Hey sysadmin community! I'm on a mission to standardize our network stack across about 30 national locations, but the challenge is that some have only 2 employees while others have 20+. Ideally, I want a single-brand solution for everything—firewall, switch, WiFi—with one pane of glass management. However, I realize that might not be the best approach. I'm open to options like fully managed services, SASE, or hardware that we can self-manage. Since I've never tackled a project this large and complex, I'm unsure where to start. I'm also reviewing our phone and internet contracts for these locations at the same time. Considering the project's size and scope, where should I begin? Do I reach out to a big reseller like CDW that offers multiple vendors, or should I contact individual manufacturers like Cisco or Fortinet for proposals? Would starting with a large internet aggregator who can bundle Internet with managed network services make sense? I appreciate any insights!
2 Answers
Before diving in, figure out your budget and the complexity of your current network setup. For example, Cisco Meraki varies in usability depending on how many networks you’re managing, and smaller sites could use Meraki Go for a simpler option. If phone systems are part of the puzzle, consider Cisco WebEx as well, but definitely nail down that budget first.
Meraki might be a great fit for you, as long as your budget allows for it. They offer a robust solution that could simplify management. If cost is an issue, you could consider Ubiquiti's Unifi; it's more affordable but comes with some trade-offs. Just make sure to evaluate what your actual needs are in detail.
I totally agree. Meraki seems like the go-to for ease of use, especially if you have multiple locations to manage.