Networking gear keeps your business connected. Switches, routers, firewalls, and wireless access points move every email, file, and login. But nobody notices them until something breaks.
That’s a problem, because old gear fails in two ways. It slows down, and it stops getting security patches. In February 2026, the U.S. government put a spotlight on the second issue. So this guide covers how long networking gear lasts, how to spot trouble, and how to retire old equipment safely.
Why Timing Matters for Networking Equipment Replacement
Running gear past its useful life creates four main problems:
- Performance bottlenecks. Old hardware can’t keep up with today’s bandwidth demands, so productivity drops.
- Security vulnerabilities. Once a vendor stops issuing patches, every new flaw stays open.
- More downtime. Failures get more frequent as hardware ages.
- Higher maintenance costs. Constant fixes and replacement parts can cost more than an upgrade.
Planning ahead avoids all four. It also lets you replace gear on your schedule, not during an outage.
The CISA Directive Every IT Team Should Know
On February 5, 2026, CISA issued Binding Operational Directive 26-02, “Mitigating Risk From End-of-Support Edge Devices.” The directive covers federal civilian agencies. But the reasoning applies to everyone.
CISA defines edge devices broadly. The list includes load balancers, firewalls, routers, switches, wireless access points, and other network security appliances. CISA, the FBI, and the UK’s NCSC warn that nation-state attackers exploit unsupported edge devices to get into networks and stay there.
The directive sets a clear timeline for agencies:
- Right away: Update supported devices that run end-of-support software.
- 3 months: Inventory every end-of-support device (the deadline was May 5, 2026).
- 12 months: Decommission devices that were already unsupported when the directive was issued.
- 18 months: Replace all remaining end-of-support edge devices.
Private companies don’t have to follow it. Still, CISA strongly encourages non-federal organizations to take similar steps. So treat it as a useful benchmark for your own network.
How Long Does Networking Gear Last?
Every environment differs. Still, these planning ranges give you a starting point:
| Equipment | Typical Planning Range |
|---|---|
| Access switches | 5 to 7 years |
| Edge routers | 5 to 7 years |
| Core switches and routers | 7 to 10 years |
| Firewalls and security appliances | 5 to 7 years |
| Wireless access points | 4 to 6 years |
Sources vary on these numbers, and your workload matters. Wireless access points often get replaced sooner because new Wi-Fi standards (like Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7) change what users expect. Some industry guides also report that GPU-heavy environments refresh network gear faster, since links must keep pace with compute.
Here’s the key point, though. Support status matters more than age. A switch can pass traffic for ten years. If it stopped receiving firmware updates five years ago, it’s still a security liability.
Vendors publish milestone dates. Cisco, for example, lists end of sale, end of new service attachment, end of software maintenance, and last date of support. Our guide to the Cisco UCS B200 M5 shows how those dates play out for a real product.
Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Networking Gear
Don’t wait for complete failure. Watch for these warning signs:
- End-of-support notices. If your vendor stops providing patches, security becomes a serious concern.
- Frequent connectivity problems. Dropped connections, slowdowns, and random reboots point to failing hardware.
- Incompatibility with modern needs. Newer apps and cloud services may need faster ports, more PoE power, or newer wireless standards.
- Rising costs. If repairs and downtime eat your budget, replacement often costs less.
- Compliance gaps. Frameworks like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and NIST guidance expect you to keep systems patched and supported. PCI DSS 4.0 also asks you to review your technologies at least once every 12 months, including vendors’ end-of-life plans. Unsupported gear makes that hard to show.
- Gear you can’t identify. If nobody knows what a device does or who owns it, treat it as a risk.
Best Practices for Replacing Networking Gear
Replacing gear shouldn’t be an emergency. Build a plan instead:
- Keep a live inventory. Track every device, its role, and its support dates. CISA specifically recommends tracking devices that are or will become end-of-support.
- Start with the edge. Firewalls, VPN gateways, and internet-facing routers carry the most risk, so replace those first.
- Tie your refresh cycle to support dates. A 3-to-5-year or 5-to-7-year rule helps, but vendor milestones should set the final schedule.
- Audit every year. Review performance, warranty status, and compatibility.
- Standardize where you can. Fewer brands and models mean simpler management and training.
- Plan the retirement before the install. Decide what happens to old gear before new gear arrives.
Need help planning a full upgrade? Our IT equipment refresh services cover the retirement side. For server hardware, see our server processor buyer’s guide.
Retiring Old Networking Gear Securely
Old network gear holds more data than most people expect. Switches, routers, and firewalls can store configuration files, passwords, VPN keys, certificates, and logs. Firewall rule sets also reveal how your network is built. Attackers would love to read all of it.
A factory reset helps, but it doesn’t always meet your security requirements. So follow current NIST SP 800-88 Revision 2 guidance. Here’s how we handle retirement:
- Certified data erasure and physical data destruction. We sanitize or destroy onboard storage so nothing is recoverable.
- Documented chain of custody. Every device is tracked by serial number from pickup to final disposition.
- Value recovery. Even gear that’s no longer safe at the network edge can have value for labs, spare parts, or internal use. Our asset recovery and value return programs help you capture it. Our partner site also buys used networking equipment.
- Responsible recycling. Whatever has no resale value goes through R2v3-certified recycling instead of a landfill.
Replacing a whole closet or rack? Our hardware removal team handles pickup and logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I replace network switches?
Most access switches last 5 to 7 years. Core switches can run longer. But your vendor’s end-of-support date should decide the schedule, not the age alone.
How do I check if my networking gear is end of support?
Look up your model on the vendor’s end-of-life and end-of-sale pages. Vendors like Cisco publish several milestone dates for each product. CISA also maintains an end-of-support edge device list that federal agencies use as a reference.
Is end-of-support networking gear really a security risk?
Yes. Once patches stop, new vulnerabilities stay open. CISA, the FBI, and the UK’s NCSC warn that nation-state attackers exploit unsupported edge devices such as routers, firewalls, and VPN gateways.
Does CISA’s directive apply to private companies?
Not directly. BOD 26-02 covers federal civilian agencies. However, CISA strongly encourages non-federal organizations to follow similar steps, so it works well as a benchmark.
Do I need to wipe old switches and routers before recycling them?
Yes. They can store configurations, credentials, VPN keys, and logs. Sanitize or destroy that storage following NIST SP 800-88 Revision 2, and keep records of what you did.
Can I sell my old networking equipment?
Often, yes. Switches, routers, and firewalls can carry resale value, even if they’re past their prime for edge use. Get the gear evaluated before you recycle it.
Replace Smarter, Retire Safer
The question isn’t whether you’ll replace your networking gear. It’s when, and how well you handle the old equipment afterward. Track your support dates, replace edge devices first, and never let retired gear leave without documented data destruction.
Ready to evaluate your network equipment? Contact DES Technologies to plan a secure, cost-effective transition.