Network switches come in all shapes and sizes. There are managed switches and unmanaged switches. Each type of switch has its own benefits and drawbacks. It is important to understand the differences between these two types of switches before making a purchase for your office.
Managed and unmanaged switches both have their place in the office, but choosing the switch that works best for you is up to the needs of your business. For example, if you have a small business or home office with a handful of employees, a managed switch may be overkill and not worth the added expense. On the other hand, if you run a large business with lots of employees, a managed switch can help you manage and monitor network traffic with ease.
Managed switches are more expensive than unmanaged switches, but they offer more features. Managed switches can be remotely controlled by a network administrator. This gives the administrator more flexibility and control over the network. Managed switches also offer features like port mirroring and VLANs that unmanaged switches do not have.
Unmanaged switches are switches that are managed without any external network devices. Unmanaged switches do not have any advanced features or functionality, so they are typically less expensive than managed switches.
Managed and unmanaged switches both have their place in the office. However, choosing the best switch to fit your needs will depend on what you need from your network connectivity.
