Infrastructure

Network Switch Security

Network switches connect all your wired devices. For farms and businesses with security cameras, servers, and multiple buildings, choosing secure switches is essential for network integrity.

Types of Network Switches

Unmanaged Switches

low security

Plug-and-play devices with no configuration options

Best for: Simple home networks, non-critical connections

Pros:

Easy to use
Low cost
No configuration needed

Cons:

No security features
No traffic control
No monitoring

Smart/Web-Managed Switches

medium security

Basic management via web interface, limited features

Best for: Small offices, home labs, basic segmentation needs

Pros:

Basic VLANs
QoS support
Traffic monitoring

Cons:

Limited security features
Basic management only

Fully Managed Switches

high security

Enterprise-grade with full configuration and security

Best for: Farms, businesses, security-conscious deployments

Pros:

Full VLAN support
Access control lists
Port security
Monitoring

Cons:

Higher cost
Requires configuration knowledge

Switches to Avoid

FCC BannedHuawei- FCC banned manufacturer

FCC BannedZTE- FCC banned manufacturer

FCC BannedHikvision PoE Switches- FCC banned for surveillance equipment

FCC BannedDahua PoE Switches- FCC banned for surveillance equipment

AvoidGeneric Chinese No-Name Brands- Unknown firmware, no security updates, potential backdoors

Recommended Switches

Home/Small Office

Netgear GS108E

USA8-port smart managed, affordable

TP-Link TL-SG108E

China (Caution)Budget option, basic features

ASUS XG-U2008

Taiwan2.5G ports, good value

Farm/Business

Ubiquiti UniFi Switch

USAEnterprise features, UniFi ecosystem

Cisco CBS250

USAEnterprise-grade, excellent security

Netgear M4250

USAAV-focused, PoE options

PoE for Cameras

Ubiquiti USW-Lite-16-PoE

USA16-port, UniFi managed

Netgear GS716TP

USA16-port PoE+, smart managed

Cisco CBS350-16P

USAEnterprise PoE, full management

Security Features to Look For

critical

VLAN Support

Segment network traffic for isolation

high

802.1X Authentication

Port-based network access control

high

Port Security

Limit devices that can connect per port

high

Access Control Lists

Filter traffic based on rules

medium

DHCP Snooping

Prevent rogue DHCP servers

critical

Firmware Updates

Regular security patches available

Design Your Secure Network

Get personalized network infrastructure recommendations for your farm or business.

Start Security Audit Router Guide

Types of Network Switches

Unmanaged Switches

low security

Plug-and-play devices with no configuration options

Best for: Simple home networks, non-critical connections

Pros:

Easy to use
Low cost
No configuration needed

Cons:

No security features
No traffic control
No monitoring

Smart/Web-Managed Switches

medium security

Basic management via web interface, limited features

Best for: Small offices, home labs, basic segmentation needs

Pros:

Basic VLANs
QoS support
Traffic monitoring

Cons:

Limited security features
Basic management only

Fully Managed Switches

high security

Enterprise-grade with full configuration and security

Best for: Farms, businesses, security-conscious deployments

Pros:

Full VLAN support
Access control lists
Port security
Monitoring

Cons:

Higher cost
Requires configuration knowledge

Security Features to Look For

critical

VLAN Support

Segment network traffic for isolation

high

802.1X Authentication

Port-based network access control

high

Port Security

Limit devices that can connect per port

high

Access Control Lists

Filter traffic based on rules

medium

DHCP Snooping

Prevent rogue DHCP servers

critical

Firmware Updates

Regular security patches available