Cisco customers are facing a ticking clock: they need to replace their mobile device management (MDM) platform now that Meraki System Manager has reached its end of sale (EOS). Though users will receive technical support and maintenance updates through June 3, 2029, IT leaders need a long runway to keep their migration going smoothly.
The good news is that Cisco is already providing resources to make the transition from Meraki System Manager easier.
Ivanti Modern Device Management (MDM) is now available directly through an experienced Ivanti partner. As you’re evaluating your MDM platform options, here’s what you should know about Ivanti and transitioning to their MDM platform.
Key Takeaways
- Meraki System Manager EOS makes now the time to plan your MDM migration
- Ivanti Modern Device Management (MDM) delivers a smooth, modern replacement for Meraki
- The right Ivanti partner turns migration into modernization
Why Pick Ivanti Modern Device Management?
Adopting any new platform has a learning curve, but Ivanti MDM requires less time and effort to acclimate than competing platforms. Here are the features that make the transition more seamless.
Operating System and Device Support
Hoping a new platform provides the same continuity and compatibility can be nerve-wracking, but you can rest at ease with Cisco’s official endorsement. Ivanti supports the same operating systems and device types as Meraki SM, including these and more:
Additionally, Ivanti MDM aligns closely with modern enrollment and provisioning workflows across Apple, Android, Windows, and ChromeOS devices. Ivanti even supports Chromebooks, Apple TV, Meta, and other devices that other MDM vendors neglect.
Unified, Cloud-Based Management
With remote work and distributed workforces, organizations need a single pane of glass to manage and access devices from anywhere. Ivanti’s cloud-based MDM platform centralizes the management process with an easy-to-use dashboard.
Customers who make the migration to Ivanti will find equally easy maintenance and efficient endpoint management.
Enterprise-Grade Security
Robust security is a major aspect of Cisco Meraki that is comparable with Ivanti Modern Device Management. The goal for users is to secure productivity and connectivity. Ivanti delivers simple security configurations that can enable encryption, zero sign-on (ZSO), multifactor authentication (MFA), and automated mobile threat defense (MTD) measures.
Automated MDM Enrollment
As new users and devices enter your network, you want them enrolled and accounted for ASAP. Ivanti leverages services like Apple Business Manager (ABM), Google Zero-Touch Enrollment, and Windows Autopilot to quickly onboard users. The MDM Enrollment bot takes automation a step further, allowing centralized or distributed employees to quickly add smartphones and other devices to BYOD environments. Since the bot only takes about five to ten minutes of setup, the feature is almost immediately accessible.
Frontline, Fleet, and Field Work Compatibility
In dynamic environments where BYOD is the norm, Ivanti stands out. Transportation, manufacturing, or utility enterprises appreciate Ivanti MDM’s secure scalability for their distributed workers either their own phones or dedicated scanner devices. Within the healthcare space, Ivanti MDM is designed to protect sensitive data across endpoints, whether through employees’ smartphones or devices in Kiosk mode.
Preparing the Transition to Ivanti MDM
Fortunately, migrating from Meraki SM doesn’t have to be disruptive. Ivanti MDM is well suited for organizations making this change. Ivanti offers a clear, structured migration path that helps teams preserve existing configurations while minimizing downtime for end users.
One of the biggest advantages of migrating from Meraki SM to Ivanti MDM is the ability to easily carry forward critical data and settings. Device inventories, user associations, applications, and profiles can all be exported from Meraki prior to migration, allowing administrators to recreate familiar policies and configurations in the new platform.
This preparation ensures continuity across Wi-Fi settings, certificates, passcodes, restrictions, and managed app configurations, so users experience little to no change in how their devices behave after the transition.
That said, an experienced Ivanti partner can enhance the migration experience. If you’ve never used Ivanti before, you might find some differences in terminology, even if the functionality is fundamentally similar. For example, what Meraki users know as “tags,” Ivanti users would label “user groups.” Though you can figure out the differences, an Ivanti partner can bridge the gap between terms and simplify the technical details.
So, even though Meraki System Manager’s end of sale may have started the countdown, it doesn’t have to create chaos. With the right platform and the right partner, this transition can be an opportunity to modernize, opening the door to more flexibility and automation across devices and teams.
If you want to make the most of your runway, don’t go it alone. As an experienced Ivanti partner, RennerBrown helps organizations translate Meraki concepts into Ivanti best practices. We preserve what works and accelerate what’s next.