Managed vs Unmanaged Switch: Which Does Your Network Need?

A switch connects the devices in your network. They look similar on the outside, but there is a big difference between unmanaged, smart and fully managed models.

Unmanaged switches

Plug in and it works. No settings, no login.

• Good for: homes, small CCTV systems, a few desks in a small office.
• Limits: no VLANs, no monitoring, no way to see which port has a problem.

Smart (web-managed) switches

A middle ground with a simple web interface. They usually support VLANs, basic QoS for voice and port monitoring, at a lower price than full managed switches.

Managed switches

Full control over the network:

• VLANs to separate cameras, phones, staff and guests.
• QoS to prioritise voice and video.
• Link aggregation to combine ports for more speed and redundancy.
• Monitoring through SNMP, logs and port statistics.
• Security features such as port security and access lists.
• PoE control: remotely restart a frozen camera or access point by toggling its port.

How to decide

Other things to check

• Number of ports, plus spares for growth.
• PoE budget if powering devices.
• SFP ports for fiber uplinks.
• Gigabit or multi-gigabit speeds for access points and servers.