A managed switch is an Ethernet switch with a configuration interface, allowing an operator to control how it forwards traffic, segment the network into VLANs, prioritise certain traffic types, monitor port status and throughput, and integrate the switch with the rest of the management stack via SNMP or vendor platforms.

In short: The features that distinguish a managed switch from an unmanaged switch include VLAN configuration (separating different traffic types on the same physical infrastructure), QoS and port prioritisation (giving voice or industrial traffic precedence over background data), port mirroring (for diagnostic or security monitoring), link aggregation (combining multiple physical ports into one logical higher-bandwidth link), spanning tree (preventing loops in redundant topologies), and 802.1X port authentication (only allowing approved devices to connect). Configuration is typically via a web interface, command-line, SNMP, or a vendor management platform.

For IoT and OT deployments, managed switches are increasingly required rather than optional. Network segmentation by VLAN is a baseline expectation in IEC 62443, NIS Regulations compliance, and any defence-in-depth security architecture. The marginal cost over an unmanaged switch is small relative to the security and operational benefits.

Teltonika's TSW100, TSW200, and TSW210 are entry-level managed switches suited to typical IoT deployments. For more demanding environments (industrial control networks, deterministic real-time applications, or larger plant LANs), vendors like Westermo, Moxa, and Hirschmann offer hardened managed switches with broader feature sets and longer lifecycles.