areas where you use access points, you can manage them centrally through the Meraki Dashboard. This is very convenient, and it eliminates the need for on-site IT staff.
- Because Meraki offers excellent layer 7 support, you can better configure your Wi-Fi network, making it more stable for users. Meraki automatically identifies which applications or end-user actions could cause problems within the Wi-Fi network, and by understanding this, you can effectively address them to improve Wi-Fi quality.
- The licensing fees can ultimately result in higher costs than purchasing a different Wi-Fi network. This should be thoroughly investigated before purchasing an environment.
Alternatives Considered
HPE Networking Instant On Access Points, HPE Aruba Networks Wireless WAN and Ruckus Wireless Access Points
Other Software Used
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Business, Microsoft Defender for Identity, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence
