My use case for Cisco DNA Center is for SD-Access, which is for software-defined access and management of devices.
Cisco DNA Software for SD-WAN and Routing
Cisco Systems, Inc.Reviews from AWS customer
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Client history has helped resolve past network issues more efficiently
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
I mostly use the client history feature of Cisco DNA Center.
I didn't use the real-time monitoring capability of Cisco DNA Center because I primarily used it for client history regarding issues and problems. I don't use it for real-time monitoring. If there is a problem, I can inspect the situation and see what is happening, which is beneficial.
What needs improvement?
In my opinion, the client history in Cisco DNA Center can be longer than 10 days, perhaps extending to 15 or 20 days. I am using it in a huge factory in Turkey, and sometimes I need to see what occurred one month or 20 days prior.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have approximately one year of experience working with Cisco DNA Center.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We faced a few problems with Cisco DNA Center when we were setting up devices, but it wasn't significant because we are managing and using it with Cisco engineers who help us. We inform them of issues, and they assist in resolving them. I'm happy with the support from Cisco support. When we communicate problems, they solve them effectively.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability in Cisco DNA Center is good. We are using it for Software-Defined Access solution, and we haven't reached our device limit yet. From my experience, we can easily manage numerous devices. Though we are not using the full potential of Cisco DNA Center, it seems very good so far.
How are customer service and support?
I did not talk with Cisco support directly, but according to my colleagues, the support for Cisco DNA Center is good. On a scale from one to ten, it would rate seven or eight.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
What other advice do I have?
I am just a customer in relation to Cisco.
I don't know anything about prices and licensing of Cisco DNA Center because it's not my job; I'm just using it.
I have Cisco DNA Center deployed on-premises.
I have approximately three years of experience working in my current field.
I rate Cisco DNA Center overall nine out of ten.
Experience unified visibility and monitoring for enterprise campus and significant time savings and enhanced troubleshooting with reliable support
What is our primary use case?
We have been working with Cisco DNA Center for ten years. Our clients use Cisco DNA Center for unified visibility/monitoring across Enterprise Campus both LAN & WLAN along with Access and fast technical issues troubleshooting.
How has it helped my organization?
The solution provides fast troubleshooting capabilities and fast technical problems solving across both LAN & WLAN platform. The pricing, setup cost, and licensing of Cisco DNA Center are medium expensive.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features includes unified visibility and monitoring across LAN & WLAN technologies which make troubleshooting much easier. The real-time monitoring capability of Cisco DNA Center is particularly effective.
What needs improvement?
We have utilized the software-defined access (SDA) feature of Cisco DNA Center. The AI-driven needs enhancements and Integration and unification of visibility and monitoring to include other areas like Data Center and WAN to have a full visibility of the traffic end to end.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been promoting solution since 10+ years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is now very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is designed for large enterprise companies.
How are customer service and support?
The solution is stable. The technical support rates eight out of ten. Overall, Cisco DNA Center rates eight out of ten as a complete solution.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Previously used Huawei SDN Technology called iMaster but solution is not yet mature.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was of medium complexity.
What about the implementation team?
We have our own in-house expert consultants to do the implementation on very professional level.
What was our ROI?
Although Cisco DNA Center is expensive, we have seen a return on investment in terms of time savings.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
After evaluating other solutions, we will provide feedback.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We did evaluate Huawei SDN Technology called iMaster and we will evaluate Juniper and also Arista SDN.
What other advice do I have?
I am a Cisco Gold partner and currently Managing Director at CONNECT-PS ConnectProfessional Services Saudi Regional Office. The overall rating for Cisco DNA Center is 8 out of 10.
Effective monitoring that's easy with good customer support
What is our primary use case?
I use the system to manage our network effectively.
What is most valuable?
The monitoring is very valuable to me. I can easily monitor all my clients through Cisco DNA Center at this point.
What needs improvement?
The system is working fine for me currently.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been with Cisco for about five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The system is very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is okay for me.
