- Virtual CIO
How to Plan IT for an Office of 50 to 200 Staff
18 Mar, 2026

£33.50 inc. VAT
AI-generated summary
The D-Link DES-1016D is the kind of basic, no-drama switch you buy when you just need more ports and you don’t want to think about it. For ~£27.58 ex-VAT it’s good value for small office setups, home lab networks, or places where everything is already on the same VLAN/flat network and you’re happy with plug-and-play. It’s unmanaged, so you don’t get bells and whistles—no smart traffic handling, no configuration—just reliable switching for “ordinary” work traffic.
Why you might *not* buy it: if you’re expecting any kind of network segmentation (VLANs), tighter control, or future-proofing for a growing network, an unmanaged 16-port switch can become a dead end. Also, older unmanaged models don’t always handle power/thermals as efficiently as newer ones, so if you’re buying for a server room or a network that’s going to run 24/7 for years, it’s worth comparing against slightly newer managed or at least better-spec unmanaged options.
**Who should buy it:** a small UK office, a workshop, or a classroom that needs extra Ethernet ports with minimal fuss and minimal budget. **Who shouldn’t:** anyone building a network they’ll need to manage, segment, or troubleshoot beyond basic connectivity.

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