Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall vs Cisco Meraki MX comparison

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall vs. Cisco Meraki MX

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Fortinet FortiGate

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Firewalls category, the mindshare of Fortinet FortiGate is 15.1%, down from 21.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall is 0.3%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Meraki MX is 3.4%, down from 3.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Fortinet FortiGate	15.1%
Cisco Meraki MX	3.4%
Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall	0.3%
Other	81.2%

Firewalls

Featured Reviews

Joseph Koomson

IP Network Security Specialist at MTN Ghana

Process-Level CPU Visibility: Introduce detailed CPU-usage metrics per subsystem (e.g., IPS engine, logging) so administrators can quickly identify and address performance spikes.

Analytics with FortiAnalyzer. Being able to pull in logs not just from our FortiGates but from all our other firewalls and then get them in one view has been a game changer. Whether I’m building an executive dashboard or doing a deep dive forensics session, I get everything I need without navigating consoles.Straightforward Application Control. FortiGate spots and blocks unwanted apps (eq. like BitTorrent or streaming services) with accuracy. Segmentation with VDOMs. We’ve carved our data center into four logical ‘mini-firewalls’ enterprise, core, billing, and WAF—all on one box. Each has its own rules and logs, and any traffic between them still gets inspected. It’s like having multiple appliances without the extra hardware. Always-Up-to-Date Threat Feeds. Daily signature updates and AI-driven threat sensing mean we’re blocking the latest vulnerabilities almost as soon as they’re announced.

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TarunKumar11

Global Leadership Council at a tech company with 10,001+ employees

Secure internet access has reduced threats and simplifies firewall management for distributed teams

Threat detection needs improvement; Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall should follow Alto and Fortinet. One limitation that I've seen is AI-driven automation which needs to vastly improve. It has fewer third-party integrations, and therefore the adoption amongst very large enterprises is less; it's largely with the SMBs. Customer support can be improved. It's a smaller global footprint that Arista provides, with fewer certified partners in some regions and limited 24/7 support for premium vendors. I've categorically mentioned that it has sophisticated threat detection capabilities but they can be bettered. AI-driven automation can be improved, and therefore, I think the adoption with large enterprises can be much better. I think the current AI capabilities of Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall are a bit limited compared to other vendors. It primarily relies on threat intelligence feeds, signature-based detection, and reputation services. Currently, I would rate its AI capabilities as probably a seven out of ten because it does not provide for extensive GenAI or advanced ML-driven autonomous capabilities like some of its competitors. Threat intelligence aspects can be further improved, and I think there's a lot that the product can do with respect to the usage of AI. AI-driven automation and threat detection can vastly improve. I don't think they were purchased through AWS Marketplace. The adoption has to increase amongst large customers, and threat intelligence needs to improve for many customers to adopt, enhancing the security ecosystem that is relatively small.

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Sanjay Gaiswal

Technical Presales at Vcom Technologies

Cloud-based solution simplifies network management with excellent support

There have been no issues with stability after deployment. There have been no complaints. For stability, I would suggest that Cisco Meraki MX is the most stable device from the security processor. Regarding content filtering features, we are using content filtering and malware access, along with all security features in Cisco Meraki MX9500. We have received good feedback from customers because since installing Cisco Meraki MX9500, we have not received any complaints. There have been no outages, no stability issues, and we have not found any vulnerabilities during security audits. It is compatible with all different OEMs, and for VPN, site-to-site VPN has been configured with other firewalls as well. We are getting very good responses from customers as there have been no complaints where we have deployed Cisco Meraki MX9500.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The multi-tenancy feature is most valuable. It integrates very well with FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer."

"The main benefit I have seen from using Fortinet FortiGate is the protection it offers because I can see threats that come through in real-time, and if they are blocked, I can see that."

"Its performance in fulfilling our requirements has been satisfactory."

"It is a scalable solution."

"Fortinet FortiGate has been a Perimeter Security which defends our network from Internet attackers, armed with zero-day exploits of common Internet services like HTTP and SMTP."

"Fortinet FortiGate has positively impacted our organization by preventing hackers from accessing our network."

"Fortinet FortiGate is considered the best in the European market for security reasons."

"All in all, it's quite a good product, of course, a very good product."

More Fortinet FortiGate pros

"Phish Blocker is a valuable feature."

"Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall has positively impacted my organization by reducing botnet attacks."

"The product's initial setup phase is easy."