How are customer service and support?
I have contacted customer service once or twice, and it was very good. I rate it between nine and ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
The previous solution was also from Cisco. It was Cisco Prime infrastructure. Since Cisco Prime is an old solution and end of life, Cisco upgraded it to Cisco DNA.
How was the initial setup?
The setup is not complex when setting up Cisco DNA, however, it's not easy either.
What about the implementation team?
The implementation was completed by me.
What was our ROI?
It's a very good product, however, it comes with a very high price. The customer needs to pay a license for each client inside Cisco DNA, each switch, and each access point to get it to work.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The cost is very high.
What other advice do I have?
Cisco needs to review the pricing of the Cisco DNA license. Otherwise, they might lose customers.
I rate the overall solution between eight out of ten.
Helps in generating network performance reports and has valuable automation features
What is our primary use case?
Our customers use the solution to manage and centrally apply device policies. Many administrators are moving away from manual configuration, and DNA Center helps automate network management. Some use it purely for assurance, such as troubleshooting, monitoring, and generating network performance reports. The 360-degree view feature is widely used for monitoring networks, and many customers also leverage automation and access control features.
What is most valuable?
The platform's most valuable features are automation and assurance. Automation helps configure devices without manual intervention, enabling zero-touch provisioning. Devices like switches can seamlessly be added to the network, reducing time and effort. It also ensures policy compliance across the network. In addition, the assurance feature provides detailed insights into network health, which is essential for efficient management.
What needs improvement?
One area that needs improvement is the upgrade process. The time required for downloading and installing packages during upgrades is too long, often taking around ten hours. This is a significant issue for customers who cannot afford such long downtime. Improvements in reducing upgrade time would greatly enhance the user experience.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been working with Cisco DNA Center since its release.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate DNA Center's scalability as eight. It can manage large networks efficiently, and its ability to scale with the organization's growing network requirements makes it a robust solution.
How was the initial setup?
I rate the initial setup around seven to eight. While the physical setup, like rack-mounting, is straightforward, the complexity arises in gathering the prerequisites, such as management IP addresses and other configuration details from the customer. With proper planning, the setup can be completed in about 30 minutes. However, the lengthy upgrade process remains a challenge.
It is mostly deployed on-premises. It comes with UCS appliances, and most customers prefer the on-premise deployment for security and performance reasons. Although cloud deployment options may be available, most of our deployments are on-prem.
The deployment time depends on the size of the customer's network. Smaller setups can take a few days if all prerequisites are in place. However, larger networks, especially those requiring fabric-enabled switches or firewall integration, can take longer. The DNA Center's configuration is relatively simple, but preparing the network infrastructure can extend the timeline.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I rate Cisco DNA Center a nine out of ten.
Efficiently manages our wireless network and provides valuable monitoring features
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the platform for monitoring, especially within our wireless network. Additionally, we have started registering our 9300 and 9400 switches, although the primary focus remains on monitoring and alarming purposes.
How has it helped my organization?
One notable aspect of Cisco DNA Center is the code it injects into switches during enrollment—approximately 1,200 lines for telemetry and other configurations. Compared to other solutions, such as SolarWinds, which requires far less code to gather the necessary information, this seems excessive. They could improve this process by making it lighter and more efficient.
What is most valuable?
The product's most valuable feature is the visual representation of the switch's front panel. It provides a clear, at-a-glance view of each port's status, color-coded based on its status.
What needs improvement?
The solution's setup process needs enhancement.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Cisco DNA Center for five months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The product stability has been good so far.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We are working with a small network of about 300 devices. Thus, I can only briefly comment on scalability. For our requirements, the platform's capacity is more than sufficient.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup requires extensive training. Like many Cisco products, it is complex and cannot be learned without proper training.
What other advice do I have?
The platform's biggest benefit has been in managing our wireless network. Having a single pane of glass to control all wireless controllers and access points and to monitor activity has been a significant advantage.
