If your home Wi-Fi is still running on the router your ISP handed you five years ago, you are not alone. I have talked to dozens of homeowners in 2026 who assume the little box by the modem is enough, only to discover later that it does almost nothing against modern threats. After three months of testing eight devices side by side in real households, I want to share what actually works when it comes to the best network security devices for home use today.
The short answer: your home network is the front door to every connected device you own. Laptops, phones, smart thermostats, baby monitors, even the fridge now talks to the internet. One weak router and a curious attacker can pivot from a cheap IoT bulb to your work laptop in minutes. We pulled the strongest options from the best network security appliances category and cross-tested them with consumer-grade gear to find what really earns its place on a shelf in 2026.
In this guide I will walk you through the eight devices that stood up to our testing, explain the difference between a firewall router and a secure Wi-Fi system, and tell you who should (and should not) try a DIY pfSense build. Whether you are a parent who wants safer screen time for the kids or a remote worker worried about phishing on hotel networks, there is a pick here for you.
Top 3 Picks for Best Network Security Devices for Home (September 2026)
SafeHome Plug-n-Play Home...
- Next-Gen Firewall
- 4.3 Gbps Wi-Fi
- 3000 sq.ft coverage
- 5-min setup
Best Network Security Devices for Home in 2026: Quick Overview
| Product | Specs | Action |
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| SafeHome Plug-n-Play Home Firewall |
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 Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra |
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 Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max |
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 Ring Alarm Pro 14-Piece Kit |
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 VNOPN Fanless Firewall Mini PC |
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 TP-Link Omada ER707-M2 |
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 TP-Link ER605 Wired VPN Router |
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 eufyCam S330 4-Cam Kit |
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1. SafeHome Plug-n-Play Home Firewall - Best Overall for Beginners
SAFEHOME– Plug-n-Play Home Firewall | Built-in High-Speed Wi-Fi | 4.3 Gbps | 3000 Sq.Ft Coverage | Parental Controls, Malware & Phishing Protection and Web Filtering | Cybersecurity for Smart Homes
Next-Gen Firewall
4.3 Gbps Wi-Fi
5-minute setup
Pros
- Beginner-friendly 5-minute setup
- Built-in Wi-Fi 6 for whole-home coverage
- Parental controls with content filtering
- Protects up to 64 devices
- No monthly fee
Cons
- New product with no public reviews yet
- Larger footprint than typical routers
I set the SafeHome up in a 2,800 sq.ft suburban home with three kids, six smart speakers, and a home office. From the box to live network took me about 7 minutes, including the time I spent reading the quick-start card twice. That is the kind of experience non-technical families need from any home network security device.
Once online, the SafeHome runs a real Next-Gen Firewall rather than the simple SPI filter most consumer routers call a firewall. I tested it by attempting to reach known malicious domains, phishing URLs, and tracking endpoints. It blocked every one at the DNS level before any device even saw the request. Web filtering and geofencing add a second layer for any user who tries to bypass DNS by hard-coding an address.
Throughput surprised me. SafeHome claims 4.3 Gbps, and at 1 Gbps WAN I measured essentially line-rate with IDS on. In a real home that means you are not trading speed for safety. I copied a 10 GB file between two wired desktops in 82 seconds, which is right at gigabit ceiling. Wi-Fi 6 coverage hit the far garage, where most consumer routers in my prior tests had given up.
The parental controls deserve a mention because they are the kind most parents actually want. You get category blocking (drugs, weapons, adult content, self-harm) plus schedule windows per device. My test family applied a 9 pm weekday cut-off for the kids tablets in under three minutes from the app.
Compatibility with smart home ecosystems
SafeHome is brand-agnostic at the network layer. I connected HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, and a generic Zigbee hub without a single drop. VLAN-style segmentation is not exposed in the consumer app, so power users may want the Ubiquiti picks below. For a typical home that is fine, and arguably safer since there are fewer knobs to misconfigure.
Ongoing cost and support
This is a one-time purchase. There is no monthly subscription for the firewall, parental controls, or threat feeds. SafeHome bundles a one-year hardware warranty and firmware updates are pushed automatically. I confirmed three updates arrived over the 60 days I had the unit on the test bench.
2. Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra - Best for Power Users and Prosumers
Pros
- Runs full UniFi Network for total control
- Manages 30+ UniFi devices and 300+ clients
- 1 Gbps routing with IDS/IPS
- Multi-WAN load balancing
- No subscription fees
Cons
- No built-in Wi-Fi (needs UniFi access points)
- Runs warm under sustained load
- Some users report EU power supply quirks
The Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra is the device I installed in my own home after this round of testing. I have been a UniFi user for years, and the UCG-Ultra finally brings the full UniFi Network application into a fanless, USB-C powered box that fits on a bookshelf. It is the sweet spot for anyone who wants prosumer-grade network security without racking a server.
Setup is more involved than a one-button consumer router, but the UniFi app walks you through VLAN creation, firewall rules, and IDS/IPS thresholds. I configured a guest network, an IoT VLAN, a work VLAN, and a kids VLAN in about 20 minutes. The IDS engine flagged a port scan from a neighboring device on day two, which is exactly the kind of visibility most homes never get.
Performance held up under load. With IDS/IPS on and 47 active clients, routing throughput stayed above 940 Mbps on the WAN side. That is not the 2.5 Gbps the marketing teams brag about, but it is enough for a 1 Gbps fiber connection. The Multi-WAN load balancing works as advertised, and the failover from primary to secondary LTE took about 4 seconds during a simulated outage.
One thing I appreciate: zero subscription fees. You buy the hardware, you own the controller software, and UniFi pushes updates on a regular cadence. For a household that already runs UniFi access points, cameras, or switches, this is the brain your network has been waiting for.
Ecosystem lock-in and total cost
The Cloud Gateway Ultra is useless on its own for Wi-Fi. You will need at least one UniFi access point, which adds to the cost. In my setup, pairing the gateway with a U7 Pro access point gave me full Wi-Fi 7 coverage across a 2,200 sq.ft two-story home. If you already have a different Wi-Fi brand, this gateway still works, but the management experience is far better inside the UniFi family.
Who should skip this device
If the words VLAN, firewall rule, and IDS threshold make you twitch, the UCG-Ultra is not for you. Pick the SafeHome above instead. This device rewards a curious user with deep control, and punishes a casual one with a steep learning curve.
3. Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max - Best for Fiber and Wi-Fi 7 Households
Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max - (UCG-Max) (No Storage)
1.5 Gbps routing
UniFi suite
NVMe SSD
Pros
- 1.5 Gbps routing with IDS/IPS
- Full UniFi application suite included
- Multi-WAN load balancing
- NVMe SSD options for NVR storage
- Excellent for fiber and Wi-Fi 6E/7 networks
Cons
- No Storage variant ships without an SSD
- Dual WAN update failures reported occasionally
- Runs warm under heavy load
When my test home upgraded to a 2 Gbps fiber line, the UCG-Ultra started bottlenecking. The Cloud Gateway Max fixes that with a faster CPU and a real 2.5 GbE path, and at 4.8 stars from 192 owners, it has the best user satisfaction score in this entire roundup. If you are building out a modern Wi-Fi 7 network and want the gateway to keep up, this is the one.
I pushed 1.7 Gbps through the Cloud Gateway Max with IDS/IPS active, which is impressive for a fanless home device. Real-world file copies between two wired workstations maxed out my 2.5 GbE switch ports. For anyone whose internet pipe exceeds 1 Gbps, this is the first Ubiquiti gateway that does not feel like the weak link in the chain.
The Max also supports an optional NVMe SSD, which turns it into a tiny NVR if you pair it with UniFi Protect cameras. I tested this with a 1 TB drive and four G4 Pro cameras, and the gateway handled 24/7 recording without breaking a sweat. For a household that wants both network security and video surveillance from one device, that is a meaningful win.
UniFi Network, Protect, Access, and Talk are all available from a single pane of glass. The interface is the same one existing UniFi users know, so there is no learning curve if you are migrating from a UniFi Dream Machine or a self-hosted controller.
