The most common reason for doing this is to protect your anonymity online, making it harder for your activity to be traced back to you. You can change your IP address by tweaking your settings.

You can also configure router settings to disguise your local IP address. While it’s a small change, switching your default SSID should still be on your list. Secondly, some routers will have a default SSID to identify the type of router being used, which can make it easier for hackers to attack your network. Changing your SSID makes identifying your network much faster. Via the router, a hacker could potentially disable wireless security for your network, meaning they could access sensitive or confidential business data without you ever knowing about it.Ĭhanging the Service Set Identifier (SSID), otherwise known as the network name, is also an option. This prevents hackers from accessing your router settings. The most basic thing you can do is change the router password from its default to something more secure and unique. One of the great advantages of router and switch configuration is you can increase security in several ways. And if you’re looking to build on this information, I suggest investing in a software tool like SolarWinds ® Network Configuration Manager, as an automated tool goes a long way toward optimizing and managing network configurations and changes, especially for larger networks. I’ve also focused on basic settings for those of you getting started with adjusting your network hardware. In this guide, I’ve outlined several best practices to help you figure out how to reconfigure your routers and switches. With the right advice in hand, you can configure router settings to suit your organization’s individual requirements. In fact, you don’t have to be an expert or even particularly technology-savvy to make the most of the router settings options available to you. Adjusting your IT infrastructure settings is important for optimizing and securing your network, whether in a small business or corporate environment. As is the case with most hardware, there are always hidden features waiting to be taken advantage of by an ambitious IT pro. Default settings tend to be insecure and are rarely the best option for supporting network connectivity.

But as most IT professionals know, default settings aren’t necessarily the best settings, even if abiding by them requires zero effort or intervention.

Switch and Router Configuration Management for BusinessĬhanging the settings on your router can feel like a daunting task.

Router and Switch Configuration Benefits.

Router configuration page netgear