This is a breakdown of recommended Cisco products for enterprises, categorized by function. It’s a long list, as Cisco offers a lot. I’ll also indicate typical company size suitability (Small, Medium, Large, Very Large) and approximate cost indication (Low, Medium, High). Cost is relative and depends heavily on scale, features, and licensing. This is a starting point; a proper assessment requires understanding your specific needs.
I. Networking (Core Infrastructure)
- Catalyst Series Switches: (Medium – Very Large, Medium – High) – The workhorse of enterprise networks. Offers a wide range of options for access, distribution, and core layers.
- Catalyst 9300 Series: (Large – Very Large, High) – High-performance, stackable switches for campus core and aggregation. Supports advanced features like StackWise Virtual, DNA Center integration.
- Catalyst 9400 Series: (Very Large, High) – Modular switches for the highest performance and scalability in data centers and large campuses.
- Catalyst 9200 Series: (Medium – Large, Medium) – Versatile access layer switches with Power over Ethernet (PoE) and advanced security features.
- Catalyst 1000 Series: (Small – Medium, Low – Medium) – Simplified, cloud-managed switches for smaller businesses or branch offices.
- Nexus Series Switches: (Large – Very Large, High) – Data center-focused switches, known for their high density, low latency, and advanced features like VXLAN and TRILL.
- Nexus 9500 Series: (Very Large, High) – High-performance, scalable switches for modern data centers.
- Nexus 9300 Series: (Large – Very Large, High) – Versatile switches for data center and campus networks.
- Routers: (All Sizes, Medium – High) – Connect networks and provide routing between them.
- Cisco ASR 9000 Series: (Large – Very Large, High) – High-performance routers for service provider and large enterprise networks. Supports advanced routing protocols and features.
- Cisco ISR 4000 Series: (Medium – Large, Medium) – Integrated Services Routers for branch offices and small to medium-sized businesses. Offers a wide range of interfaces and features.
- Cisco Viptela SD-WAN: (Medium – Very Large, Medium – High) – Software-Defined Wide Area Network solution for simplified WAN management and optimized application performance. (See SD-WAN section below)
- Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs): (Medium – Very Large, Medium – High) – Manage and control wireless access points.
- Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers: (Large – Very Large, High) – High-density, scalable wireless controllers with advanced features like client analytics and location services.
- Wireless Access Points (APs): (All Sizes, Low – Medium) – Provide wireless connectivity.
- Catalyst 9100 Series Access Points: (All Sizes, Low – Medium) – Wi-Fi 6/6E access points with advanced features like OFDMA and MU-MIMO.
- Meraki Access Points: (Small – Medium, Low – Medium) – Cloud-managed access points for simplified deployment and management. (See Meraki section below)
II. Security
- Firewalls: (All Sizes, Medium – High) – Protect networks from unauthorized access.
- Cisco Firepower NGFW: (Medium – Very Large, High) – Next-Generation Firewall with advanced threat protection, intrusion prevention, and application control.
- Cisco ASA Series: (Medium – Large, Medium) – Traditional firewall with robust security features. (Becoming less common in favor of Firepower)
- Meraki MX Series: (Small – Medium, Low – Medium) – Cloud-managed security appliances with firewall, VPN, and content filtering.
- Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS): (Medium – Very Large, Medium – High) – Detect and prevent malicious activity. (Often integrated into Firepower NGFW)
- Cisco Secure Endpoint (formerly AMP for Endpoints): (All Sizes, Medium) – Endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution for protecting computers and servers.
- Cisco Secure Email: (All Sizes, Medium) – Email security solution for protecting against phishing, malware, and spam.
- Cisco Secure Web: (All Sizes, Medium) – Web security solution for protecting against web-based threats.
- Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE): (Large – Very Large, High) – Network access control (NAC) solution for controlling access to the network based on user identity and device posture.
- Cisco Duo Security: (All Sizes, Low – Medium) – Multi-factor authentication (MFA) solution for securing access to applications and data.
III. Collaboration (Communication & Meetings)
- Webex: (All Sizes, Low – Medium) – Cloud-based collaboration platform for meetings, messaging, and calling.
- Webex Meetings: Video conferencing.
- Webex Teams: Messaging and team spaces.
- Webex Calling: Cloud-based phone system.
- Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM): (Medium – Very Large, High) – On-premises call control system for managing IP phones and voice communications.
- Cisco Unity Connection: (Medium – Very Large, Medium) – Voice messaging system.
- Cisco Jabber: (All Sizes, Low – Medium) – Instant messaging and presence client.
- Cisco Meeting Server: (Medium – Large, Medium) – On-premises video conferencing solution.
- Cisco Room Kits: (All Sizes, Medium – High) – All-in-one video conferencing room systems.
IV. Data Center
- UCS (Unified Computing System): (Large – Very Large, High) – Converged infrastructure platform for servers, storage, and networking.
- HyperFlex: (Medium – Very Large, High) – Hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solution that combines compute, storage, and networking into a single platform.
- ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure): (Very Large, High) – Software-defined networking (SDN) solution for automating and managing data center networks.
V. Software & Management
- Cisco DNA Center: (Large – Very Large, High) – Network management and automation platform for intent-based networking.
- Cisco Meraki Dashboard: (Small – Medium, Low – Medium) – Cloud-based management platform for Meraki devices.
- Cisco Prime Infrastructure: (Medium – Large, Medium) – Network management and monitoring platform.
- Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela): (Medium – Very Large, Medium – High) – Software-Defined Wide Area Network solution for simplified WAN management and optimized application performance. Offers centralized control, application-aware routing, and security features.
- Cisco ThousandEyes: (Medium – Very Large, Medium) – Network intelligence and performance monitoring platform.
VI. Meraki (Cloud-Managed Solutions)
Meraki is a Cisco subsidiary offering cloud-managed networking, security, and collaboration solutions. It’s known for its simplicity and ease of use. Ideal for organizations with limited IT resources or branch offices.
- Meraki MR Series Access Points: (Small – Medium, Low – Medium)
- Meraki MX Series Security Appliances: (Small – Medium, Low – Medium)
- Meraki MS Series Switches: (Small – Medium, Low – Medium)
- Meraki MV Series Smart Cameras: (Small – Medium, Low – Medium)
- Meraki MD Series Telemetry: (Small – Medium, Low – Medium)
Important Considerations
- Business Requirements: The most important factor. What are your specific needs for bandwidth, security, collaboration, and scalability?
- Budget: Cisco products can be expensive. Consider your budget and prioritize features accordingly.
- IT Expertise: Some Cisco products require specialized expertise to deploy and manage. Consider your internal IT capabilities.
- Scalability: Choose products that can scale to meet your future needs.
- Integration: Ensure that the products you choose integrate well with your existing infrastructure.
- Licensing: Cisco licensing can be complex. Understand the licensing requirements for each product.
To get a more tailored recommendation, please provide me with more information about your organization
- Industry: (e.g., Healthcare, Finance, Education)
- Number of Employees:
- Number of Locations:
- Current Network Infrastructure: (e.g., Cisco, Juniper, other)
- Specific Challenges: (e.g., Security concerns, poor network performance, need for better collaboration)
- Budget Range: (Roughly)
This information will help me narrow down the options and provide you with a more relevant and helpful recommendation. You should also consult with a Cisco partner for a professional assessment and design.