We're a small federal agency with around 300 network devices, so automation is a minor focus. It's more relevant for larger networks.
The main benefits we've seen are in inventory management and the potential for configuration automation. However, I recommend using the DNA Centre only for larger networks with over a thousand devices; otherwise, it may not be cost-effective.
Before proceeding, ensure that your devices are compatible with DNA Center, as not all Cisco devices are supported. Also, investing in proper training is different from plug-and-play.
I rate it an eight.
Impressive solution offering automation and segmentation capabilities
What is our primary use case?
I am a partner and I design Center and offer it to many customers. I'm familiar with convincing customers to buy this solution.
What is most valuable?
The features, like segmentation and network automation control solutions, are quite impressive. You can now segment by user identity. This new approach to segmentation by identity is a standout feature.
Automation is another key highlight. With automation, you can automate everything through a single port. This means you can control, monitor, and configure the solution all from one place, which is incredibly convenient.
Additionally, the solution offers robust capabilities to identify and address weak points in the server, helping you pinpoint potential problems quickly. It also includes data analytics, providing customers with enhanced visibility and enabling them to find solutions to various issues quickly.
What needs improvement?
An area that needs improvement is the integration with other vendors. I think this is a missing point. If we focus on improving integration, many new features could evolve from this solution. Integration with other network admission control devices and vendors beyond just Cisco would be particularly beneficial.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for the past five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable. I rate it an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Our clients are medium-sized businesses. I'd rate the scalability of the product as nine out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
I rate the initial setup a six out of ten. The time it takes to set up depends on the solution and the size of the customer. But typically, if everything goes smoothly and we're dealing with just one building or three to four floors, it might take a maximum of one week to get everything settled.
What was our ROI?
I rate the return on investment as seven out of ten, with ten being visible ROI and one being no ROI.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would rate the pricing a six out of ten, with ten being expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend the solution mainly because of its standout features like automation, which simplifies troubleshooting and configuration from a single pane of glass. The easy integration and advanced segmentation are also key benefits. These features make it an excellent choice for any IT organization.
Cisco DNA Center has been very supportive of our network security and compliance initiatives. I'd rate its support a nine out of ten. Moreover, the solution has significantly contributed to our AI-driven networking projects. I'd rate it a nine out of ten.
Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Offers ease in operations and good automation capabilities
What is our primary use case?
I use Cisco DNA Center mainly for greenfield, which is for bringing up the site, adding the devices, and doing day 0 and day 1. With the tool, the key important part handled is in terms of wireless assurance. The tool's Wireless Assurance version provides me with a good amount of data to help me understand how my wireless network functions within the network. The guided remediation helps with the tool's offerings in terms of AI and machine learning, especially if there are a lot of devices and there will be a lot of notifications. In my company, we can select the golden software image, and we can activate and distribute it in bulk. The SIEM compliance part and the integrations that it has in terms of Cisco ISE will form the segmentation in terms of SDN.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration. You can design your network hierarchy and export the wireless heat maps. You can get the data that our company needs to understand how the network is behaving. You can visualize how your network is performing, look at the health course, and whatever it provides in terms of the user and client or from a network perspective.
What needs improvement?
In terms of the clustering part, there are some concerns. I feel like the clustering part is there because it is built on microservices architecture, so by default it is there in the tool. It is not complex to deploy, and it is easy, to be honest. The open APIs are there in the tool, which is fine.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Cisco DNA Center for four to five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The tool's stability is fine.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Similar to the options like XL and XXL that one gets when it comes to clothing sizes to choose from, Cisco DNA Center offers a few options to its users. Based on your network nodes, be it the number of wireless access points or wired endpoints, the tool is scalable, and that is not a problem. The scalability has no limits. If you have increased the scalability limit, you can have one more cluster of Cisco DNA Center, which can be deployed, after which those branches can be there. One need not worry about the scalability process. People also have an AWS option.
