Cyber threats are evolving rapidly in today’s digital landscape. Since they can create potential disruptions, businesses need a comprehensive cybersecurity framework to secure user data. Cisco Meraki offers a range of cutting-edge security solutions tailored to meet the diverse needs of companies.
Continue reading to learn more about Cisco Meraki security solutions and their benefits.
Overview of Cisco Meraki Security
Cisco Meraki is a cloud-first enterprise networking platform that simplifies advanced network design, deployment, operation, and management. It is an all-in-one solution that combines hardware and software to provide comprehensive network automation, visibility, and security.
Meraki’s approach to cybersecurity is rooted in its cloud-managed networking architecture. This includes the management of security appliances from a central hub. This unified approach helps businesses control their complete infrastructure with little to no technical knowledge. The platform also offers real-time insights, providing an in-depth view of potential security threats and simplifying troubleshooting.
Cisco Meraki Ecosystem’s Security Systems
One of the strengths of Cisco Meraki lies in its comprehensive set of security tools. Here are some of the key solutions:
Firewall
Firewalls are the cornerstone of any security architecture, acting as a defense against malicious threats. Meraki’s Layer 7 firewalls scale with businesses, expanding from one to ten thousand locations. Meraki’s firewalls protect more with less, unifying threat protection in one box with IDS/IPS, AMP, and content filtering. Its cloud-first design automatically accommodates the frequently changing nature of IPv6 through dynamic VLAN objects. The firewall’s rules also adapt to IPv6 prefix changes, providing continuous protection.
Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
With unparalleled intelligence and simplicity, Meraki’s IPS seamlessly integrates intelligence signatures from the widely deployed intrusion detection system (IDS) and IPS software, Snort, which is supported by Cisco Talos. This integration provides real-time intrusion intelligence, boasting an industry-leading database of over 40,000 threat signatures.
Meraki allows businesses to tailor protection levels to match risk tolerance through built-in options. Further, the IPS provides unified threat management, SD-WAN capabilities, platform-wide reporting, and analytics.
Content Filtering
Maintaining a secure and productive browsing environment is imperative for businesses in an era marked by the proliferation of online content. Meraki’s content filtering capabilities enable organizations to enforce web usage policies, blocking access to malicious websites and inappropriate content. Meraki ensures compliance with regulatory requirements by categorizing web traffic based on URL, application, and user identity while enhancing employee productivity and morale.
Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
Meraki’s VPN solutions provide secure remote access for employees from all locations. The client VPN service from Meraki uses the Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP). Businesses can easily deploy Meraki’s VPN without additional software on devices with native support for L2TP VPN connections. It’s also flexible when it comes to user authentication. IT teams and companies can use Meraki Cloud, RADIUS, and Active Directory for their authentication requirements.
Cameras and Sensors
Beyond traditional network defenses, Meraki ensures physical security through security cameras, sensors, and other access control systems. Meraki cameras use cutting-edge technology to provide high-definition video surveillance. These intelligent cameras have motion alerts, smart search, and system health monitoring with remote troubleshooting. This makes them ideal for managing access, detecting suspicious activity, monitoring visitor traffic, and other use cases.
In addition to cameras, Meraki offers a range of environmental sensors that monitor air quality, temperature, and restricted spaces. The IoT sensors provide valuable information on facility operations, energy consumption, and other relevant factors for efficient operations and compliance.
Benefits of Cisco Meraki Security Solutions
The adoption of Cisco Meraki security solutions brings a wide range of advantages, including:
- Deployment and Management: By leveraging a cloud-first approach, the platform simplifies the deployment and management of security appliances. The centralized management and automated updates help businesses streamline their security operations and reduce the burden on IT staff.
- Scalability and Flexibility: Meraki’s modular architecture allows businesses to scale their security infrastructure to meet evolving demands. Whether serving a small startup or a global enterprise, Meraki ensures flexible licensing options and seamless integration. This approach allows your network security solutions to grow with your business.
- Visibility and Control: Meraki provides unparalleled visibility into network traffic and security events through centralized dashboards and reporting tools. With granular control over firewall policies, content filtering, and intrusion prevention, businesses can monitor and proactively mitigate security threats in real time.
- Integrated Ecosystem: Meraki’s integrated security ecosystem ensures comprehensive protection against various threats, including malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. The platform delivers a multi-layered defense strategy that safeguards critical assets and data by combining firewalls, intrusion prevention, content filtering, and VPN solutions.
- Cost-Efficiency: By consolidating multiple security functions into a single platform, Meraki helps businesses reduce costs associated with hardware procurement, maintenance, and management. With predictable pricing and minimal upfront investment, Meraki offers a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes.
Best Practices
The following best practices can help businesses leverage Meraki’s security applications.
- Conducting Security Assessment: A thorough security assessment is necessary to identify any potential vulnerabilities in the network infrastructure. This assessment will help businesses understand their security posture and develop an effective plan to address potential threats.
- Defining Goals: Business owners and IT teams should research the current digital environment to establish goals and develop security policies. This approach ensures that security measures can meet the business’s unique needs.
- Enforcing Controls: Implementing strict access controls for users and devices is crucial to minimize the risk of security breaches. This includes restricting access to sensitive data and resources, implementing strong password policies, and providing regular employee training.
- Testing and Monitoring: Conducting regular security audits, monitoring network traffic, and implementing intrusion detection and prevention systems will help businesses promptly identify and address potential threats.
- Continuous Security Improvement: Businesses must be vigilant in improving their security posture. This includes staying up-to-date on security trends, patches, and software updates. A proactive approach to security will help them protect their data and maintain compliance with industry standards.
By embracing best practices and leveraging Meraki’s cloud-managed approach, your business can enhance its security posture. The team here at Advanced Logic is certified and experienced with Cisco Meraki, and can ensure a successful integration into your network infrastructure. Our FLxSecure services defend your business from threats and shut them down fast.
Contact us today to learn how we can help improve your network security! Click below to quickly schedule a no obligation conversation with our team.