"I would say that if you're a small and medium enterprise or an education institution and you have a distributed organization looking for a cost-effective and easy-to-manage next-generation firewall solution with fairly good security, VPN, filtering, and centralized management, then Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall is an excellent choice."

"We've had no issues with the scalability or the stability of this solution"

"Easy to administer and saves time when you have many smaller locations that you have to manage."

"It has a helpful feature for database troubleshooting issues."

"We switched to Meraki because it lets you see what's happening in your LAN and WAN in a graphic and web environment."

"Meraki are more intuitive than Aerohive."

"It's an outstanding product with outstanding people on the team."

"It has the most advanced security features, for example, layer 3 and layer 7 firewall capabilities and the end team and IPS protection. It also has IPS, and it has very good functioning of cloning services. You don't actually have to touch the device. If you have multiple companies in different countries, you don't really require this device to be touched. You can get it delivered directly to any office of a country, and then you can simply put your configuration over the cloud. It's very simplified and easy to manage. It gives a very good granular visibility about your network. Earlier, a lot of things were lacking in the network. We were unable to identify where the problem was, but after implementing Meraki MX, we are able to dig down and identify where is the problem. We can easily and quickly identify the sources and the root causes of the issues."

"The features we have found most valuable are the firewall and the monitoring tools."

More Cisco Meraki MX pros

Cons

"Fortinet FortiGate is not a scalable solution, as they give you a number and each box comes with concurrent connections; if you need to expand, you have to change the box."

"I face difficulties integrating Fortinet FortiGate with Active Directory."

"There are problems with the custom reporting of the unique traffic. The data is there, but it is too difficult for us to extract."

"The initial setup is complex for me due to my lack of experience with the Fortinet FortiGate product."

"Its web interface needs to be more stable, and more functional, through the variety of browsers."

"There is a need for enhancement with the signature management, improving the datasheet numbers, and scalability issues."

"There is a lot of improvement needed with SSL-VPN."

"The only challenge with Fortinet FortiGate is the pricing model."

More Fortinet FortiGate cons

"Threat detection needs improvement; Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall should follow Alto and Fortinet."

"Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall can be improved, particularly the user interface, which is not very good, and also the logs, which are not very good."

"The documentation is not clear."

"The product has a lot to improve in the area of policy implementation."

"From the improvement perspective, we need more monitoring capabilities. We want to have full-based access visibility, such as, what is happening when something is trying to reach and it is denying. We cannot see some parts of it. The integration of active directory with this product is not very fruitful. It has some bugs or lacks in the functionality of active directory integration. We are unable to identify where exactly and whether it has really applied our policy."

"From a subscription base or price perspective, there's some room for improvement. They also need more security features."

"If you use the VPN to link Meraki with your onsite domain with Active Directory then it doesn't work properly."

"The hardware solution for Cisco Meraki MX comes with a higher price."

"We feel that Cisco provides smaller features, with fewer possibilities versus other solutions out there."

"What I would like to see in the next version is to have more interfaces for WAN links."

"Meraki tech support staff have a lot more visibility into your network than you do, which is frustrating at times. I understand the approach is to keep the dashboard easier to understand. This will frustrate more advanced users at times."

"The product could incorporate tools like ThousandEyes into the system so we can see things directly."

More Cisco Meraki MX cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Pricing and licensing is a little bit complicated in FortiGate. They are always on the higher side. This is one issue that we always raise with the company that they should reduce the price according to Indian market requirements. There are no costs in addition to the standard licensing fees."

"It is cheaper and more competitive compared to other options. For example, when comparing Palo Alto products to others, Palo Alto tends to be more expensive. If you compare Cisco's platform, including Cisco Meraki, with Fortinet products, you'll notice that Cisco's offerings are generally higher priced than Fortinet's firewall solutions."

"Licensing is usually on a three-year period."

"While Fortinet FortiGate has a higher price point compared to Sophos XG, its user-friendly interface justifies the cost."

"Fortinet FortiGate allows you to purchase licenses for hardware and software."

"Its price could be better."

"It's one of the more expensive brands. The 100 series costs around $4,000. They are similar in pricing to what you might get from Cisco solutions and probably other similar ones. They're not more expensive than other similar solutions, but they're certainly not cheaper either."

"The price of the license and warranty can be better because it is very expensive."

More Fortinet FortiGate pricing and cost advice

"I consider it an averagely-priced tool."

