Network switches are one of those “silent heroes” of a reliable setup. When everything works, nobody thinks about them. But when a camera drops offline, a VoIP call turns choppy, or a remote site becomes impossible to troubleshoot, the switch suddenly becomes the most important device in the room.

If you’re shopping for a switch, the biggest fork in the road is this:

Do you need a managed switch, or will an unmanaged switch do the job?

This guide breaks it down in plain English, with real-world examples that match how 5Gstore customers actually deploy networks in the field.

What a Network Switch Actually Does (Quick Refresher)

A switch connects wired devices on a local network, like:

• Routers (4G/5G, Starlink, fixed broadband)
• Access points (WiFi)
• IP cameras and NVRs
• PCs, printers, and workstations
• PLCs, sensors, and industrial gear
• VoIP phones and paging systems

In short: it’s the “traffic director” for Ethernet devices.

Unmanaged Switches: Simple, Fast, and “Plug-and-Go”

An unmanaged switch is exactly what it sounds like:
You plug it in, connect your devices, and it works.

Best reasons to choose an unmanaged switch

• You want the simplest setup possible
• You have a small network (and it stays small)
• You don’t need segmentation (VLANs)
• You don’t need remote visibility into traffic
• You just need more ports right now

Ideal unmanaged switch scenarios

✅ Small office expansion
✅ Adding ports for a workstation cluster
✅ Basic camera system with no VLAN needs
✅ Temporary setups and simple deployments
✅ Home or small business networks that just need reliability

The biggest benefit: There’s almost nothing to configure, and almost nothing to misconfigure.

Managed Switches: Control, Visibility, and “Network Insurance”

A managed switch gives you tools to monitor, control, prioritize, and segment your network. Think of it as going from a basic power strip to a smart electrical panel where you can see what’s happening and control circuits individually.

Common managed switch features (the “why it matters” list)

1) VLANs (Network Segmentation)

VLANs let you separate traffic into virtual networks on the same switch.

Examples:

• Cameras separated from business devices
• Guest WiFi isolated from internal systems
• OT/industrial devices separated from office LAN
• POS systems isolated from employee devices

This is one of the biggest reasons people upgrade to managed.

2) QoS (Quality of Service)

QoS prioritizes traffic that can’t tolerate delays, like:

• VoIP calls
• Video conferencing
• Critical real-time telemetry

If your uplink is cellular and bandwidth changes throughout the day, QoS can be the difference between “usable” and “frustrating.”

3) IGMP Snooping (Helpful for Video and Multicast)

If you’re streaming video internally (common with IP cameras), IGMP snooping can prevent multicast traffic from flooding your entire network.

4) Port Monitoring + Troubleshooting

With a managed switch you can often see:

• Which port is heavily used
• Link speed (1G vs 100M vs negotiation problems)
• Errors, drops, or unstable links
• Devices that are flapping on/off

This saves huge time in troubleshooting, especially at remote sites.

5) Port Security and Access Control

Managed switches help reduce “unknown device risk” by allowing tighter control over what can connect.

6) Remote Management

For distributed deployments, remote visibility matters. If a site is 4 states away and someone says “the network is down,” a managed switch can help you diagnose without rolling a truck.

The Real Question: How “Simple” Is Your Network Really?

Here’s a quick way to decide.

Choose an unmanaged switch if…

• You only need extra ports
• Everything can live on one flat LAN
• You don’t care which device is using bandwidth
• You don’t plan to scale the site
• You want the lowest cost and fastest install

Choose a managed switch if…

• You need VLANs for security or organization
• You have VoIP or real-time traffic
• You’re deploying cameras at scale
• You need to troubleshoot remotely
• The environment is mission-critical (downtime costs money)
• You expect the site will expand later

Simple rule:
If your network is “just a few devices,” unmanaged is usually perfect.
If the network is part of operations, managed is usually the better investment.

What About “Smart” or “Lightly Managed” Switches?

Some switches sit in the middle. You’ll hear them called things like:

• Smart switch
• Web-managed
• Easy managed
• L2 managed

These often provide the most common needs (like VLANs and QoS) without the complexity of full enterprise management.

If you want VLANs, but you don’t need deep monitoring or complex policies, this middle ground can be a very practical choice.

Key Features to Consider (Managed or Unmanaged)

Regardless of which direction you go, here are the big decision points:

Port count and speed

• 5, 8, 16, 24 ports… plan for growth
• Gigabit ports are the standard in most deployments
• Consider uplink capacity if you’re feeding multiple APs or cameras

PoE (Power over Ethernet)

If you need to power devices like access points or cameras, PoE is a game changer.

• PoE powers devices over the Ethernet cable
• Reduces power bricks and installation complexity
• Makes remote sites cleaner and easier to service

Power input options

For industrial and mobile deployments, DC power options can matter a lot.

Environmental durability

If the switch will live in a cabinet, warehouse, utility room, vehicle, or outdoors-rated enclosure, choose hardware designed for those conditions.

Passwords and Security: Don’t Ignore the Basics

If you go with a managed switch, it’s important to treat it like any other network device:

• Change default login credentials immediately
• Use strong, unique passwords
• Disable management access from untrusted networks
• Keep firmware updated
• Limit who can access the management interface

Managed switches add control and visibility, but that also means they must be secured properly.

Real-World Examples from Common 5G Deployments

1) Remote camera site over cellular

• Unmanaged may work for small installs
• Managed is better if you need camera VLANs and troubleshooting

2) Small office with VoIP

• Managed is ideal for VLANs + QoS
• Cleaner separation between phones and PCs

3) Industrial or OT network

• Managed is strongly recommended
• Segmentation is often required for stability and security

4) Pop-up networks (events, temporary job sites)

• Unmanaged wins on simplicity
• Managed helps if you have multiple teams/devices and need isolation

Bottom Line: Buy for Today, Plan for Tomorrow

If you’re building a network that supports operations, remote monitoring, security segmentation, or scaling, a managed switch is usually the smarter long-term move.

If you just need extra ports with no complexity, an unmanaged switch keeps it fast, affordable, and foolproof.

And if you’re somewhere in the middle, a lightly managed option may be the perfect fit. Reach out to 5Gstore for any help you may need.

FAQ: Managed vs Unmanaged Switches’=