Meraki SD-WAN integrated with the Meraki dashboard for management

Meraki SD-WAN integrated with the Meraki Dashboard for management is one of the key differentiators of Meraki's approach to SD-WAN and networking in general. The Meraki Dashboard provides a centralized, cloud-based platform for managing SD-WAN, network devices, security policies, and more, simplifying deployment, monitoring, and troubleshooting for IT teams.

Here’s an in-depth look at how Meraki SD-WAN integrates with the Meraki Dashboard and the benefits it provides:

1. Centralized Cloud-Based Management

• Overview: The Meraki Dashboard is a web-based interface that allows administrators to manage all Meraki devices and networks from a single, centralized location. This includes everything from routers and firewalls to switches and wireless access points.

• SD-WAN Integration: SD-WAN functionality is built into the Meraki MX security appliance series (routers) and can be easily configured, monitored, and managed directly from the Dashboard. There is no need for a separate SD-WAN controller or complex on-premises software—everything is handled via the cloud.

• Key Benefits:

  • Ease of Use: The Dashboard is designed with simplicity in mind, allowing even non-expert network administrators to configure and manage SD-WAN features with minimal training.
  • Global Network Visibility: IT teams can get a complete view of all connected sites, devices, and WAN performance in real-time, regardless of location.
  • Real-Time Monitoring: Administrators can monitor traffic, device health, application performance, and WAN link status from anywhere.

2. Simplified SD-WAN Configuration

• SD-WAN Features in the Dashboard:
  • Automatic Path Selection: The Meraki Dashboard automatically manages the routing of traffic across multiple WAN links (MPLS, broadband, LTE, etc.) based on real-time performance metrics (e.g., latency, jitter, packet loss).
  • Traffic Shaping & QoS: You can set policies to prioritize certain types of traffic, such as VoIP or video conferencing, ensuring business-critical applications get priority on the network.
  • VPN Configuration: Meraki’s SD-WAN includes built-in site-to-site VPN functionality, and the Dashboard simplifies the creation and management of VPN tunnels. VPNs are automatically set up between Meraki devices without requiring complex configurations.
• Key Benefits:
  • No Manual Configuration: SD-WAN policies like traffic shaping, load balancing, and failover are applied automatically based on rules you define. For example, if one link starts experiencing latency issues, traffic can be rerouted to a secondary link with minimal downtime.
  • Reduced Complexity: Traditional WAN setups often require deep technical expertise and manual configuration across devices. The Dashboard's user-friendly interface abstracts much of the complexity and allows administrators to apply SD-WAN policies with a few clicks.

3. Real-Time Analytics and Reporting

• Traffic Analytics: Meraki’s Dashboard provides powerful analytics tools that give administrators deep visibility into network traffic, including which applications are consuming bandwidth and how well the network links are performing. It provides a breakdown of the traffic across each WAN link and the application types (e.g., web traffic, VoIP, video).

• Performance Insights: You can view the health of each WAN link (e.g., MPLS, broadband, LTE), including latency, jitter, and packet loss. This enables proactive identification of performance issues and quick adjustments to routing or failover configurations.

• Security Monitoring: The Dashboard integrates security features such as intrusion prevention (IDS/IPS), content filtering, and advanced malware protection (AMP). It provides detailed logs and alerts that help administrators detect and respond to potential security threats across the SD-WAN.

• Key Benefits:

  • Proactive Troubleshooting: The ability to quickly identify bottlenecks, high-traffic applications, or performance degradation allows IT teams to respond swiftly before issues impact users.
  • Visibility Across WAN: You can see a consolidated view of performance across multiple sites and connections, enabling optimization and better decision-making around WAN provisioning and link management.

4. Policy and Security Automation

• Application Visibility & Control: The Meraki Dashboard allows you to apply SD-WAN policies based on specific applications. For example, you can prioritize voice and video traffic while throttling less critical applications (e.g., bulk file downloads or streaming services). This ensures that business-critical applications get the bandwidth they need, even on shared Internet connections.

• Security Integration: Meraki SD-WAN integrates seamlessly with Meraki's built-in security features, including:

  • Integrated Firewall: You can set up advanced security policies to control traffic at the edge of your network.
  • VPN and Zero-Trust Network Access: Meraki provides easy-to-configure VPNs and options for Zero Trust security models, where devices are authenticated and inspected before being granted network access.
  • Content Filtering & Threat Protection: The Dashboard allows administrators to configure content filtering and advanced threat protection across all SD-WAN connections.

• Key Benefits:

  • Simplified Security Management: With a unified platform, security policies can be applied across your entire network, including WAN, LAN, and wireless environments, all from the Meraki Dashboard.
  • Consistent Security Posture: SD-WAN features such as VPNs and firewalls are automatically integrated with the network’s security policies, ensuring consistent protection across all locations without needing to configure separate devices or systems.

5. WAN Link Aggregation and Load Balancing

• WAN Link Aggregation: Meraki SD-WAN can intelligently aggregate traffic across multiple WAN links (e.g., multiple Internet connections) and distribute the load based on the performance of each link.
  • Automatic Load Balancing: Traffic is distributed across the available WAN links based on the configured policy or real-time conditions (e.g., latency or bandwidth usage).
  • Failover: If one link experiences a failure or severe degradation, traffic can be automatically rerouted to another available link with no manual intervention.
• Key Benefits:
  • Improved Resilience: By automatically rerouting traffic when one link fails or performs poorly, SD-WAN ensures business continuity and minimal downtime.
  • Cost Efficiency: Leveraging multiple types of broadband (e.g., cable, DSL, LTE) for WAN links reduces the dependency on expensive private lines like MPLS, leading to cost savings while maintaining high performance.

6. Scalability and Remote Deployment

• Scalability: The Meraki SD-WAN solution scales easily as new sites or branches are added. New Meraki devices can be shipped pre-configured and simply need to be connected to the network. The Dashboard will automatically recognize the new device and apply the appropriate configurations.

• Zero-Touch Provisioning: Meraki’s devices are designed for zero-touch provisioning, which means that new devices can be plugged in and automatically connect to the network without requiring manual configuration or on-site visits. All settings, including SD-WAN policies, are automatically applied from the cloud.

• Key Benefits:

  • Fast Deployment: New sites or devices can be set up and integrated into the network within minutes, reducing the time and cost associated with WAN expansion.
  • Global Reach: Whether you have a single site or a global network, the Meraki Dashboard provides consistent, easy-to-manage SD-WAN management across all locations, regardless of geography.

7. Collaboration and Team Management

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Meraki allows you to set up different roles and permissions within the Dashboard, ensuring that different team members have access only to the areas of the network they are responsible for. This is useful in large organizations where network management needs to be delegated to different departments or teams.

• Multi-Administrator Access: Multiple administrators can access the Dashboard simultaneously, and all changes made to configurations or policies are logged, allowing for easier collaboration and accountability.

• Key Benefits:

  • Team Collaboration: Multiple team members can work together on managing and troubleshooting the network while maintaining proper security protocols and access controls.
  • Audit Trail: The ability to track changes made by each administrator ensures transparency and accountability in network management.

Meraki SD-WAN, integrated with the Meraki Dashboard, provides a powerful yet user-friendly solution for managing SD-WAN and network devices. By centralizing configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting in the cloud, it simplifies WAN management, reduces complexity, and improves operational efficiency. The Dashboard's real-time visibility, automated traffic management, and security features make it an excellent choice for organizations looking to modernize their WAN infrastructure without the complexity and cost associated with traditional WAN solutions.