Why Tech Experts Recommend Meraki Access Points

Enterprise networks are essential for today’s businesses, and they must include wireless connectivity. As an IT manager, wireless technology is important to you. It’s crucial to research your options to avoid wasting money and time on something that won’t be useful for your company.

Link US Online, an expert in IT networking solutions, has seen firsthand how wireless solutions can be powerful tools for a company. We’ve also seen the impact of inadequate solutions on a company.

Meraki wireless devices are generally our first recommendation to customers who want a simple, reliable wireless device managed by the cloud. While the devices are not perfect, they have some notable features.

We will go over a list of pros and cons and try to be as objective as possible so that you can decide whether Meraki wireless is the right choice for your company.

Pros of Meraki Wireless Access Points

Meraki Wireless Solutions are a great choice for businesses because of their:

• Guest wireless features
• Control functions
• Band steering

In addition to these features, Meraki access points have several other capabilities that make them a solid choice for business wireless solutions.

1. Guest Wireless Features

Meraki access points come with various options to configure guest wireless networks. All options are designed to ensure that your business remains safe and that the wireless network runs effectively.

Meraki allows you to create a splash screen for guests who log in. It’s not necessary to install a third-party application to inform your guests about which network they are logging into and to ask them to agree to your policy.

You can schedule the availability of each access point, making it easier to manage network access.

2. Control Functions

The administrator control of Meraki access points is limited (see the cons section for more information). However, the control you do have is important.

The administrator can configure certain access points so they do not communicate with others since these access points have their own firewalls. For example, as a security measure, a guest network set up in the lobby of a building can be prevented from communicating with production networks.

To prevent employees from using the internet to relax, you can block specific sites or applications, such as social media and streaming sites.

There are also other control options available:

• Per-user bandwidth limits
• PCI Compliance Reports
• Wireless Health Analysis
• Air Marshal

3. Band Steering

Meraki wireless also has a band control feature. All access points have dual-band capabilities and can connect to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies.

As an administrator, you can turn off the 2.4 GHz band if desired. If you decide to keep both bands enabled, Meraki will incorporate band steering. This feature allows the access point to detect devices capable of connecting to 5 GHz and guide them towards this band. This frees up the 2.4 GHz frequency band for devices that need it.

Cons of Meraki Wireless Access Points

It’s important to know the drawbacks you might experience with Meraki access points. Some of the most common frustrations and problems include:

• Internet connectivity is essential
• Renewal of licenses is mandatory
• No command-line access

While most of these issues don’t pose a problem for users, they are still important to know before deciding on a Meraki access point.

1. Reliance on Internet Connectivity

Meraki wireless access points require internet connectivity to connect users to the web. While users can still perform local authentication, authentication features that rely on Wi-Fi will not work until internet service is restored.

It is easy to miss some details, even though this seems obvious. In addition to the inability to log on to the internet, wireless functionality that relies on the cloud may also stop working.

2. Mandatory License Renewal

The most common complaint of Meraki critics is that the devices do not work as advertised. Each Meraki device requires a license to operate. These licenses are purchased with the device but have an expiration date. If your licenses expire, your devices will stop working.

However, Meraki’s compulsory licenses aren’t all bad. This license gives you access to the cloud management interface, technical support, and next-day replacement of devices. Additionally, you can extend the expiration date if you have multiple Meraki products.

3. No Command-line Access

Meraki’s simplicity has a downside. This simplicity is partly due to the fact that some technical functions are handled by Meraki, not the administrators.

There is no way to customize the dashboard beyond what is shown in the GUI. If a bug in an update affects your device’s functionality, you can’t revert to an older license. Instead, Meraki will have to provide the solution.

Meraki Access Points: How to Decide if They Are Right for You

Meraki access points work well for most businesses. The features of guest wireless, band steering, and control make it a great choice for both small and large companies looking to manage their wireless network efficiently.

While Meraki may not offer command-line access, its robust features and ease of use make it a top choice for many organizations. If you want a reliable and efficient wireless network solution, Meraki is a great option to consider.

Choose Meraki Access Points with Link US Online!

At Link US Online, your trusted source for IT networking solutions, we bring over a decade of expertise to help you achieve seamless connectivity. Since 2011, we’ve been dedicated to providing top-tier networking equipment from leading brands like Cisco, Meraki, HPE, Ubiquiti, and more.

Visit our website to explore our extensive selection of Meraki access points and start upgrading your wireless network with confidence. Join us and experience the best in IT networking solutions!