

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN and Fortinet FortiAP are key players in the wireless LAN market, with Cisco gaining an edge due to its robust cloud management capabilities that many users find justify its higher price.
Features: Cisco Meraki offers cloud management that provides high visibility, ease of use, and efficient remote troubleshooting. Its dashboard allows robust analytics, integrating well for small IT teams. Fortinet FortiAP excels with its integration with Fortinet's suite, providing management via FortiGate with substantial visibility and control, ideal for larger enterprises.
Room for Improvement: Cisco Meraki users request improved logging granularity and easier template management, alongside better on-premise management. The need for license renewals poses functional challenges if not addressed timely. Fortinet FortiAP requires GUI improvements, better wireless coverage, and enhanced scalability and outdoor performance.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Meraki is noted for straightforward deployment in cloud environments, although its technical support varies. Fortinet FortiAP is praised for integration and user support within Fortinet ecosystems, with some variability in support experiences.
Pricing and ROI: Cisco Meraki comes at a higher price with a subscription model, impacting service continuity without renewal. Fortinet FortiAP offers more budget-friendly pricing appealing to SMBs, though still higher than some competitors. Both deliver good ROI through management and operational efficiency savings.
I do not have to continuously manage them, and their reliability means they are consistently up and running.
Fortinet FortiAP provides value for money, and I can quantify the savings at about 80%.
I would rate Cisco support a 10, as the response time and process via the dashboard are easy, and response times are always within the SLA.
It would be better if the SLA of technical support was less than four hours.
There are some problems with their technical support when it comes to the whole Meraki system.
We keep a support contract open with Fortinet, so we have instantaneous response from them.
The RMA process is very good, with same-day replacement in our case.
I am not satisfied with Fortinet FortiAP's technical support in India.
Meraki is not scalable enough since it straightforwardly maps its products to segmented specifications.
There could be constraints where a product can't be scaled further without purchasing a new model.
We have good scalability with Fortinet FortiAP because we have multiple ISPs connected to it through FortiManager.
Stability is not an issue for me because it comes with Cisco's proven manufacturer quality.
We have experienced many instances where we have experienced a lag in our network, and I am not sure if it is due to their devices or our network.
I have not experienced any issues, outages, or problems and have not had to interfere with them at all.
The stability of the solution is very high.
The most important improvement needed is to eliminate the limitation of uplinks.
Some of the newer models of the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN access point have encompassed the new wireless protocols and increased the strength of their antennas.
The solution supports Wi-Fi 6.
Security is always a concern for any business, and the network should not be compromised easily.
I know they're going up to six soon, which will enhance reliability.
We earlier expected that Fortinet FortiAP could be managed through the cloud, which would be very good, but nowadays, FortiNet is providing FortiAPs with cloud management also.
The pricing of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is not competitive enough for the SMB market compared to other brands.
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is on par with other devices in that category, offering competitive pricing.
My experience with the pricing of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is that it is competitive with other providers offering paid subscriptions.
The license costs for Fortinet are more affordable when considering licensing costs with other leaders like Cisco.
The pricing is a little bit high, and I would rate it a ten on the scale where ten is the highest price.
The pricing is much better than Cisco pricing.
It also manages security clients and switches, providing a single dashboard to manage multiple network infrastructures.
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN has helped optimize network traffic very effectively, as we do prioritization for streaming and web conferencing apps, resulting in a clear, visible improvement in performance.
The ability to program all access points from the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN dashboard, view the status of all of them, and examine the individual devices connected to each access point is very valuable.
Compatibility with Fortinet firewalls allows clients to set up new businesses with integrated firewalls and access points, offering a cost-effective solution while providing excellent wireless coverage.
Fortinet FortiAP is effective in protecting against wireless threats.
Unlike other wireless controllers, the firewall is controlling the AP, so you have a much higher level of security.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Fortinet FortiAP | 4.7% |
| Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN | 9.3% |
| Other | 86.0% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 70 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 27 |
| Large Enterprise | 31 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 12 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 2 |
| Large Enterprise | 3 |
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN provides cloud-based management for remote configuration and network monitoring. It simplifies deployment and offers centralized control alongside high visibility.
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is ideal for managing complex networks and infrastructures without on-site controllers. It features an intuitive dashboard for seamless device integration and robust security, ensuring stable connectivity. Users can easily make network adjustments, track real-time analytics, and set multiple access IDs. While effective, areas needing enhancement include detailed logging, improved security features, more competitive licensing, and better integration with other solutions. Advanced user and support features could also see upgrades, and its dashboard functionality may benefit from improvements. Feedback indicates concerns about coverage, device management, and technical support. Customization, scalability, and compatibility limitations are noted compared to some competing solutions.
What are Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN's features?Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is widely used across sectors like education, healthcare, retail, and corporate environments to manage client and guest access, secure networks, and integrate IoT devices. Schools, hospitals, offices, and data centers deploy it for its ease of deployment and centralized management. Resellers and integrators utilize it for networking and security solutions to ensure reliable connectivity in diverse environments.
Fortinet FortiAP provides wireless network access for industries such as banking, healthcare, and logistics. It enhances connectivity with FortiGate and FortiSwitch, ensuring secure data exchange in settings like offices and malls.
Fortinet FortiAP is integral for managing connected devices across sectors. It integrates seamlessly with Fortinet products, enhancing security and connectivity. Users benefit from a unified console that simplifies configuration and monitoring without additional controllers. The support for passwordless authentication and cloud visibility adds value, while its use in environments like shopping centers and offices facilitates secure data sharing and access.
What are the key features of Fortinet FortiAP?In industries like banking and healthcare, Fortinet FortiAP is deployed to enhance network security and provide reliable access. Retailers leverage its capabilities in shopping centers, while warehouses benefit from its reliable connectivity to support seamless operations. Managed service providers use it to deliver tailored solutions, ensuring effective network segmentation and coverage.
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