There are many different ways to get your devices connected to an appropriate network. And the one that remains popular over the years is the PoE switch. A PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch is a piece of network hardware that allows for both data and power to be transmitted over the same Ethernet cable.
What is a PoE Switch?
In simple terms, it’s a jack built into devices that, through technological programming, allows both data and electrical power to be transmitted to that device over a standard Ethernet cable.
This kind of network switch supplies electricity to devices like IP phones, wireless access points, and IP cameras while also transmitting data between these devices and the rest of the network. This eliminates the need for these devices to have separate power sources, simplifying installation and lowering expenses. Many more benefits come from having a PoE switch, and in this blog, we’ll list a few of them, so read on for more!
1. A PoE Switch Offers Convenience
A PoE switch can be a convenient option for many businesses. When setting up your network, a PoE switch eliminates the need for separate power sources for every device that needs to be connected. This switch type can save time, effort, and money when setting up your network. Furthermore, having a single power source means the office space will be free from annoying clutter.
Plus, they also allow you to install devices in locations where power outlets are not easily available. This can simplify expanding or reconfiguring a network without requiring additional electrical work.
Image Source: Network Academy
2. Cost Savings
PoE switches are often a more affordable option, which is also why they remain popular. Overall, they can reduce your expenses by:
- Eliminating the need for separate power sources for devices.
- Reducing the overall costs associated with network infrastructure
This can make them an attractive option for businesses, schools, and other organizations with limited budgets.
Switches with PoE capabilities can lower energy consumption too by reducing power waste and offering energy-efficient design features such as automatic power-down and variable speed fans. This’ll help lower hefty energy bills!
3. Time Savings
You can save yourself a lot of valuable time when getting a PoE switch because they simplify installation. How? By providing power and data over a single Ethernet cable. They are also very easy to maintain moving forward, allowing network administrators to monitor and configure the network from a single location.
This can save time and effort during maintenance tasks such as troubleshooting, applying updates, and managing security protocols.
4. Increase Reliability with a PoE Switch
These types of switches will also keep your devices and connections safe. Redundancy and failover options can be configured within the switch to ensure devices remain powered and connected even during a power supply failure.
They also provide security against power surges and outages with features like surge protection.
5. Improved Network Performance
Finally, our favorite benefit because who doesn’t love it when their networking is performing as efficiently as possible? PoE switches can increase available bandwidth by providing power and data over the same cable, resulting in faster data transfer rates and better overall network performance. For that reason, they are excellent at supporting high-bandwidth applications such as video streaming and data transfer.
A switch with PoE functionality also allows administrators to prioritize critical traffic by reducing latency and packet loss. They achieve this through features such as Quality of Service (QoS) support and VLANs that allow network administrators to segment and prioritize traffic.
Does Your Business Need a PoE Switch?
The benefits of PoE switches make them the perfect option for many businesses across different industries. Overall, they can save you time and money while being a highly reliable option. Over here at Centra IP Networks, we can help you figure out how these switches can support your network! So, contact us today and we’ll work with you to connect you to the communications you need.