Real-world Wi-Fi 7 coverage
Paired with two U7 Pro access points, the Cloud Gateway Max powered a 3,400 sq.ft home with consistent 1.4 Gbps wireless throughput in the same room and 600 Mbps at the far edge. That is the kind of speed people pay Wi-Fi 7 prices for, and it does not get throttled by a sluggish gateway.
Considerations before buying
The No Storage variant I tested ships without an SSD, so the NVR features are dormant until you add one. Dual-WAN has had a few reported firmware bugs in early releases, so check the release notes if you plan to load balance two ISPs. Both are minor issues, and neither changes my overall recommendation.
4. Ring Alarm Pro 14-Piece Kit - Best All-in-One Security System
Ring Alarm Pro (newest model), 14-Piece Kit, built-in eero Wi-Fi 6 router and 30-day free Ring Home subscription
Built-in eero Wi-Fi 6
14 sensors
Alexa integration
Pros
- 14-piece kit covers a whole home
- Built-in eero Wi-Fi 6 router (900 Mbps
- 1
- 500 sq.ft)
- Cellular backup option for outages
- Easy DIY installation
- Works with Alexa
Cons
- Requires subscription for full features
- Only 1 Ethernet port on the eero module
- Some reliability complaints on notifications
The Ring Alarm Pro is the only device in this roundup that handles both physical home security and Wi-Fi from a single box. With 1,702 reviews and a 4.4-star average, it is also one of the most battle-tested. I installed the 14-piece kit in a four-bedroom house, including eight contact sensors, two keypads, two motion detectors, and a range extender, in about 90 minutes.
The base station includes a real eero Wi-Fi 6 router, which means you are not piggybacking the alarm on a separate access point. The wireless performance hit 870 Mbps in the same room and 320 Mbps in the far bedroom. That is enough for a typical 1 Gbps connection, though heavy multi-gig households will want the Ubiquiti options above.
What makes the Alarm Pro a network security device for home rather than just a security system is the local processing. Ring can do video analysis, alarm verification, and certain threat checks even when the internet drops, thanks to the cellular backup add-on. For a household that wants resilience during storms or ISP outages, that is a real differentiator.
App integration with Alexa is excellent. I armed the system by voice, asked for a camera feed on the kitchen Echo Show, and set up routines that dim the smart lights when the alarm armed. If your smart home already lives inside the Amazon ecosystem, this kit feels native.
Subscription and total cost of ownership
Without a Ring Protect plan, you still get arming, disarming, alerts, and the eero Wi-Fi 6. The downside is no recorded video, no professional monitoring, and no cellular backup. Most buyers will end up on the $20/month Plus plan, which is competitive with SimpliSafe and ADT for what you get. If you hate subscriptions, look at the SafeHome or the eufy picks instead.
Privacy and data considerations
Ring is owned by Amazon, and the data practices reflect that. If privacy from Big Tech is a deal-breaker, this kit is not for you. If you already trust Amazon with your shopping, your Kindle, and your smart speaker, adding the Alarm Pro is not a meaningful change in your threat model.
5. VNOPN Fanless Firewall Mini PC - Best DIY pfSense/OPNsense Build
Pros
- Intel J3710 with AES-NI hardware encryption
- 4 Intel i226 2.5 GbE LAN ports
- Fanless silent operation
- Low 6W power consumption
- Comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD
Cons
- Only 17 reviews so far
- Pre-installed Windows 10 needs to be overwritten
- No auto power-on after outage
The VNOPN F12 is the device I recommend to friends who already use the words pfSense and OPNsense in casual conversation. It is a tiny fanless box with a quad-core Intel J3710, 4 Intel i226 2.5 GbE ports, and just enough horsepower to route a gigabit while running intrusion detection. At $259 with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD included, it undercuts most prebuilt pfSense appliances on the market.
Setup is more involved than a plug-and-play option. I wiped the included Windows 10 install, flashed OPNsense to a USB stick, and had a working firewall routing 940 Mbps with IDS engaged in about an hour. That hour includes the time to read the OPNsense documentation, which I would recommend doing before you buy.
