Which statement about the Cisco Meraki cloud architecture is true?

Question

Options

• ADevices are configured in the cloud on first use and then managed locally after they are set up.
• BAll Meraki devices are managed locally by default
• CManagement data flows to the Cisco Meraki cloud and user traffic flows directly to its destination
• DAll data flows through the Cisco Meraki cloud.

• A
  3% (1)
• B
  3% (1)
• C
  93% (28)

Explanation

Cisco Meraki uses a split-plane architecture: the management plane (configuration, monitoring, alerts) flows through the Meraki cloud dashboard, while user/data plane traffic (actual network packets) travels directly from device to destination without touching the cloud. This design keeps management centralized without creating a cloud bottleneck for user traffic.

Why the distractors fail:

• A is wrong because Meraki devices are continuously managed through the cloud, not just on first use - if cloud connectivity drops, you lose management access.
• B is wrong because local management is not the default; the entire value proposition of Meraki is cloud-based centralized management.
• D is wrong because routing all user traffic through the cloud would create massive latency and bandwidth costs - Meraki explicitly avoids this.

Memory tip: Think of it as a "smart thermostat" analogy - your phone app (cloud) controls the settings, but the heat in your house doesn't travel through the internet to reach you. Management goes up to the cloud; data stays local.

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