How Does Cisco Meraki Licensing Work?

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Managed IT Support NJ

3 min readJun 2, 2023

In this article, we will delve into the details of Cisco Meraki licensing and explore the various options available for businesses. Whether you are already using Cisco Meraki products or considering implementing them, understanding licensing is crucial for optimizing your network infrastructure.

How does Cisco Meraki licensing work?

Cisco Meraki licensing is a subscription-based model that grants users access to the extensive features and functionalities of Cisco Meraki cloud-managed networking solutions. Let’s take a closer look at how this licensing system operates.

1. Licensing Tiers: Essential, Advanced, and Enterprise

Cisco Meraki offers three main licensing tiers: Essential, Advanced, and Enterprise. Each tier provides different levels of access to features and services, allowing businesses to choose the most suitable option based on their specific needs.

Essential License

The Essential license is the base tier offered by Cisco Meraki. It includes fundamental features such as cloud-based monitoring, alerts, and basic security functionalities. This license level is ideal for businesses seeking essential network management capabilities without advanced features.

Advanced License

The Advanced license builds upon the Essential license, offering enhanced features like application traffic shaping, content filtering, and more advanced security options. This tier is recommended for organizations that require additional control over their network traffic and security measures.

Enterprise License

The Enterprise license is the highest tier of licensing provided by Cisco Meraki. It encompasses all the features available in the Essential and Advanced licenses, along with additional capabilities like SD-WAN, advanced security services, and intelligent network analytics. This license level is suitable for enterprises with complex networking requirements and a need for comprehensive management and security features.

2. License Duration and Renewals

Cisco Meraki licenses are typically valid for one, three, five, or ten years, depending on the chosen licensing term. Once the initial license period expires, businesses must renew their licenses to maintain uninterrupted access to Cisco Meraki’s features and services.

To ensure a seamless renewal process, Cisco Meraki offers multiple options, including manual license renewal, automatic renewal, and co-termination. Manual renewal involves manually extending the license term, while automatic renewal enables licenses to be automatically renewed based on predetermined preferences. Co-termination allows businesses to align license expiration dates, simplifying the renewal process for multiple licenses.

3. License Portability

One of the significant advantages of Cisco Meraki licensing is its portability across different devices. With a valid license, businesses can easily transfer their licenses from one Cisco Meraki device to another within the same licensing tier, making it convenient to upgrade or replace hardware without the need for additional licenses.

4. Co-Termination and License Stacking

For businesses managing multiple licenses, Cisco Meraki provides co-termination and license stacking features. Co-termination allows businesses to consolidate their license expiration dates, simplifying the renewal process. License stacking allows organizations to stack multiple licenses of the same type to increase the overall device count supported by those licenses.

5. License Renewal Notifications

To ensure businesses stay informed about upcoming license expirations, Cisco Meraki sends renewal notifications well in advance. These notifications serve as a reminder to renew licenses promptly, preventing any disruption in service.

6. License Transferability

Cisco Meraki licenses are transferable between organizations, allowing businesses to easily transfer licenses when undergoing mergers, acquisitions, or restructuring. However, the transfer must adhere to Cisco Meraki’s terms and conditions.

FAQs about Cisco Meraki Licensing

Here are some frequently asked questions about Cisco Meraki licensing, along with their answers:

How can I purchase a Cisco Meraki license?

Can I upgrade my license tier after purchase?

Can I mix different license tiers within my network?

What happens if my license expires?

Can I transfer my license to another organization?

Can I try Cisco Meraki before purchasing a license?

Exploring Cisco Meraki: Brochures, Licensing, and More

Take a look at the following brochures to learn more about Cisco Meraki’s products and services: