The Cisco CBS series of business switches is a cost-effective solution for small businesses' network needs. In 2022, the Cisco CBS series was one of our customers' favorites. And for a good reason.

Cisco business switches, or CBS, are a series of network switches that help small businesses transition to smooth network operations and connectivity. The CBS line of network switches consists of various models that offer managed and unmanaged switches and smart switch features. The intuitive dashboard and easy network setup surely add advantages to the existing network. The CBS series switches are an ideal combination of affordability and capabilities that empower small businesses to accelerate digital transformation and create a secure LAN infrastructure.

What's different with the CBS series?

I have been a fan of Cisco business switches for several reasons:

1.     Their plug-and-play feature

2.     Affordability

3.     Ability to accelerate and secure network traffic. 

With the CBS series, Cisco offers managed and unmanaged smart switches with the series CBS110, CBS220, CBS250, and CBS350. The fun part is that no support from Cisco or managed services is required to deploy these switches for home and smaller networks. Power on the CBS110 and connect end devices to instantly access the network. No complexities or customization is needed.

When the network expands and the user count increases, which alarms performance and security concerns, CBS350 is the solution you should look for. It supports customization and network segmentation alongside security with IEEE 802.1q, 802.3ad, 802.1x, and much more.

Cisco CBS110 Series Unmanaged Switches

The Cisco CBS110 is an entry-level unmanaged switch that addresses the need for home networks and small offices. It is a plug-and-play switch that needs no configuration and can be used instantly. The series also includes models that support PoE to facilitate power-enabled devices directly connecting to CBS110.

·       Best for home offices and small networks

·       Unmanageable

·       PoE option available

·       Plug-and-play

·       Cost-efficient

·       Port options

CBS220 Series Smart Switches

Cisco CBS220 is an affordable smart switch with advanced security features and supports customizations according to businesses' needs. It suits small office networks and wireless networking and can prioritize audio/video traffic. With support for PoE technology, it can power APs and IP cameras to work smoothly by getting an efficient power supply.

·       Smart Switch 

·       Suitable for small offices

·       QoS for traffic prioritization

·       PoE option available

·       Easy setup

·       Port options

CBS250 Series Smart Switches

The Cisco CBS250 is another smart switch in the CBS line of switches. It offers extra features over CBS110 and CBS250 and is the best choice for digital transformation. If your home network just got more extensive or the number of employees at the office has just increased, then you should upgrade to CBS250.

Managed through the Cisco business mobile app or GUI dashboard, the CBS250 is best at providing reliable network connections. Packed with advanced security features, L3 routing support, and PoE characteristics, the CBS250 is a worthy and wise choice in small network segment switching solutions. 

·       Smart Switch 

·       QoS for traffic prioritization

·       Upgrade choice from CBS110 and CBS220

·       PoE option available

·       Managed through the Cisco business mobile app

·       L3 static routing

·       Port options

Cisco CBS350 Series Managed Switches

The Cisco CB350 series managed switches are built and optimized to deliver outstanding performance to small businesses. It provides high-speed data processing and connection to other hosts, applications, servers, printers, and other devices. With support for VLANs and IP technology, network segmentation is accessible in a few simple steps. The communication between the host machine is secured using a standard encryption mechanism. The option for embedded PoE technology powers AP, IP Camera, and other PoE-enabled appliances.

·       Ease of management and deployment

·       High reliability and resiliency

·       Strong security

·       Power over Ethernet

·       IPv6 support

·       Advanced layer 3 traffic management

·       True stacking

·       Compact design

·       Power efficiency

·       Mobile APP for easy management

·       10G support

·       High Performance

·       Port options

CBS110 vs CBS220 vs CBS250 vs CBS350

Note: The above comparison table is based on 24 port PoE models. For detailed specifications regarding other port combinations, please refer to Cisco's official site and look for each series datasheet.

Conclusion

The complete CBS series is here to serve the needs of small enterprise networks at an affordable cost. Customers have a variety of options to choose from for their environment.

The CBS110 unmanaged PoE switches save the extra cost of dedicated PoE injectors, while the CBS220 and CBS250 are smart-managed switches with some advanced features. The CBS350 offers customization and L3 routing capabilities with high availability by stacking multiple switches together. 

Whether you are building a startup or working from home, the CBS series has all the features you need. Performance, security, management, and affordability are the key attractions for selecting the Cisco CBS switches for your growing environment.

Need expert advice on sizing your network and choosing between the CBS line of switches?

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