How Do Ethernet Switches Help in Cyber Security?

To keep your network safe, consider an Ethernet switch. Its purpose is to store and forward data packets. The switches store the MAC address of each sending device and its port number. Then, when a packet arrives, the switching process looks for a match in its MAC address table, forwards it to a known destination port, or broadcasts it to all ports. For more information about these features, continue reading!

MAC address filtering

To enable MAC address filtering on ethernet switches, go to your switch’s management page and navigate ‘Properties’ – > ‘Port Security.’ Choose the MAC address you want to filter in this window, either manually or automatically. Select either ‘Automatic’ or ‘Manual’ to specify the filtering method. When you’re done, click ‘Modify’ to commit your changes.

MAC address filtering is not a perfect solution for cyber security. While it can block some hackers from accessing the network, it does not stop the average hacker from gaining access. Because most people do not know how to find a router’s list of approved addresses, they cannot spoof MAC addresses. In addition, MAC address filtering does not prevent content filters from compromising a network.

It does serve a legitimate purpose. It can help you control internet access for your kids while allowing you to add devices to your network manually. Regardless of whether you’re trying to protect your network from hackers or prevent the exploitation of your data, it would be best if you had some MAC address filtering. You may already have MAC address filtering enabled on your network.

Frame flooding

A well-configured switch has various features, including a port limit, MAC address table, and security. Flooding occurs when an attacker floods a control with invalid MAC addresses, and a frame limit is reached. This flood can disrupt network performance and slow down a network. If an Ethernet switch is configured to prevent frame flooding, it will also limit the MAC address of stations allowed to access the same physical port.

A switch prevents frame flooding by storing MAC addresses. MAC flooding attacks send vast amounts of Ethernet frames with different sender addresses. They attempt to use up the switch’s memory for its MAC address table and push legitimate users out of it. Once the switch floods its ports, it won’t be able to deliver incoming data to the destination system. Instead, it will flood all ports.

Unmanaged switches

Managed Ethernet switches are a crucial aspect of a company’s network infrastructure. While unmanaged switches are simpler to install, they offer no intelligence or control over network traffic. As a result, they are typically deployed in industrial environments, where they can connect temporary groups of devices and edge devices. Unmanaged switches can also help companies maintain cyber security by helping to prioritize network traffic. In addition, they can provide greater efficiency for connectivity switching.

A downside to unmanaged switches is that they lack redundancy. Redundancy provides a secure alternate path for data, so the network remains available in case of failure. In addition, the standard protocols used by managed switches prevent loops and set up redundant links. These redundant links keep integrated systems available and prevent costly downtime. By contrast, unmanaged switches are easy to manage and plug and play and are an excellent choice for smaller networks.

Stackable switches

Stackable Ethernet switches are designed for easy installation and configuration. They are less expensive than modular switches while providing similar scalability and flexibility. The performance and resilience of stackable switches are dependent on the configuration, media types, and port speeds of each switch. When comparing performance between stackable and modular switches, consider their respective port speeds, bandwidths, and topologies. In addition, stackable switches provide better management capabilities than modular switches.

Stackable Ethernet switches can provide a single management plane and logical switch, making it easier to translate a logical network topology to a physical network. Stacking is possible through cable stacking and backplane stacking. Backplane stacking requires special cables, while front-plane stacking uses standard Ethernet cables and ports. Stackable Ethernet switches also provide better bandwidth for downstream links.