Clearpath’s Blog on IT Infrastructure, Hybrid Clouds and IT Security

Cisco Meraki recently released a new product called the Meraki MG Cellular Gateway which Cisco SVP Todd Nightingale believes will be the fastest-launching Meraki product of all time (https://www.crn.com/cisco-takes-aim-at-cradlepoint-enters-new-market-with-meraki-cellular-gateway). We at Clearpath think that Meraki's newest product line definitely solves a problem with remote network connectivity that a lot of our clients have. With that being said I’ll now cover the following: what does it do, what is its significance, and should your organization be considering it?

The increased sophistication of malware attacks, the rapid expansion of IoT, and the growing use of mobile devices to access enterprise and guest Wi-Fi networks is leaving even the best-equipped security teams struggling to keep up.

Part of the struggle is that existing security solutions are siloed and don’t integrate or share intelligence in a programmatic way. Security teams are also understaffed. The 2018 Cisco Annual Cybersecurity Report found that a lack of security personnel prevents many organizations from implementing new cyber capabilities – this can limit the ability to deploy, manage, and scale security solutions to combat the growing threat.

Consider one of the most exploited vulnerabilities in many networks – DNS blind spots. Currently, 97% of malware use DNS as part of the attack. However, most security teams (75%) don’t filter DNS traffic for malicious internet connections, hence the blind spot.

Good news! A new integration addresses this security vulnerability and solves the challenges of deployment and support – making your security team’s jobs a lot easier.

There’s a huge emphasis on cyber security—and rightly so in today’s world.  But an important part of a security stance for any organization should also be an emphasis of physical security for their business.  There are many ways to build a stronger security stance—from keycard entry systems to physical locks, and many of them are benefitting from technology advances.  One such field is the tried and true security camera.  They’ve been around for decades—but have come a long way since the closed circuit TV cameras.  Video surveillance is now more than just a security solution—advances in technology and analytics are helping cities, retail, and businesses have a more secure and effective physical environment. 

One such camera and video surveillance system is the Meraki MV line, brought to you by Cisco Meraki, a combination of trusted names in networking and security.  This is a unique approach because it means Meraki’s wireless, switching, security, communications, enterprise mobility management (EMM), and security cameras can all be managed through a single, web-based dashboard.  That’s great news for the IT department who won’t have to figure out how to manage a completely new system and dashboard.  Let’s quickly look at some of the benefits of the Meraki approach. 

Cisco Meraki products are 100% cloud managed - It’s IT that simply works. The new portfolio of networking devices is feature-rich with easy-to-use cloud architecture that enables your company to solve new business problems and reduce operating costs. Cisco recently announced the expansion of the Meraki portfolio to include more options and price points to meet the needs of even more customers in this highly-specialized market. These easy to use and powerful switches provide the backbone for networks of all sizes. They combine secure, scalable, robust performance with an elegant, intuitive management experience. Below, we outline the best features of two new Meraki models.