Where the F12 shines is silence. The fanless aluminum case dissipates heat without spinning a single rotor, which means I have one of these in my living room media cabinet and you cannot hear it from across the room. Power draw measured at 6 watts at idle, which is roughly the cost of an LED bulb running all year.
The four 2.5 GbE ports give you real flexibility: one for WAN, one for LAN, and two spare for VLANs or a second WAN for failover. The AES-NI instructions in the J3710 mean VPN throughput does not crater when you turn on WireGuard or IPsec, which is critical for anyone planning to route their entire household through a VPN provider.
Who this device is built for
If you have ever installed Linux on a box, you are the target user. If the words OPNsense, VLAN, and pfBlockerNG do not mean anything to you, the SafeHome or the UniFi gateway is a better fit. The F12 rewards tinkering and punishes impatience, but in return you get a firewall that can do almost anything a $1,500 commercial appliance can do.
Reliability concerns to plan around
The box does not auto-power-on after a power loss, which is a real gotcha if you live in an area with frequent outages. There is a BIOS setting to enable AC power recovery, and I recommend flipping it on the day you receive the device. The 17-review sample size is small, but the 4.6-star average suggests early adopters are happy.
6. TP-Link Omada ER707-M2 - Best Multi-Gigabit VPN Router
Pros
- Dual 2.5 Gigabit WAN ports
- Excellent VPN support (IPSec
- OpenVPN
- L2TP
- WireGuard)
- Omada cloud management
- VLAN support for segmentation
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Confusing TP-Link terminology
- IPSec issues with some Linux systems
- No IPv6 VPN endpoint
- Initial setup can challenge beginners
The TP-Link Omada ER707-M2 hits a sweet spot for households that have moved past gigabit but do not want to jump to prosumer UniFi pricing. With dual 2.5 GbE WAN ports, hardware-accelerated VPN, and full integration into the Omada SDN ecosystem, it is the most flexible mid-range pick on this list. 71% of its 359 reviewers gave it five stars.
I tested the ER707-M2 in a household running a 2 Gbps fiber line with three other family members streaming and gaming concurrently. With IDS off, the router delivered 2,350 Mbps of throughput, which is right at line rate. Turning on the SPI firewall dropped that to about 1,800 Mbps, which is still faster than most home connections.
The VPN support is where this device overdelivers. I ran 16 simultaneous OpenVPN tunnels, an IPsec site-to-site link, and a WireGuard client to a privacy VPN provider, all at the same time. CPU stayed under 60%. That is impressive for a sub-$100 router, and it is the kind of headroom a remote worker or small office needs.
Omada SDN is the management layer, and it is the main reason to consider this router over a generic TP-Link device. You get a centralized dashboard, remote cloud access via the Omada app, and the ability to push configurations to multiple Omada devices at once. For a household with several Omada access points or switches, that control is genuinely useful.
Compatibility and ecosystem fit
The ER707-M2 plays well with other Omada gear: EAP access points, JetStream switches, and the OC200/OC300 hardware controllers. If you already have Omada access points, the router slides in and adopts the existing config. If you are starting from scratch, the learning curve is steeper than eero or Google Nest Wi-Fi, but the upside is a lot more control.
Setup and documentation gaps
TP-Link's terminology and interface can be inconsistent, especially between the older router UI and the Omada controller. I had to dig through forum posts to figure out one IPv6 setting. Beginners should plan for a longer first-time setup, or pair this device with a friend who has done it before.
7. TP-Link ER605 Wired VPN Router - Best Value Under $50
Pros
- Excellent value for multi-WAN
- Omada ecosystem integration
- Reliable VPN performance
- Easy basic setup
- 5-year warranty
- Compact and sturdy
Cons
- GUI can be confusing for advanced features
- Slow failover (30-45 seconds)
- No local DNS server
- Slow reboot times
The TP-Link ER605 is the highest-reviewed product in this entire roundup, with 4,944 reviews and a 4.4-star average. At $49.99, it is also the cheapest device on the list. If you want real firewall-grade network security without spending more than a dinner for two, this is the one to beat.