"The tool is quite cheap."

"Its licensing cost could be better."

"It is an expensive solution. There is a five-year licensing requirement. We already renewed licenses for all our devices."

"The product is a little expensive."

"It is a good global solution in terms of the price and features, but because we sell this solution in dollars, sometimes we don't get to sell this solution in Brazil because the dollar is very expensive. The price of every project is different. It varies depending upon the project, scenario, and client."

"Pricing varies as per the type of license."

"The product's price depends on use cases."

"The solution is expensive compared to other vendors but you can get good discounts if you know the account manager. The product is less expensive than a normal Cisco subscription. The tool's hardware warranty is a lifetime but you need to purchase support which comes in three, five, and seven years subscriptions."

"The price of Meraki MX is between $8 and $1,200. Additionally, we typically purchase a three-year enterprise license, and we pay approximately $899 and mark it up a bit."

More Cisco Meraki MX pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

10%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Construction Company

36%

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Computer Software Company

12%

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	369
Midsize Enterprise	139
Large Enterprise	195

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	43
Midsize Enterprise	22
Large Enterprise	19

Questions from the Community

Which is the better NGFW: Fortinet Fortigate or Cisco Firepower?

When you compare these firewalls you can identify them with different features, advantages, practices and usage a...

What is the biggest difference between Sophos XG and FortiGate?

From my experience regarding both the Sophos and FortiGate firewalls, I personally would rather use FortiGate. I know...

What are the biggest technical differences between Sophos UTM and Fortinet FortiGate?

As a solution, Sophos UTM offers a lot of functionality, it scales well, and the stability and performance are quite ...

What needs improvement with Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall?

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall can be improved, particularly the user interface, which is not very good, a...

What advice do you have for others considering Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall?

My advice to others looking into using Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall is that it is effective and accompli...

What is your primary use case for Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall?

My main use case for Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall is as a perimeter firewall. I use it as a perimeter fi...

Fortigate 60d vs. Meraki MX67 for a small company without a dedicated IT Department

We have Meraki Mx devices now, we are looking to replace them. But that is because the Meraki MX platform lacks SSL I...

Which is better - Meraki MX or Cisco ASA Firewall?

Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) software is the operating software for the Cisco ASA suite. It supports netw...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki MX?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that we went through a third party who negotiated all the pr...

Sophos Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Comparisons

Compared 16% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 13% of the time

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 5% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 3% of the time

WatchGuard Firebox vs Fortinet FortiGate

Compared 2% of the time

More Fortinet FortiGate Competitors

OPNsense vs Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall

Compared 24% of the time

Netgate pfSense vs Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall

Compared 22% of the time

Check Point Quantum Force vs Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall

Compared 12% of the time

Sophos UTM vs Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall

Compared 11% of the time

More Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall Competitors

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 25% of the time

Sophos Firewall vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 6% of the time

Cisco Secure Firewall vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 5% of the time

SonicWall TZ vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 4% of the time

SonicWall NSa vs Cisco Meraki MX

Compared 4% of the time

More Cisco Meraki MX Competitors

Product Reports

Fortinet FortiGate

Download Fortinet FortiGate product report

Download Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall product report

Firewalls

May 2026

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall report

Cisco Meraki MX

Download Cisco Meraki MX product report

Also Known As

Fortinet FortiGate Next-Generation Firewall

No data available

MX64, MX64W, MX84, MX100, MX400, MX600

Overview

Fortinet FortiGate is a versatile network security tool offering features like VPN, firewall, web filtering, intrusion prevention, and scalability. It is known for its performance and integration with other Fortinet products, making it a preferred choice for robust cybersecurity.

Fortinet FortiGate stands out as a comprehensive cybersecurity solution with strong performance and ease of configuration. It delivers unified threat management, integrating features such as dynamic routing, SD-WAN support, and centralized management. Despite its strengths, improvements in the web interface's stability, pricing structures, and reporting capabilities are needed. Users seek better integration with third-party tools and automation advancements to enhance the experience further. These enhancements, alongside improvements in bandwidth management and the reduction of licensing costs, are points of interest for users looking to capitalize on FortiGate's extensive capabilities.

What are Fortinet FortiGate's key features?

VPN: Ensures secure remote connections.
Firewall: Protects against unauthorized access.
Web Filtering: Blocks malicious sites and content.
Application Control: Manages and controls applications.
Intrusion Prevention: Detects and prevents vulnerabilities.
SSL Inspection: Enhances security by inspecting encrypted traffic.

