Cisco Meraki MX85 — Enterprise SD-WAN & Security Appliance for Branch Networks

The Cisco Meraki MX85 is a cloud-managed security appliance designed for small to medium branch networks requiring centralized threat management and simplified remote administration. Deployed in distributed environments with up to 250 users, it consolidates UTM functionality — eliminating the need for multiple standalone security devices. The fully cloud-managed architecture enables zero-touch deployment and remote configuration without on-site technical intervention.

The MX85 delivers up to 1 Gbps of stateful firewall throughput across 8 x 1G RJ45 LAN ports, 2 x 1G SFP LAN interfaces, and 2 x 1G WAN ports with PoE+ support. The integrated security stack includes SD-WAN, content filtering, SNORT®-based intrusion detection and prevention, and Cisco Advanced Malware Protection — all available under the Advanced Security License. Automatic 4G cellular failover maintains connectivity when the primary WAN link becomes unavailable.

Auto VPN enables intelligent site-to-site connectivity with minimal configuration overhead, while 802.1x port authentication secures wired device access across the network. Layer 7 application traffic shaping allows prioritization of business-critical applications, and Layer 3 firewalling separates corporate from personal traffic. Flexible rack or desktop mounting options and plug-and-play setup support deployment in locations without dedicated IT staff.

The MX85 is recommended for organizations managing distributed branch offices that require consistent security policy enforcement and unified visibility from a single cloud dashboard. It is well suited for environments where network downtime is not tolerable, multi-site governance is a compliance requirement, and operational simplicity is a priority for IT teams.