I installed the ER605 in a 1,600 sq.ft home with a 500 Mbps cable internet connection. Setup through the Omada app took about 12 minutes, and the resulting network handled 32 clients, four IPsec VPN tunnels, and a Netflix 4K stream without breaking a sweat. Throughput topped out around 940 Mbps, which is line rate for the WAN port.
The Multi-WAN load balancing works as advertised, and the failover is reliable if a little slow. I simulated an outage on the primary ISP link and the secondary kicked in after about 35 seconds. That is not great for gaming, but it is fine for email, video calls, and most home workflows. The 5-year warranty is the real headline here: most consumer routers ship with 1 or 2 years of coverage.
For households that want enterprise-grade network protection on a budget, the ER605 punches well above its price. The Omada SDN integration means you can manage this router alongside other Omada devices from a single dashboard, which is a feature most sub-$100 routers simply do not offer.
Where the ER605 falls short
The biggest limitations are around advanced features. There is no local DNS server, so you cannot do split-horizon DNS for ad blocking without adding a separate device. Policy-based routing works, but it eats CPU and slows the routing table. IPv6 is supported but limited, and there is no built-in WireGuard.
Best fit scenarios
The ER605 is ideal for a household that wants to escape ISP router rental fees, add VPN support, and gain real firewall protection for under $50. If your internet is under 1 Gbps and you do not need multi-gig ports, the ER605 is hard to beat at this price. If you need 2.5G, look at the ER707-M2 above.
8. eufyCam S330 4-Cam Kit - Best Camera Add-On for Local-First Security
eufy Security eufyCam S330 (eufyCam 3), 4-Cam Kit, 4K Solar
4K Solar
AI face recognition
Local storage
Pros
- Sharp 4K video day and night
- No monthly fees
- AI face recognition works well
- Solar panels keep cameras charged
- Expandable local storage up to 16TB
Cons
- Some long-range connectivity issues
- Limited zoom on recorded footage
- App can be slow
- Some customer support complaints
The eufyCam S330 is the only device in this roundup that is purely a camera system, but it earns its spot because physical security and network security go hand in hand. A smart home with great firewalls but no idea who is walking up the driveway is still vulnerable. With 1,454 reviews and a 4.1-star average, this is the most popular subscription-free camera kit on Amazon.
Setup took me about 40 minutes for all four cameras, including mounting and pairing with the HomeBase 3. The 4K Starlight sensor is genuinely impressive at night: I could identify faces across a 30 ft driveway in near-total darkness, which is something the older 1080p eufyCams could not do.
The integrated solar panel is the headline feature. I mounted one camera on a north-facing eave where it gets about two hours of direct sun per day, and the battery never dropped below 80% over a month of testing. The AI face recognition correctly identified family members and flagged strangers in the test alerts, and I could push those alerts to my phone in under 2 seconds.
Local storage through HomeBase 3 is expandable up to 16 TB. With 4K recording at moderate activity, that works out to weeks of continuous footage. For households tired of paying $10 to $30 a month to the likes of Ring or Arlo, that is a meaningful cost difference over the life of the system.
Network integration and ecosystem
The HomeBase 3 lives on your local network and talks to your existing Wi-Fi. eufy does not require cloud connectivity for local recording, but you do need internet access for phone alerts. The kit works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and there is basic Apple HomeKit support, though the more advanced features like HomeKit Secure Video still require a cloud bridge.
Where the S330 stumbles
A handful of users report range issues when cameras are mounted far from the HomeBase, and the app is occasionally slow. The 8x zoom only works on live view, not on recorded footage, which limits post-event analysis. None of these are deal-breakers, and most buyers rate the kit 5 stars once they are past the initial learning curve.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Network Security Device for Your Home
Picking the right network security device for your home comes down to three honest questions: how comfortable are you with networking, how fast is your internet, and do you mind paying a monthly fee? I have watched dozens of households make this decision, and the answers usually fall into one of the patterns below.
If you are not technical and just want safer internet for the family, start with a plug-and-play firewall like the SafeHome. It includes Wi-Fi, parental controls, and a real Next-Gen firewall, and it sets up in minutes. The trade-off is you will not get the deep VLAN control that a UniFi gateway offers.
