The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Between Cisco Meraki and Ubiquity for SMBs

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Cisco Meraki and Ubiquiti
3. Network Performance and Scalability
4. Management and Ease of Use
5. Security Features
6. Cost Considerations
7. Conclusion

Introduction

Are you a small business owner in Milton, Burlington, Oakville, or Georgetown looking to upgrade your network? Choosing between Cisco Meraki and Ubiquiti can be tough, but this guide will help you decide. We’ll explore the main differences between these two popular networking solutions for SMBs, whether you’re new to tech or an IT pro.

Understanding Cisco Meraki and Ubiquiti

Overview of Cisco Meraki

Cisco Meraki offers a complete cloud-managed networking solution, perfect for SMBs wanting high-end features. Their products include:

• Wireless access points
• Switches
• Security appliances

Overview of Ubiquiti

Ubiquiti provides affordable networking equipment for SMBs, including:

• UniFi access points
• Switches
• Security gateways

Key differences between the two

• Cisco Meraki: Managed in the cloud, lots of features, higher price
• Ubiquiti: Managed locally, budget-friendly, do-it-yourself approach

Network Performance and Scalability

Throughput and capacity

Both Cisco Meraki and Ubiquiti perform well for SMBs:

• Cisco Meraki: Faster on top-level devices
• Ubiquiti: Good enough for most small to medium-sized businesses

Ease of scaling

Growing your network is important for expanding SMBs:

• Cisco Meraki: Easy to add new devices with cloud management
• Ubiquiti: Fairly simple to grow using the UniFi controller

Advanced networking features

Cisco Meraki has more built-in advanced features, while Ubiquiti offers many options with some extra setup.

Management and Ease of Use

Cloud-based management

• Cisco Meraki: Fully managed in the cloud
• Ubiquiti: Needs local hosting or a cloud key device

User interface and dashboard

Both have easy-to-use interfaces:

• Cisco Meraki: Modern, sleek dashboard
• Ubiquiti: Clean, practical interface

Deployment and configuration

• Cisco Meraki: Simple setup process
• Ubiquiti: A bit more involved but still user-friendly

Security Features

Built-in security measures

Both companies prioritize network safety for SMBs:

• Cisco Meraki: Advanced security features built-in
• Ubiquiti: Good security options with some extra setup

Compliance and certifications

• Cisco Meraki: Many compliance certifications
• Ubiquiti: Compliance features available with some work

Ongoing security updates

Regular updates are crucial for SMB network security:

• Cisco Meraki: Updates happen automatically
• Ubiquiti: Regular updates that you need to install manually

Cost Considerations

Initial hardware costs

• Cisco Meraki: Higher upfront costs
• Ubiquiti: More budget-friendly hardware prices

Licensing and subscription fees

• Cisco Meraki: Ongoing license fees required
• Ubiquiti: No ongoing licenses for most features

Total cost of ownership

Think about long-term costs when choosing between Cisco Meraki and Ubiquiti for your SMB:

• Cisco Meraki: Higher initial cost, potential IT support savings
• Ubiquiti: Lower upfront cost, may need more IT support

Conclusion

Picking between Cisco Meraki and Ubiquiti for your SMB network depends on what you need, your budget, and your tech skills. If you’re an SMB in Milton, Burlington, Oakville, or Georgetown looking for expert help, Halton IT Services can guide you. They’ll help you choose and set up the perfect networking solution for your business.

Don’t let network decisions stress you out. Contact Halton IT Services today to explore the best Cisco Meraki or Ubiquiti solution for your SMB. With their knowledge of both systems, they can make sure your network runs well, stays secure, and can grow with your business.