Sports, film, and history all have something in common faceoffs. Opponents standing eye-to-eye before fighting with all their might to win is a basic human instinct.
Discussing famous faceoffs right now would be fun (Jaguar vs. Aston Martin in Great Britain, Alfred Borden vs. Robert Angier in The Prestige, or Napoleon Bonaparte vs. everyone else in The Battle of Waterloo). Unfortunately, you don’t have the time for that.
As a skilled, in-demand IT leader, you’ve got to get straight to the answer you came for, which is: Which license should you choose for your company-Meraki Enterprise or Advanced Security? There are two licensing options available for Meraki MX appliances, and customers often evaluate these based on their organizational needs and security requirements. Each license is assigned per device, and the licensing model is applied at the company or organization level, affecting all devices within the organization. For example, a company might assign the Advanced Security license to devices at headquarters for enhanced protection, while using the Enterprise license for branch locations with standard requirements. Today we’re focusing on a comparison of the first two of these options, so let’s get you the answer.
When it comes to building a secure, cloud-managed network, Meraki licensing is at the heart of how your organization manages, protects, and scales its infrastructure. With two primary options-the Meraki Advanced Security License and the Enterprise License-understanding the differences between these license types is essential for making the right investment in your network’s future.
The Meraki Advanced Security License is designed for organizations that need more than just basic protection. This license unlocks a suite of advanced security features, including geography-based firewall rules, intrusion detection and prevention, content filtering, and threat grid integration. With these capabilities, your network is equipped to defend against sophisticated threats, malware, and compliance risks. The Meraki advanced security license is especially valuable for businesses handling sensitive data or operating in regulated industries, where comprehensive protection and advanced malware prevention are non-negotiable.
On the other hand, the Meraki Enterprise License offers a streamlined, cost-effective solution for organizations that require essential security and management features. With tools like VLAN routing, link bonding, and client connectivity alerts, the enterprise license provides reliable protection against direct attacks and supports efficient network operations. While it doesn’t include the added security features of the advanced edition, the Meraki enterprise license is ideal for businesses seeking basic security and robust management without the need for advanced threat prevention.
One of the standout benefits of Meraki licenses is their flexibility. Organizations can start with the standard enterprise license and upgrade to the advanced security license as their needs evolve – ensuring that your network security can scale alongside your business. Meraki licenses are available in 1, 3, or 5-year terms, allowing you to choose the plan that best fits your budget and long-term strategy.
It’s important to note that a valid license is required for every Meraki device to work properly. Mixing license types within a single organization isn’t supported; if you need both license editions, you’ll need to create two separate organizations within your Meraki dashboard. This distinction helps maintain clarity and consistency in your network’s security posture.
When weighing the cost of each license, remember that the advanced security license represents a larger investment, but brings significant added value through its advanced security features and compliance capabilities. The enterprise license, meanwhile, offers a more economical entry point for organizations focused on basic security and management.
By understanding the differences, benefits, and requirements of the Meraki advanced security license and enterprise license, your organization can make informed decisions that protect your network, support your business goals, and ensure you’re ready for whatever threats may come your way.
In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at the advanced security features, content filtering, and threat grid integration offered by the Meraki Advanced Security License, as well as the core capabilities of the Meraki Enterprise License. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear roadmap for choosing the right Meraki license for your organization’s unique needs.
You need to know the differences between Meraki Enterprise and Advanced security licenses. Stratus Information Systems is here to lay it all out for you on the field, stage, or battleground.
Before we look at each of these separately, here’s a review of what they both have in common.
Meraki Enterprise and Advanced Security licenses each:
View Meraki Features by License Option, which also covers Secure SD-WAN Plus.
For a basic, large-scale wireless network, a Meraki Enterprise Security License offers outstanding features and unparalleled protection from direct intrusion. Plus, the price is right at about half the cost of an Advanced Security License.
The standard features included in an Enterprise license are:
Even though the cost of an Advanced Security License is about double that of an Enterprise license, don’t automatically disregard it. Because of the comprehensive range of included protections, the Advanced License is truly a worthy investment.
Meraki’s Advanced Security License doesn’t only protect your network from direct attack, but from just about any electronic attack.
Here are the many features included in an Advanced Security License:
We’ll make this as straightforward as possible.
Choose a Meraki Enterprise Security Licence if all you require are:
Choose a Meraki Advanced Security Licence if you require:
There are a few common questions we want to answer before you have to ask:
If you want detailed answers to these or any other Meraki Enterprise, Advanced Security, or Secure SD-WAN Plus License questions, please contact Stratus Information Systems directly and we can give you additional direct help.
We hope this Meraki Enterprise vs. Advanced Security licensing faceoff has been helpful, even if it wasn’t quite as entertaining as those with Sean O’Connell of UFC fame.
For more information, check out our other Cisco Meraki Resources, including:
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