Small and midsize organizations are under pressure to support more devices, more cloud applications, and more remote staff — all with limited time and even tighter budgets. The Meraki MX68W was built for exactly that reality. It brings routing, security, switching, and Wi-Fi together in a single appliance that’s easy to deploy and simple to operate across distributed environments.

For IT teams who want reliable protection, predictable performance, and less on-site maintenance, the Meraki MX68W is one of the strongest all-in-one choices in the Meraki lineup.

Why the MX68W Stands Out

Modern network edge devices have to solve more problems than ever. They’re expected to secure users, run cloud apps dependably, support hybrid work, and provide visibility without forcing IT to spend hours in configuration menus. The MX68W meets that bar by pairing Meraki’s cloud-managed architecture with stronger throughput, updated wireless hardware, and integrated PoE switching.

It replaces the older MX65W and adds more headroom for busy networks that rely on consistent uptime. Offices, retail sites, and remote branches can run cleanly on a single piece of hardware, with less clutter and fewer failure points.

The MX68W’s positioning is straightforward: dependable performance for up to 50 users, integrated Wi-Fi coverage, and enough security horsepower to protect environments handling sensitive data, customer transactions, or remote access.

Performance and Security Designed for Real Workloads

At the hardware level, the MX68W delivers 450 Mbps of firewall throughput — nearly double what the previous generation offered. That bump matters for teams running dozens of SaaS platforms, collaboration tools, VoIP traffic, and local Wi-Fi clients from a single appliance.

Once you layer in the Advanced Security License, the MX68W becomes a unified security edge with capabilities normally associated with enterprise firewalls:

IDS/IPS using Cisco's Snort engine
The appliance continuously analyzes traffic and blocks threats using signature updates pulled from the cloud. No patch cycles, no manual tuning.

Advanced Malware Protection (AMP)
AMP evaluates file behavior and reputation using Cisco’s global threat intelligence. Suspicious or known-malicious files are stopped before they spread.

Content Filtering
Administrators can control unacceptable or high-risk traffic with category-based filtering, custom blocklists, and SafeSearch enforcement.

Geo-IP Rules
Organizations dealing with compliance or industry restrictions can block traffic from specific international regions.

These features make the MX68W suitable for SMBs that handle sensitive customer information, process payments, or run distributed teams that require secure VPN access. You get the same intelligence powering Meraki’s larger MX appliances — delivered through the cloud, without heavy local hardware.

Wireless Built Directly Into the Appliance

The “W” in MX68W matters. Instead of bolting a separate access point onto a firewall, the MX68W includes a full-performance dual-radio 802.11ac Wave 2 wireless access point. It can broadcast up to four SSIDs, giving IT teams clean separation between production networks, guest networks, and IoT segments.

With a combined wireless capacity of 1.3 Gbps, the MX68W supports standard office and retail environments comfortably. For small sites, this eliminates an entire hardware layer. For distributed sites, it reduces the number of devices that need remote oversight.

Every wireless feature is controlled from the same Meraki Dashboard you use for routing, security, and VPN — one pane of glass for the entire edge.

Integrated Switching and PoE+ for a Cleaner Deployment

One of the MX68W’s biggest strengths is its integrated 10-port Gigabit Ethernet switch. Four of these ports support PoE+ (Power over Ethernet), giving you direct power for access points, phones, or cameras.

This matters for small offices, retail shops, pop-up locations, or remote sites with limited space. Instead of deploying a separate PoE switch, the MX68W becomes the core of the network. Fewer devices mean fewer cables, fewer power supplies, and fewer failure points.

IT teams supporting high-touch environments — front-desk staff, customer service areas, healthcare check-in stations — appreciate how much simpler this makes installation and troubleshooting.

On the WAN side, the MX68W supports dual uplinks. If the primary internet connection degrades or fails, the network automatically shifts to the secondary link to preserve uptime.

Cloud-Based Management That Reduces IT Overhead

Every Meraki device is tied into the Meraki Cloud Dashboard, and the MX68W takes full advantage of it. This is where SMB IT teams save the most time. You can deploy, monitor, and update networks across multiple sites from a single login.

Core advantages include:

Zero-touch provisioning
Claim the device in the Dashboard, ship it to a site, and a non-technical staff member can plug it in. The MX68W downloads its configuration automatically.

Automatic firmware updates
You don’t need to babysit patch schedules or manage manual upgrades. The appliance stays current without taking down operations.

Real-time analytics and alerting
You get instant visibility into client activity, bandwidth hotspots, security events, and WAN performance.

Centralized policy control
Templates let you apply consistent security and wireless rules across dozens of locations without repeating the same configuration work.

For overstretched IT teams or MSPs supporting many remote branches, Meraki’s cloud management remains one of the cleanest operational models available.

Strong Remote-Access Capabilities

Hybrid and remote work are now standard for SMBs, which makes secure VPN access essential. The MX68W supports:

• Site-to-site VPN
• Client VPN
• Auto VPN with encrypted tunnels
• Up to 50 concurrent VPN users

Auto VPN is often the deciding factor for multi-site organizations. Administrators can set up encrypted tunnels between offices with a few clicks — no IPsec gymnastics, no manual certificate handling, and no CLI required. Every tunnel is protected with 128-bit encryption and monitored through the Dashboard.

This simplifies connectivity for distributed teams, remote facilities, and seasonal or temporary sites.

Ideal Use Cases

The MX68W fits cleanly into environments where simple deployment, built-in wireless, and reliable security matter:

Small offices and startups
One device handles routing, Wi-Fi, PoE, and security without adding cost or complexity.

Retail and hospitality
Segmented Wi-Fi, content filtering, and PoE for cameras or phones make the MX68W a strong match.

Professional services
Attorneys, accountants, clinics, and consultancies benefit from strong security and easy VPN support.

Branch sites for distributed organizations
Plug it in, claim it, and it inherits your organization’s existing policies.

Temporary or mobile deployments
Quiet, compact, and fast to configure.

*Keep in mind that any of the "w" models should NOT be used with other APs on the network.  This is designed to be used as a standalone wireless AP and firewall, with no other Meraki APs in the network.  If you need more than 1 AP in the environment, consider using the standard MX models with no "w" and APs.  We can talk you through all of it and guide you.

How It Compares to the MX65W

The MX68W improves on the MX65W in several notable ways:

• 450 Mbps firewall throughput (up from 250 Mbps)
• Four PoE+ ports instead of two
• Better Wi-Fi performance with Wave 2 radios
• More VPN capacity
• More flexible port layout

For organizations scaling toward heavier SaaS usage, hybrid work, and higher device density, the MX68W offers far more staying power.

Why IT Teams Choose Meraki — and Why They Choose Hummingbird

Meraki wins because it removes friction from network operations. Everything that used to take hours — firmware updates, VPN configuration, wireless tuning, policy management — becomes a few clicks in a clean interface.

Hummingbird adds another layer to that experience. As long-time Cisco and Meraki partners, we help IT teams avoid configuration mistakes, secure better pricing, and design networks that support growth instead of slowing it down.

You get fast quotes, accurate licensing guidance, and a team that understands how to build around real-world constraints, not theoretical best-case scenarios.

The Bottom Line

The Meraki MX68W gives SMBs a powerful, manageable, and space-efficient security appliance built for modern demands. It combines firewall protection, SD-WAN features, PoE switching, and Wave 2 Wi-Fi in one device that’s easy to deploy and even easier to maintain through the cloud.

If you want an expert review of your current setup or confirmation that the MX68W is the right fit for your environment, a Hummingbird strategist can walk you through your options and help you design a network that’s built for the long haul.