We really want to explain the technology behind the acronyms. But truth is, if you don’t know what a LAN is, you can’t understand what a VLAN is, and if you’ve ever been unclear as to why you need a LAN or VLAN, it’s time to catch up with the IT realm.

What exactly is a LAN or a VLAN?

Originally, a LAN connected a group of computers and associated devices to a server via cables in a shared physical location (hence the term “local”). Many LANs now connect devices via wireless internet, rather than Ethernet, although most LANs use a combination of both connectivity types.

Over time, organizations have grown in their networking needs, requiring solutions that enable networks to grow in size, flexibility, and complexity.

VLANs circumvent the physical limitations of a LAN through their virtual nature, allowing organizations to scale their networks, segment them to increase security measures, and decrease network latency. VLANs allow network administrators to automatically limit access to a specified group of users by dividing workstations into different isolated LAN segments. With a VLAN, you can segment a network without needing separate hardware. So, you can have a single physical switch, but multiple different networks connected.

You can group computers, servers, or other resources into a network based on department or user type. It doesn’t have to be based entirely on physical location. The computers might be on various floors of a building or spread out over different locations, but everyone in the network segment shares the same network resources and bandwidth.

You could think about it like a neighborhood of homes connected to the same city water main. Everyone is getting their water from the same line. But imagine there are people who want fluoride in their water and others who don’t. So, the water company needs to group the fluoride-loving homeowners in one network, whereas homes 802, 907, and 1106 are grouped together to get their own water supply.

In business, containing a department’s traffic to a single VLAN can:

• Help with network efficiency by reducing extraneous traffic;

• Enhance security by creating a virtual boundary around that business unit;

• Improve bandwidth performance by limiting node-to-node and broadcast traffic;

• Save workplace disruption, as there is no need to physically match up ports and switches on a network.

You might be wondering… What a VLAN can do for my business?

When implemented properly, VLANs will benefit your business through simplicity, stronger security, and an improved experience for your users:

1. Simplified administration for the network manager: One of the best things about virtualization is that it simplifies management. By logically grouping users into the same virtual networks, you make it easy to set up and control your policies at a group level. When users physically move workstations, you can keep them on the same network with different equipment. Or if someone changes teams but not workstations, they can easily be given access to whatever new VLANs they need.

2. Fortified security: Using VLANs improves security by reducing both internal and external threats. Internally, it separates users improving security and privacy by ensuring that they only access the networks that apply to their responsibilities. External threats are also minimized. If an outside attacker is able to gain access to one VLAN, they’ll be contained to that network by the boundaries and controls you have in place to segment it from your others.

3. Easier fault management: Troubleshooting problems on the network can be simpler and faster when your user groups are segmented and isolated from one another. If you know that complaints are only coming from a certain subset of users, you’ll be able to quickly narrow down where to look to find the issue.

4. Improved quality of service: VLANs manage traffic more efficiently so that your end users experience better performance. You’ll have fewer latency problems on your network and more reliability for critical applications. VLANs also make prioritizing traffic much easier, allowing you to make sure critical application data keeps flowing even when lower priority traffic like web browsing spikes.

Other Reasons for VLAN Popularity

VLANs can also prioritize data, separate private and public networks, or secure specific devices.

What do we mean by VLAN priority? You might think about a highway with a concrete barrier dividing traffic. Administrators can keep data from merging over into the voice traffic lane. Prioritizing using VLANs helps maintain the quality of service users expect.

Another common use of VLANs is separating private and public networks. When you log onto a hotel's public Wi-Fi, you can't access their internal business resources. That’s because the backup servers and other resources have been segmented. The back-of-house computers are all connected on the private network. The VLAN keeps you from accessing them on the public network.

VLANs have also gained in popularity with the growth of the Internet of Things. Smart devices offer many advantages, but they also represent new security vulnerabilities. Each of those sensors, wearables, and IoT devices could be an entry-point to your network. That's no good if they’re connected to a network with sensitive and proprietary business data. With a VLAN, you can separate IoT devices to prevent them from accessing more than they need to.

The same is true of security cameras. You can’t trust they are safe. For example, many government sites have banned the world’s leading brand of camera. There are concerns a foreign power could exploit the connected cameras. With a VLAN in place, though, the security camera can be prevented from accessing the internet so it can't “phone home.”

Looking to set up or secure VLANs for your business? Our experts can determine the logical connection for your networked devices. Enjoy increased performance, added flexibility, and easy scalability by selecting a VLAN solution. Call us today at 305 400 0992!