Pick an access layer switch that (1) offers enough ports for every wired and PoE device you'll add over the next three years, (2) delivers the speed—1 Gbps for general traffic or 10 Gbps for heavy data—to keep users productive, and (3) includes security and management features that. Pick an access layer switch that (1) offers enough ports for every wired and PoE device you'll add over the next three years, (2) delivers the speed—1 Gbps for general traffic or 10 Gbps for heavy data—to keep users productive, and (3) includes security and management features that. Pick an access layer switch that (1) offers enough ports for every wired and PoE device you'll add over the next three years, (2) delivers the speed—1 Gbps for general traffic or 10 Gbps for heavy data—to keep users productive, and (3) includes security and management features that prevent downtime. When choosing access layer switches, there are many points to consider, such as port density, port speed, security, scalability, deployment and management methods, as well as cost. Port density refers to the number of ports available on a single switch. An access layer. As the bottom layer of the hierarchical internetworking model, the access layer is also known as the desktop layer. The access layer is supposed to make it easier for end devices to stay connected. This white paper introduces the following three types of network switches and further discusses the selection criteria for each switch. These networks are designed with three tiers that facilitate strategic. If you are evaluating Cisco access switches for enterprise networks, start with five things: port density, PoE demand, uplink capacity, multigig requirements, growth planning, and fault isolation.