Heidi Schmidt, Global Sales Manager at Opticom Tech discusses the considerations to take into account when evaluating managed and unmanaged switches for industrial video monitoring.

Video monitoring

When setting up a network for industrial video monitoring – which should be separate from your main network – businesses face several choices that can greatly impact performance and efficiency.

Among these, a critical decision involves selecting the right network switches – managed or unmanaged.

While both options have their merits, the choice isn’t always clear-cut.

For many industrial video monitoring systems, especially those with fewer than 50 cameras, unmanaged switches offer a practical, reliable solution.

However, it’s important to understand the benefits and limitations of each option.

Simplicity wins in industrial environments

Industrial networks are expected to handle vast amounts of data seamlessly, with minimal disruptions.

A common mistake companies make is over-complicating their networks by opting for managed switches when unmanaged switches may actually serve them better.

Managed switches: control with a cost

Managed switches provide advanced control and flexibility, enabling a business’s IT department to fine-tune networks to meet specific demands.

This includes enhanced security features, remote management and the ability to prioritize network traffic.

For complex or rapidly growing networks, these benefits can seem essential.

However, the cost of managed switches can be prohibitive – not just financially, but in terms of operational complexity.

A managed switch requires ongoing maintenance, updates and technical expertise.

If improperly configured, the benefits of managed switches can quickly be overshadowed by the risks of poor performance or security vulnerabilities.

In the hands of an under-resourced IT department, these sophisticated devices can become more of a hindrance than a help.

Unmanaged switches: reliability in simplicity

In contrast, unmanaged switches offer a straightforward, plug-and-play approach.

There’s no need for extensive configuration or complex setup, which can be a major advantage for facilities without a dedicated IT team or with an IT team with long turnaround times.

What unmanaged switches may lack in advanced features, they more than make up for in ease of use, reliability and speed.

For industrial video monitoring systems, this simplicity can be a game-changer.

Video networks, by their very nature, rely on uninterrupted data flow.

The more control and layers you introduce to the network, the higher the risk of bottlenecks.

Unmanaged switches ensure that data flows freely and consistently, supporting real-time video monitoring without the risk of slowdowns or outages.

The pitfall of bottlenecks

Network bottlenecks are one of the most frustrating and costly issues faced by facility and electrical supervisors when it comes to video monitoring.

Managed switches, when improperly handled, can introduce bottlenecks due to traffic prioritization settings or bandwidth limitations.

With unmanaged switches, you remove this complexity.

There are no bandwidth limitations or custom configurations to worry about, meaning your video system can run uninterrupted, supporting the smooth operation of your entire facility.

Cost-effective and practical for video monitoring

Cost is always a factor in decision-making, especially in industrial settings where margins are tight and resources need to be allocated efficiently.

Unmanaged switches offer a highly cost-effective solution.

Their low maintenance, combined with the ease of use, makes them a practical choice for many video monitoring system networks.

For smaller networks, particularly those with under 50 cameras, unmanaged switches offer a balance of simplicity, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

They allow facility managers to focus on maintaining production and security without the added worry of network complexities or the need for specialized IT support.

A balanced approach

That being said, no solution is one-size-fits-all.

There are certainly instances where managed switches are the better option, particularly for larger networks or businesses that require advanced security features.

In such cases, a hybrid approach – combining managed and unmanaged switches – can offer the best of both worlds.

The key to making the right decision is understanding the unique needs of your facility.

Whether it’s managed or unmanaged switches, the goal remains the same: to create a network that is reliable, efficient and capable of supporting operational objectives.

While managed switches may offer control and scalability, unmanaged switches provide a simpler, more practical solution for many industrial video monitoring systems.

By keeping things straightforward and avoiding unnecessary complexity, businesses can ensure their networks run smoothly, keeping production up and running without the headaches of network management.