Connecting Up is excited to share information about Cisco Meraki donations available to eligible Australian not-for-profit organisations! Upgrading your network and security can be a significant investment, and these donations can provide a valuable boost to your IT infrastructure.

What You Need to Know About Donated Cisco Meraki Products

• Eligibility: Organisations must meet the criteria set by Cisco's donation program. Please review the details carefully before applying.
• Request Limits: You can submit unlimited requests, but the total administrative fees for all requests cannot exceed USD 8,000 per fiscal year (1 July to 30 June).
• Five-Year Licenses: Donated Meraki equipment comes with a generous five-year license included.
• Existing Cisco customers: Organisations may not request donated Meraki or Cisco products within six months of placing a request through the Meraki discount program

Types of Donated Cisco Meraki Products

Cisco Meraki offers three critical categories of cloud-managed networking and security products available for donation:

1. Wireless Networking Equipment

• Networking Equipment: These intelligent devices are the backbone of your network, directing data flow efficiently and reliably. Meraki switches offer features like easy configuration, automatic updates, and remote management – all through the cloud. This translates to a more stable network and less IT hassle for your organisation. Meraki's Ethernet switches allow you to extend an existing network in order to bring wired connectivity to more employees and support new wireless deployments. Depending upon your employees' needs and the size of your organisation, you can choose from our range of selections, such as the Cisco Meraki MS130 Series Ethernet Switches.

The management system for these products allows you to use remote troubleshooting tools. This will reduce the time and money spent problem-solving in your organisation, meaning that more time, energy, and cash can go straight towards achieving your organisation's mission. Meraki also allows you to access usage statistics for each port and client, which enables the streamlining and adaptation of services.

• Wireless Access Point Devices

Cisco Meraki provides the tools to support wireless networks for organisations of all sizes. The intuitive, cloud-based management system combined with the reliability and scalability of the products offered through Connecting Up makes the Meraki products a great option for nonprofits.

If you need to provide wireless access to staff and guests at your organisation, the MR36 Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Access Point allows you to create a wireless network or expand the size of an existing one. With cloud-based control, you can easily set up and manage your Wi-Fi network, even across multiple locations and branches. Additionally, features like guest access and bandwidth management allow for greater control and security on your network.

2. Security Appliance

Protect your organisation from online threats with a Meraki internet security appliance. These powerful devices provide real-time protection against malware, phishing attacks, and other security risks. Cloud-based management allows for easy configuration and monitoring of your internet security, ensuring your organisation's data and users are always safe.

If you are a small or medium-sized organisation, the MX67-HW and MX75-HW security appliance could be a great security solution for your not-for-profit.

Besides protecting your network against Internet threats, the appliance also enables you to have a "bring your own device" (BYOD) policy. This means that employees can securely access your network using their own devices. You can also support remote workers or branches using a virtual private network (VPN).

Plus, you have the option to utilise identity-based policies, which means you can enforce differentiated security settings and permissions based on several factors, including device, role, and user.

This product allows you to control your network through an intuitive online dashboard, reducing the cost of on-site wireless controllers and enabling you to manage remotely if necessary.

3. Smart Security Cameras

Enhance security and peace of mind with Meraki smart security cameras. These cloud-managed cameras offer high-definition video recording, remote viewing capabilities, and easy installation. With features like motion detection and tamper alerts, you can keep a watchful eye on your facilities and deter potential security breaches.

If you want to install security cameras for a large office, Meraki MV32 Indoor Security Camera is a great choice, featuring a 360-degree fisheye lens to capture a large area. The cloud management allows it to virtually pan, tilt, and zoom on live and historical focus and stream locally or remotely. The Meraki MV52 Outdoor Security Camera features a long-range varifocal lens, records video up to 4K resolution, and has 1 TB of internal storage. The enterprise cloud license provides five years of access to the Meraki cloud platform, product updates, and support.

MV Sense licence is the perfect companion to the Meraki smart camera line*. It allows users to further utilise the MV machine-learning-based computer vision outputs via API to create custom business solutions. The MV Sense API will enable developers to access rich data insights: historical aggregate, current snapshot and real-time feed. When purchasing an MV Sense licence, request a separate license for each camera you want to use with MV Sense.

The Benefits of Donated Cisco Meraki Products

Donated Cisco Meraki products offer a wealth of benefits for Australian not-for-profit organisations:

• Improved Network Performance: First, say goodbye to frustrating network slowdowns. Meraki's intelligent switches and access points work together seamlessly to optimise data flow, ensuring a stable and reliable network connection. This translates to faster internet speeds for staff and volunteers, smoother video conferencing for remote meetings, and a more efficient overall workflow – all crucial for organisations juggling multiple tasks and limited resources.
• Enhanced Security: Secondly, with Meraki's built-in security features, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Internet security appliances shield your organisation from online threats like malware and phishing attacks, protecting sensitive donor data and ensuring the safety of your staff and volunteers online. Cloud-based management allows for easy monitoring and quick response to any potential security issues, giving you peace of mind and the ability to focus on your mission. Meraki devices also automatically receive the latest security updates and firmware patches. This ensures that network security is consistently maintained without requiring manual updates by IT staff.
• Reduced IT Costs: Donated Meraki products have the added benefit of reduced IT costs. The cloud-based management platform eliminates the need for complex on-site configurations and ongoing maintenance. This frees up your valuable IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives while also saving your organisation money that can be better directed towards your core programs and services. Furthermore, eligible not-for-profits can access up to 84% off Cisco Meraki devices through Connecting Up.
• Peace of Mind: Finally, with Cisco’s reliable network performance and advanced security features, you can focus on your core mission with greater confidence.

Next Steps

If your organisation is interested in exploring Cisco Meraki donations, we encourage you to visit our Cisco donation program FAQs to learn more about eligibility requirements and the application process. Connecting Up is also happy to answer any questions about Cisco Meraki products and how they can benefit your not-for-profit organisation. Browse Cisco Meraki products on Connecting Up today!