What benefits should be considered when evaluating Fortinet FortiGate?

Affordability: Offers cost-effective security solutions.
Reliability: Known for consistent and stable performance.
Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other Fortinet products.
Comprehensive Protection: Provides broad threat protection capabilities.

Fortinet FortiGate is widely implemented across industries as a primary firewall system for securing internet gateways and safeguarding data centers. It supports businesses in achieving SD-WAN integration and enhances cybersecurity by providing essential features like antivirus, web filtering, and application control. Enterprises utilize FortiGate for securing remote connections and ensuring compliance with security standards, making it adaptable for different network sizes and industries.

Fortinet

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall enhances network security by managing threats, providing VPN connectivity, and monitoring network traffic. It simplifies network management and ensures compliance with policies, offering features like load balancing and network reliability.

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall is known for its robust security, straightforward deployment, and extensive features. It boasts reliable threat detection, flexible policy management, and scalability, catering to different network sizes. Users appreciate the streamlined management console, consistent performance in threat mitigation, and content filtering capabilities. However, customer support response time needs improvement, and software updates sometimes cause issues. The solution has a steep learning curve and requires more intuitive setup processes. Users find the troubleshooting documentation unclear and the reporting features limited, desiring more comprehensive and customizable options.

What are the key features?

Robust Security: Reliable threat detection and content filtering.
Easy Deployment: Straightforward setup process.
Flexible Policy Management: Adaptable to different requirements.
Scalability: Suitable for varying network sizes.
Streamlined Management Console: Simplifies network management.
Consistent Performance: Efficient threat mitigation.

What are the benefits and ROI?

Enhanced Cybersecurity: Blocks malicious activity and ensures compliance.
Simplified Network Management: Eases the complexity of managing networks.
Improved Network Reliability: Ensures dependable performance.
Efficient Deployment: Reduces setup time and effort.
Comprehensive Threat Protection: Monitors and addresses potential threats.

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall is widely adopted in industries requiring stringent network security and efficient management, including finance, healthcare, and education. Organizations use it for load balancing, ensuring network reliability, and maintaining compliance with strict security standards. Its ability to manage policies and scale according to different network sizes makes it a versatile tool for businesses with complex security demands.

Arista

Cisco Meraki MX offers cloud-managed security with user-friendly setup and efficient management, enhancing VPN and firewall functionalities for businesses.

Cisco Meraki MX is known for its robust cloud-based network management, featuring AutoVPN, SD-WAN, and advanced security. Its centralized control over firewall, traffic shaping, and monitoring ensures excellent connectivity and security. The interface allows easy management by non-technical staff, offering remote access and seamless network performance through real-time alerts and troubleshooting. It supports global connectivity with minimal effort, addressing needs across small to enterprise environments. Despite its strengths, users point out areas needing improvement like load balancing, VPN features, more flexible logging, and session capabilities. Pricing, integration limits, and licensing need enhancement.

What are the key features of Cisco Meraki MX?

AutoVPN: Enables automatic VPN configuration for secure, site-to-site connections.
SD-WAN: Optimizes traffic routes for increased performance and reliability.
Advanced Security: Offers unified threat management, intrusion prevention, and content filtering.
Centralized Management: Simplifies operations with remote monitoring and configuration.
Traffic Shaping: Prioritizes critical business applications to maximize performance.

What benefits should users consider?

Ease of Deployment: Simplified installation reduces setup time and cost.
Real-Time Alerts: Ensures proactive issue identification and resolution.
Scalability: Supports growth with seamless integration and management of multiple sites.
Global Connectivity: Maintains efficient connections across geographic locations with minimal effort.

In industries like retail, finance, and education, Cisco Meraki MX provides enhanced security and connectivity. Retail chains benefit from easy VPN setups for secure multi-site networking, while educational institutions find value in its ability to manage large campuses efficiently. Financial services leverage its robust security features to protect sensitive data, ensuring compliance and trust.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Vodafone, Orange, BT Group, Telstra, Deutsche Telekom, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, CenturyLink, NTT Communications, Tata Communications, SoftBank, China Mobile, Singtel, Telus, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telkom Indonesia, Telkom South Africa, Telmex, Telia Company, Telkom Kenya

Information Not Available

Hyatt, ONS

Arista Edge Threat Management NG Firewall vs. Cisco Meraki MX