Cloud Networking Architecture
Manage Your PCs and Macs from the Cloud
Overview:
What is Cloud Networking?
Cloud Networking provides centralized management, visibility, and control without the cost and complexity of controller appliances or overlay management software.
Cisco Meraki's products are built from the ground up for cloud management, and come out of the box with centralized management, layer 7 device and application visibility, real time web-based diagnostics, monitoring, reporting, and much, much more. Cisco Meraki deploys quickly and easily, without training or proprietary command line interfaces.
Cisco Meraki's founders invented Cloud Networking while working as graduate students at M.I.T. Cisco Meraki now has a complete line of cloud networking products that power over 18,000 customer networks, including massive global deployments with tens of thousands of devices.
Key Benefits:
Rapid deployment with self-provisioning, self-optimizing hardware
Control applications, users and devices
Built-in multi-site management
Automatic monitoring and alerts
Future proof and always up to date, with seamless over-the-web firmware updates
and new features delivered quarterly
How It Works:
1. |
2. |
3. |
4. |
| Reliable, high-performance Cisco Meraki wireless APs, switches, and security appliances are deployed in your campus or remote branches. | Cisco Meraki devices automatically connect to Cisco Meraki's cloud over SSL, register with your network, and download their configuration. | You have complete visibility and control over your entire network over the web. Configure thousands of devices, run diagnostics, or view reports with a few clicks. | Tasks such as RF optimization and VPN configuration are automated by the cloud, while firmware updates and application signatures are seamlessly deployed over the web. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Common Questions about Cisco Meraki's Architecture:
Does my network traffic flow through Cisco Meraki's cloud infrastructure?
No. Cisco Meraki uses an out of band management architecture, meaning that only management data flows through Cisco Meraki's cloud infrastructure. No user traffic passes through Cisco Meraki's datacenters, and your data stays on your network.
What happens if I can't access Cisco Meraki's cloud?
Your network continues to function normally even if you can't access the cloud. Users can authenticate, firewall rules remain in place, and traffic flows at full line rate. Only management functions - reports, configuration tools, etc. - are interrupted.
How do firmware upgrades work? How often do I get new features?
Cisco Meraki provides firmware updates via seamless, over-the-web upgrades. Cisco Meraki releases updates each quarter that contain new features, performance improvements, and other enhancements. Firmware upgrades are delivered securely over the web, which you can reschedule or cancel them at any time.
What sized network is most appropriate for Cisco Meraki?
Cisco Meraki's cloud architecture provides a feature set that is rich enough for large enterprise deployments, yet is easy enough to be used by IT generalists without training. Cloud based infrastructure provides cost advantages in both small and large networks, and Cisco Meraki's cloud infrastructure scales seamlessly from small branches to large campus environments and distributed networks.
How does Cisco Meraki's security compare to traditional network infrastructure?
Cisco Meraki has made major investments in the security of its cloud infrastructure, providing safeguards and tools to all Cisco Meraki customers. For example, Cisco Meraki undergoes daily penetration testing by an independent 3rd party, has received PCI Level 1 certification, and provides numerous security tools to help customers to harden their networks.
Cloud Security and Reliability:
Proven in mission critical, large scale, and security conscious customer deployments.
Cisco Meraki's cloud platform is built on secure, PCI compliant, redundant, and massively scalable cloud technologies.
Learn about cloud security and reliability
