Managed vs. Unmanaged Switches: 5 Key Differences

For a professional, the Meraki switches, both managed and unmanaged, are a great choice for an office or large corporation network. But for those unsure, knowing the key differences between managed and unmanaged switches can help make a smarter decision.

Let’s break down these two types of switches in a simple way so you can confidently choose the one that best fits your network needs.

Control and Configuration

For a managed switch, you have full control, which allows you to adjust settings like bandwidth allocation, create virtual networks, and set up security measures. 

They provide a customizable approach for businesses with specific network demands. This extra capacity to allow you to configure and manage your network often requires the expertise of IT professionals.

On the other hand, no control or configuration is necessary for unmanaged switches. It works right out of the box, which makes it ideal for small home or office networks with basic needs. While this sounds convenient, unmanaged switches don’t offer the flexibility or control that larger, more complex networks often require.

Monitoring and Troubleshooting

Managed switches offer real-time monitoring and diagnostics. You can track network performance, and troubleshoot remotely, enabling you and solve the problem faster. 

This is perfect for businesses that need to ensure continuous and smooth operations. Monitoring protocols such as NetFlow and SNMP are what managed switches use.

Meanwhile, unmanaged switches don’t provide monitoring tools. If something goes wrong, you will need to manually check each device and connection to locate the problem.

Security Features

High-level security is a major perk of managed switches. These switches let you implement advanced security features like port security, network access control, and traffic encryption. 

Features such as port security, and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) on managed switches contribute to network security by protecting the switch’s status. This makes managed switches essential for businesses handling sensitive data.

With unmanaged switches, you get an in-built security that is basic. These basic features sure do protect your network but not from more sophisticated threats.

Cost

Managed switches are more expensive. This is due to their advanced features that impact more capacity. Both the cost and features make them more suitable for medium to large businesses where network performance and security are critical.

Unmanaged switches are significantly cheaper, making them the go-to for smaller setups or those on a budget. They are considered enterprise-grade and can be sourced directly from manufacturers or big stores.

Scalability

Managed switches are ideal for growing networks. As your business expands, you can easily adjust the network settings and integrate additional devices without interruption. Unmanaged switches, on the other hand, are harder to scale as they lack the controls necessary to handle large, complex networks.