Cisco router – 3 Ways To Save Money Buying Refurbished

What You Need To Know Before Buying

For businesses with multiple locations or mobile employees, a Cisco router is an essential tool. There are many features to consider when evaluating the best Cisco router for your company. Here, is a guide to help you make the most informed purchase decision. What are you waiting for?

What is a Cisco router?

A router is the connection point between your office network and the Internet. If you are in a closed office environment, a router is the same as a phone line, and it can be shared between multiple offices.

A Cisco router is an all-in-one device and can be purchased in different variations that vary in form factor. There are different types of routers, but most are categorized into three main categories: a point-to-point device, a mesh device, and a wireless or a hybrid wireless system.

Is there a difference between a point-to-point and a mesh router?

Point-to-point routers are highly configurable and come in many forms. They tend to be very small, so it makes sense that these types of routers are used to connect a company’s headquarters and to smaller branches in different locations.

Why do you need a Cisco router?

These routers serve as a central control point for all your IT devices and data. If your business is looking for the best overall router for small businesses, you will want to take advantage of the following features.

Dedicated Storage for Business Data

Your office is typically split into two or more floors. Data is typically stored in multiple locations, which means you could have a total of 200 data drives in one building. With a Cisco router, you can gain control over all of those drives with one centralized location.

The Cisco ASR 9000 Series Routers are ideal for businesses with networked data centers, branch offices, or even a distributed environment.

How does a Cisco router work?

A Cisco router is a single device that lets multiple users access the Internet from one place, so users can stay connected, regardless of which network they’re on. A router can be used in several ways:

A router provides dedicated, secure access to the network so that multiple users can work on the same tasks without interrupting each other. It can also ensure security in the network by adding security features such as firewall protection.

A router acts as a wireless access point (WAP) so that users can connect to the Internet from their laptops and smartphones. A router can make it easy for users to access the WAP without constantly having to set up new accounts or log in.

What are the different types of Cisco routers?

Different Cisco routers target different categories of clients. Here are the main types of Cisco routers:

The basics: the most basic and cheapest Cisco routers include the Wireless Access point, the Wireless Security Access Point, the Wireless Multicast Access Point, and the Wireless Firewall. Although not everyone needs a router that has these capabilities, they are essential for low-end deployments or in smaller offices. For companies that need more features or for larger deployments, they can choose to upgrade to a new router.

The business: for medium to large businesses that are looking to reduce costs, there are many business-grade routers on the market. They are known as the “ACI” or Application Centric Infrastructure.

Enterprise-level

The Cisco 8500 is the highest-end Cisco router available, and it’s most appropriate for a high-end business. It includes battery backup and antivirus protection, among other features.

Choose the right model for your company

When evaluating a router, start by looking for one that meets your needs and those of your employees. The main types of Cisco routers available are:

Building-wireless/the Internet: This type of router is optimized for home or small office buildings. It’s compatible with most Wi-Fi devices and can access both data and voice networks.

This type of router is optimized for home or small office buildings. It’s compatible with most Wi-Fi devices and can access both data and voice networks.

Small office/home office (SOHO) level

First, you should consider which Cisco router would best suit your needs. The Cisco ASA 5500 Series Cat6 routers are ideal for smaller, home office businesses. Compared to the Cisco Meraki AC3200 line of routers, the Cisco Meraki routers deliver considerably faster speeds and longer range. However, in addition to the faster speeds, the Cisco Meraki AC3200 routers also provide advanced security features such as being able to manage wireless access with advanced features like App Security, a web console, and self-help.

Similar to the Cisco Meraki AC3200, the Cisco AC3200 Series routers include security features like keyless entry, an LED indicator that shows when the network is up and running, keycard authentication, and Cisco Flow.

When to use each type of router?

Here is a guide that breaks down which Cisco router type is best for your organization.

Cisco 9K4P:

For companies looking for a router that offers seamless remote access, Cisco 9K4P is a great choice. It also offers security for your corporate network, an integrated control panel, and the ability to share files over the network.

For more information on Cisco routers, head to this link.

Cisco Premier Series Routers:

These routers have been designed for high-performance and ease of maintenance.

For more information on Cisco routers, head to this link.

Cisco Meraki AX Series Routers:

These routers are designed to make it easy to set up and manage wireless networks for all types of users.

For more information on Cisco routers, head to this link.

How to get the most out of your Cisco router

How to test and improve your Cisco router

Cisco Router Tips and Tricks

For many small businesses, the simple and reliable functions of a Cisco router can save you a lot of time and money. If you want to get the most out of your router, you’ll want to take the time to understand its capabilities.

Test your Cisco router

First, you need to test your router to make sure that you have the right features for your enterprise. Many consumers purchase a router only to find that it does not offer the same functionality that the enterprise is accustomed to. It may take some time and effort to properly test your Cisco router.

Speak with your IT department to identify the right features and specs.

Conclusion

If you’re a business owner and considering purchasing a Cisco router for your offices, it can be difficult to know what to look for and how to ensure that the router you purchase will offer all the features you need, in the most cost-effective way possible.

A well-designed, stable, and well-built router, is undoubtedly one of the best ways to help ensure that your business has access to the data you need, whenever you need it.

We hope this guide helped you to make an informed purchase decision on a Cisco router for your company, and that it has also served to inspire you to make sure you are always being prudent when it comes to your business’ data.

If you have questions about a specific router, feel free to let me know in the comments.