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Meraki or Viptela: Which Cisco SD-WAN solution is right for you?
Begin your migration to next-generation networking by using the comparison below to determine which Cisco® SD-WAN solution best suits your business and IT needs.
- Which best describes your organization’s IT resources?
- Small IT staff with limited experience managing a secure WAN environment
- Large IT staff well-versed in managing enterprise-level networking architecture
- Which cloud infrastructure does your organization currently use?
- Public cloud (AWS® or Azure®)
- Private cloud or on-premise infrastructure
- What type of networking connections are required?
- Basic support for Ethernet and LTE connections
- Ethernet and LTE connections and/or T1 and DSL lines
- Which networking features are most important?
- Basic SD-WAN and security capabilities all in one
- Support for complex WAN topologies with a high degree of customization
- Easy full-stack branch management through a simple user interface
- End-to-end secure segmentation and automated path control
- Integrated threat management capabilities
- Support for integrating multiple Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) workloads
- Which cost factors are most important?
- Lower cost/Mbps for enterprise or advanced licensing
- Higher cost/Mbps with advanced routing, service chaining & cloud security
- Which Cisco technologies are currently deployed?
- Cisco Meraki solutions
- Integrated Service Router (ISR) 4K or vEdge
Meraki SD-WAN (Meraki MX) or Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela)
Meraki includes:
- Basic SD-WAN and security capabilities all in one
- Easy-to-manage, full-stack branch network through a simple user interface
- Transport independence across multiple connection types
- Enterprise or advanced licensing at lower cost/Mbps
- Convenient deployment for existing Meraki customers
- Simple to manage, even for lean or inexperienced IT staff
Viptela includes:
- Support for complex WAN topologies, with a high degree of customization
- Flexible, end-to-end secure segmentation, including extension into Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- Support for integrating multiple Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) workloads
- Private cloud, public cloud and on-premise management capabilities
- Support for T1 and DSL lines
- Cisco DNA Advantage™ with advanced routing, service chaining & cloud security at higher cost/Mbps
- Automated path optimization across internet and VPN overlay paths
- Ideal for existing Integrated Service Router (ISR) 4K or vEdge users
Both solutions include:
- Simple orchestration and automation for deploying integrated branch security
- Full network visibility from a single management platform
- Zero-touch deployment with support for template configurations
- Public cloud management with virtual platform for AWS and Azure
- Support for Ethernet and LTE connections, with embedded LTE as backup
- Highly scalable (10,000+ sites)
Sources:
Cisco. (2018). Cisco SD-WAN Positioning the Right Solution for Success. Cisco.com.