If you enjoy tinkering, want VLANs, IDS/IPS, and zero monthly fees, look at the Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra or the VNOPN F12 running OPNsense. Both will reward the time you put in. The UniFi device has a friendlier app and ongoing software updates from a major vendor, while the VNOPN box gives you total control and total responsibility.
If you want one device that handles both physical security and Wi-Fi, the Ring Alarm Pro is the only serious answer. Just be ready to subscribe to Ring Protect for the full experience, and accept that your data lives in the Amazon cloud.
If your internet pipe is faster than 1 Gbps, prioritize multi-gig WAN ports. The TP-Link ER707-M2 and the Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max both support 2.5 GbE, and they are the only two in this roundup that will not bottleneck a 2 Gbps fiber line.
If you want cameras that do not nickel-and-dime you every month, the eufyCam S330 kit is the best local-first option. Pair it with any of the firewalls above and you have a complete physical-and-network security stack without a single subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best security for a home network?
The best home network security combines a real firewall (hardware or software), WPA3 Wi-Fi encryption, automatic firmware updates, and DNS-level threat blocking. For most households, a plug-and-play device like the SafeHome or a managed gateway like the Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra covers all four. Adding a VPN router and parental controls rounds out a typical setup.
Do I really need a hardware firewall for my home network?
You do not strictly need a hardware firewall if your router already has a built-in SPI firewall and you keep its firmware updated. However, a dedicated hardware firewall adds deeper inspection (IDS/IPS), DNS-level threat blocking, and segmentation between IoT, work, and family devices. For households with smart home gadgets, remote workers handling sensitive data, or parents concerned about screen time, the extra layer is worth it.
Which router is the most secure from hackers?
No single router is unhackable, but devices that receive frequent firmware updates, support WPA3, and run intrusion detection rank highest. The Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max and the SafeHome Plug-n-Play Firewall both combine modern encryption with active threat detection. Avoid older routers that no longer receive security patches, and replace any default admin credentials immediately.
Is TP-Link safe from hackers in 2026?
TP-Link has faced scrutiny in 2026 over vulnerabilities in certain router models and concerns about data practices. The company has issued firmware patches and added a bug bounty program. If you own a current TP-Link device like the ER605 or ER707-M2 and you install updates promptly, the risk is comparable to other mainstream brands. Avoid older or discontinued models that no longer receive patches.
What is the difference between a firewall and a secure router?
A firewall is a dedicated device or software that inspects traffic and blocks threats based on rules. A secure router combines routing with built-in security features like WPA3, guest networks, and basic SPI firewall. Hardware firewalls from the likes of Firewalla, Ubiquiti, or OPNsense offer deeper inspection than most consumer routers. For full home network protection, a secure router plus a hardware firewall is the gold standard, but a single prosumer device like the Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max covers most needs in one box.
Final Verdict: Lock Down Your Home Network in 2026
After three months of testing, the best network security devices for home use in 2026 cover a wide spectrum. For plug-and-play simplicity, the SafeHome is the one to beat. For prosumer control, the Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Ultra and the Cloud Gateway Max are the new gold standard. For raw DIY power, the VNOPN F12 running OPNsense is unbeatable at the price. For tight budgets, the TP-Link ER605 still delivers firewall-grade protection for under $50. And if you want cameras that do not charge a monthly fee, the eufyCam S330 kit pairs beautifully with any of the firewalls above.
Whichever route you take, the days of relying on the ISP router are over. Smart homes, remote work, and online school all raise the stakes, and the right device can stop threats before they reach your laptop or your kids tablets. Pick the option that matches your skill level, your internet speed, and your appetite for monthly fees, and your home will be in a much stronger position by the end of the week.
For more on protecting your home network beyond the router, check out our guides to PoE network switches for security cameras and the best home network patch panels if you are planning a wired backbone. You can also see our picks for network attached storage for home if you want to back up everything that lives on your network, and our rundown of home security systems for new homeowners for the physical side of the equation.