VLANs — Virtual Local Area Networks — are a fundamental security tool that most small businesses have never heard of. Yet they solve a real problem on every business network: by default, every device can reach every other device.
THE PROBLEM VLANS SOLVE
On a flat network, a compromised device can reach everything else. Malware on a guest's laptop can scan your workstations. A hacked IP camera can pivot to your accounting system. VLANs create separate logical networks on the same physical infrastructure with firewall rules between them.
- Corporate VLAN — Workstations, servers, printers
- IoT VLAN — Cameras, smart TVs, thermostats — isolated from everything else
- Guest VLAN — Internet access only, no access to any internal resources
💡 You don't need enterprise hardware. Managed switches starting around $50 support VLANs. Prosumer routers running pfSense or OPNsense handle VLAN routing. Achievable for small businesses with modest budgets.
TP-Link TL-SG108E 8-Port Managed Switch
Entry-level managed switch with full VLAN support. The foundation for proper network segmentation at small business scale.
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