The Z4 and Z4C are nearly identical in performance and features. Both offer 500 Mbps firewall throughput, 250 Mbps VPN throughput, Wi-Fi 6, and four GbE LAN ports including a PoE+ port. The key difference is that the Z4C includes a built-in CAT12 LTE modem with two external LTE antennas, making it the right choice for any deployment that requires cellular failover or operates in a location without a reliable wired internet connection.

Yes. All Cisco Meraki appliances require an active license to operate. Z Series licenses are sold in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 year terms and include access to the Meraki Dashboard, automatic firmware updates, technical support, and all security features. Without a valid license, the appliance will not pass traffic. Firewalls.com can help you choose the right license term and bundle it with your hardware purchase.

Meraki AutoVPN is a self-configuring site-to-site VPN technology built into every Z Series gateway. Once a device is registered to the Meraki Dashboard and assigned to a network, AutoVPN automatically establishes encrypted tunnels back to headquarters, a data center, or multi-cloud IaaS resources. There is no manual configuration of IPSec parameters, and remote workers receive the VPN connection without any action on their part. Administrators can deploy and manage the entire setup from the Dashboard in as few as three clicks.

Cisco recommends the Z4 and Z4C for home office deployments with up to 15 connected devices. This covers a typical power user setup including laptops, desktop computers, VoIP phones, printers, tablets, and other home office peripherals. For deployments with more users or higher throughput requirements, the Meraki MX line of security appliances may be a better fit. Contact our certified team for a recommendation specific to your environment.

Yes. Every Z4 and Z4C includes built-in dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) wireless with 2x2 MU-MIMO antennas and a maximum over-the-air data rate of 1.5 Gbps. The Z Series supports up to 4 wireless SSIDs, allowing administrators to create separate networks for corporate devices, guest access, or personal traffic. Wireless and wired clients can be placed on separate VLANs to enforce security policies across the remote work environment.