Hey everyone, I'm wondering if it's a bad idea to complicate my small network instead of keeping it simple. Right now, my setup has three interfaces: one for the office/server, one for the warehouse, and one for cameras. They were all daisy-chained until I set up Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). I'm considering whether I should go further and create separate VLANs for each department—like accounting, HR, IT, and so on—or just keep things simple to make it easier for the next person who comes in, especially since we're a small shop that often hires fresh grads to manage things. What's your take on this?
2 Answers
Absolutely, you should split the network. Flat networks can lead to all sorts of issues these days. I’d set up at least one VLAN for the network gear, another for standard traffic, and one for IoT like printers. Helps keep things organized and secure!
I'd go for it! Having separate VLANs can really alleviate worries. For instance, you could have VLANs for VOIP, PCs, printers, and servers, each with their own DHCP scope. Just make sure to enable inter-VLAN routing on your core setup and implement some access control lists (ACLs).
Yes! VLAN segmentation is crucial for security. While you might not need a VLAN for every department, having specific VLANs for management interfaces and sensitive traffic can really help reduce risks.