Meraki Powered Networks
CenturyLink®, which is one of the major internet providers in the country, recently launched its Managed Enterprise solution that works together with the Cisco™ Meraki technology. This will facilitate the monitoring and management of the Cisco™ Meraki-powered networks for CenturyLink® partners and customers. With this new technology, the partners having no Cisco™ certification are given an opportunity in accessing the Meraki technology. This new managed solution will feature the use of CenturyLink’s networking technology, connectivity, and expertise in managed services.
The management solution is further strengthened by the use of the Cisco™ Meraki-powered networks that consist of many wireless and network switching hardware, SD-WAN and analytics. Shane Stark, director of vendor and channel relations for Carrier Access and a premier partner of CenturyLink® said, “That’s a good thing because it allows smaller IT shops like us to leverage [CenturyLink’s] resources to manage customers outside of our managed services footprint.”
This new enterprise solution from CenturyLink® offers immense possibilities in business. It allows them to utilize the technology via its single interface for installing and monitoring the Wi-Fi networks, video surveillance, SD-WAN services, wireless, security and voice systems. CenturyLink® has announced that the new service is accessible through the company’s Channel Alliance Partners. It is also possible to integrate the Managed Enterprise solution using the Cisco™ Meraki networks with many other offerings of the company such as Fiber+, Managed Office, and Location-Based Analytics, which is the customer engagement product of the company.
Managed Enterprise Solution
According to CenturyLink®, the managed solution services is available through a monthly per device subscription based pricing. The customers are offered the liberty to choose their devices while ordering the service. This provides the customers with a limit to the number of devices that can be used on the site. John Hudson, director of service provider solutions for Lumenate, an IT consulting firm and partner at CenturyLink® and Cisco™ said, “Service providers [are] continuing to advance beyond the telco point of demarcation to provide additional value and gain a greater share of wallet.”
Hudson further added that, “The VAR and MSP and carrier worlds are colliding, so it’s critical we are listening intently to our customers and focusing on measurable outcomes rather than a product sale.” Meanwhile, Shane Shark has pointed out the bundling of CenturyLink’s Managed Enterprise along with its other services such as the high-speed cheap internet.
