Switches are integral components of any network, be it small or large. Their main function is to connect and enable devices, such as computers, wireless access points, printers, and servers to share information and communicate with each other.
The main two types of switches available in the market are unmanaged switches and managed switches.
Unmanaged switches are designed to work without configuration as soon as they are plugged in. On the other hand, managed switches are designed to provide a higher level of security, flexibility, and more features because they can be configured to custom-fit your business network.
Which brand is best for network switches?
When it comes to choosing a brand when buying network switches, Cisco comes to the top of the list. Even though you will find many brands such as Dell, Netgear, and Huawei that sell switches, none of them can beat Cisco switches in terms of reliability, quality, features, and security.
Cisco switches are the perfect solution for your business network as they are reliable, robust, and can handle all of your business needs. However, you cannot say this for all other brands.
Still, wondering why you should prefer Cisco to buy switches for your small or big business network? Let us help you learn why Cisco is the favorite switch brand for hundreds of thousands of businesses and why you should also stick to Cisco switches.
- Cisco leads the IT network marketplace.
Yes, Cisco is the leader in the industry when it comes to IT networking solutions. Cisco offers a wide assortment of modular and fixed-configuration switches for businesses of all sizes. They have been in this industry for more than 36 years and have earned rich expertise by catering to numerous data centers and enterprises.
When anyone talks about the highest-quality IT networking product in the industry, the first name that pops up in people’s minds is Cisco. When so many businesses are using and relying on Cisco products, you can easily gather that their switch range is also reliable and worth your money.
- Cisco switches are more advanced and dependable.
Cisco always listens to the feedback it receives from its customer base sprawling worldwide. It continually works to improve not only switches but other products as well.
Cisco network switches are engineered with quality, durability, and dependability in mind. They are known to deliver enhanced performance and security which is unparalleled to other brand switches. Built-in redundancy and resiliency features in Cisco switches can increase the uptime of your business network.
Plus, Cisco switches come with Power over Ethernet (PoE) and energy-efficient management capability. Thus, customers (businesses) can power IP phones and wireless access points with their switches to keep their cabling structure simpler.
- Using Cisco switches means less training expense
Since Cisco switches are common, and most engineers prefer to undergo Cisco certification training, there are higher chances that your network engineer is already familiar with how Cisco switches work. It means you don’t have to spend extra money on training your employees on how to work with Cisco switches.
On the other hand, when you buy other brand switches, your network engineers are least likely to know how these switches work, how to handle them, and how to troubleshoot them when a problem arises. As a result, they will end up wasting more time, effort, and energy. You might also need to train them to deploy, manage, and troubleshoot switches from other brands.
So, if you want your network to be up and running with high efficiency and minimum delay without spending a huge amount of money on training, Cisco switches make a great choice.
- Cisco also offers great switch solutions specifically for SMEs.
Cisco is known to work with many large organizations that have complex network needs and span over multiple locations and types of systems. However, it is not limited to big businesses only. Cisco has recently started to concentrate on offering solutions that support small and medium businesses.
Now, Cisco offers many suites of simple and secure network solutions for SMEs as well. So, whether you need premise-based or cloud-based networking, you can rely on Cisco Business Switches to fit your small business needs. They provide secure, flexible, and fast connectivity for both in-office and remote workforce.
- Cisco switches are easier to deploy and work with.
Designed with small businesses in mind, Cisco switches are easy to set up. They come with Plug-and-Play (PnP) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) auto-install features which ensure automated setup and provisioning.
The PnP feature empowers them with zero-touch deployment and provides a simple way to configure switches in a local network. Besides, true stacking allows you to stack up to more Cisco Business switches as a unified unit via a single management interface.
Since you can form a small network around a single stackable unit, you can scale your network over time as your business network requirements evolve.
- Cisco switches come with enhanced security.
Cisco embeds additional software features in switches to help network administrators better secure their network traffic, and control access, and sensitive data. It means it is more difficult for malignant people and software to corrupt Cisco switches.
Cisco allows businesses to ensure security throughout the network by using dedicated security appliances and security capabilities built into other network equipment.
What’s more, it also provides an easy mechanism for tracking down and identifying whoever tries to connect from an unauthorized location.
So, regardless of your size of business, Cisco switches make the best choice for your network.
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