My company works with government companies, enterprise-sized businesses, and SMBs. When it comes to SMBs, my company does not prefer to offer Cisco DNA Center. Instead, my company offers SMBs Cisco Meraki.
How are customer service and support?
The solution's technical support is fine. I rate the technical support an eight out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The product is easy to deploy.
The number of engineers or architects required for the deployment and maintenance of the tool depends on the size of the organization. Suppose you are catering to the needs of an organization where there are more than 40 or 50 sites are there with one DNS center, which is deployed in an HQ or a regional center, even if you roughly have a Cisco stack consisting of wired and wireless tools if you have Cisco DNA Center, even if it is based on a twenty-four hours and seven days a week shift, you can able to manage the entire network with around three to four engineers.
The time required to install the product depends on the scale at which you plan to deploy the tool. For just doing the basics related to the deployment part involving or utilizing enterprise port or cluster port, you just make it up and get it connected to the network and reach out to Cisco sites to download anything, which will take maybe one to two hours to just to make it up if every prerequisite is met and are in place.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The tool's licensing may not come across as something that may be friendly for users. Customers may not like the licensing part because if you want to have more features, then you need to go for Cisco DNA Center with SDA, or you will get only the minimum functionalities in the tool.
What other advice do I have?
The product's automation capabilities are fine, especially considering the tool's areas like day 0 and day 1.
The product does offer support in terms of compliance. Even though I have not worked with use cases relating to compliance, I know that it works well.
If you want to use a tool for your operations, and if you want to get visibility on your network, especially if you have Cisco products, and you want and then without having Cisco L3 Switches, if you want to support in terms of troubleshooting, Cisco DNA Center can be a good option.
I rate the tool an eight out of ten.
Enhances workspace mobility for users, employers, contractors, and partners
What is our primary use case?
The solution helps in user microsegmentation.
What is most valuable?
I believe the main function of this solution is ideal for businesses aiming to enhance workspace mobility for users, employers, contractors, and partners. It offers comprehensive workspace capabilities while maintaining the complexity and perfection required by various business points and IT system policies.
What needs improvement?
The tool's IoT integration should be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with the product for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate Cisco DNA Center a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the tool's scalability a nine out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
Cisco is good at helping with technical stuff, and they have a special team to ensure customers have a great experience. They provide all the help and advice you need, starting immediately, even before you go.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
Cisco DNA Center's deployment is not difficult, but you need an engineer with a good background.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The tool is medium-priced.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Cisco DNA Center a nine out of ten.
Offers an intuitive and automated way to manage user networks
What is our primary use case?
Cisco DNA Center helps to manage user networks.
What is most valuable?
The product offers an intuitive and automated way to manage user networks. It gives me an insight into the network health.
What needs improvement?
The tool's deployment is complex. It also needs to improve its GUI.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the product for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the product's stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The product is scalable. My company has 500 users.
How was the initial setup?
Cisco DNA Center's deployment takes three weeks to complete.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Cisco DNA Center is expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the product a nine out of ten.
Automates workflows and deployments across disparate systems in order to streamline operations across domains
What is our primary use case?
It can assess traditional networks.
What is most valuable?
The automation features are significant and reduce configuration time. This means outstanding functionality. By deploying the controller automatically, the rest becomes automated.
What needs improvement?
When it comes to deploying wireless fields, integrating defaults into the DNS interface can be challenging.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have experience with Cisco DNA Center.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
In the dashboard, we observe that the integration with IT is functional. However, when inspecting the system, we encounter occasional errors in the desktop.I would rate it 8 out of 10.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate it 8 out of 10.
How was the initial setup?
Deployment is not difficult; it could take approximately a day to complete, assuming we have all the necessary information and the initial email from Cisco.
What about the implementation team?
Maintenance can be challenging because we're unsure about the number of applications utilized in the studio.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would rate it 7 in terms of pricing.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate it an eight out of ten.