In today’s fast-paced digital world, managing network usage and ensuring security is paramount for businesses and organizations of all sizes. Cisco Meraki’s intuitive dashboard empowers IT administrators with powerful application-level visibility and control, enabling them to monitor and manage network traffic effectively. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of enabling and configuring application-level visibility and control using the Meraki GUI, helping you optimize your network performance and enforce security policies with ease.
Why Application-Level Visibility and Control Matter
Before diving into the how-to, it’s essential to understand why application-level visibility and control are crucial:
- Improve Network Performance: Identify bandwidth hogs and prioritize critical applications.
- Enhance Security: Detect and block potentially harmful applications or risky traffic.
- Optimize User Experience: Ensure essential business apps function smoothly without interference.
- Simplify Troubleshooting: Quickly locate issues by drilling down into specific applications.
Now, let’s explore how to unlock these benefits using the Meraki dashboard.
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Application-Level Visibility and Control
Step 1: Log in to Your Meraki Dashboard
- Head to the Meraki Dashboard and enter your credentials.
- Select the network you want to configure from your list of managed networks.
Step 2: Navigate to the Security & SD-WAN or Wireless Settings
- If you’re managing MX Security & SD-WAN appliances, click on Security & SD-WAN in the left-hand menu.
- For Meraki Wireless networks, go to Wireless.
Step 3: Open the Traffic Shaping Section
- In Security & SD-WAN, scroll down and select Traffic shaping under the Configure menu.
- For Wireless, click on Traffic shaping as well, found under the Configure tab.
Step 4: View Application Visibility
- At the top of the Traffic shaping page, you will see an overview of top applications using your bandwidth.
- Meraki automatically classifies thousands of applications using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI), identifying apps like YouTube, Dropbox, or Skype.
Step 5: Create Application-Based Firewall Rules
- Scroll down to the Firewall and traffic shaping rules section.
- Click Add a rule and select Application from the drop-down menu.
- You can search or browse through the extensive list of applications classified by Meraki.
- Choose the applications you want to control (e.g., block P2P file sharing or prioritize business-critical apps).
Step 6: Define the Desired Action for Each Application
- Once you select the apps, set the action such as:
- Allow: Let traffic flow normally.
- Deny: Block the application traffic entirely.
- Shape: Apply bandwidth limits or assign priority levels.
- For shaping, specify bandwidth limits or use DSCP tags to prioritize traffic accordingly.
Step 7: Save and Apply Your Changes
- Don’t forget to hit Save changes at the bottom of the page.
- Your new application-level rules will be applied immediately across the network.
Bonus Tips for Optimal Use
- Use Group Policies: Combine application controls with user or device group policies for granular management.
- Monitor Trends: Regularly check the dashboard’s traffic analytics to make informed adjustments.
- Stay Updated: Meraki frequently updates its application database—review your rules periodically.
- Combine with Content Filtering: For an extra layer of security, pair application controls with content filtering rules.
Final Thoughts
Cisco Meraki’s built-in application-level visibility and control provide an efficient, user-friendly way to gain full insight into network traffic and take proactive measures. By following this guide, you can tailor your network policies to improve performance, bolster security, and ensure a seamless experience for users.
Implementing these controls via the Meraki GUI requires just a few clicks but offers powerful outcomes, making your network smarter and more resilient. Start harnessing Meraki’s robust application awareness capabilities today and take control like a pro!
Feel free to bookmark this guide for easy reference during your network management tasks!
