Gigabit Ethernet has been the standard since 1999, and we’re now in 2026. That’s 27 years. So, if you still have a Fast Ethernet (10/100) switch in your networking rack, closet, or setup, it’s time to retire it.

10/100 switches cap transfer speeds at 100Mb/s, which is about 10MB/s. That’s 10 times slower than traditional Gigabit Ethernet, which is already on the slow side. So, Fast Ethernet is even slower. These days, most internet plans are well over 100Mb/s in speed, so you might be paying for fast internet and not getting it on every device in your home.

So, before you go about your week, take some time to verify that you don’t have any old 10/100 Fast Ethernet switches in your setup. They look almost identical to Gigabit switches, so be sure to look and see what the switch is rated at. DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems are along the same lines as Fast Ethernet switches—they’re just simply too old. Typically, a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem will get capped at around 340Mb/s to 400Mb/s download speed, and around 20Mb/s to 50Mb/s upload speed.

This is pretty slow in terms of modern networking. In many places, Xfinity, one of America’s largest cable internet providers, offers 2Gb/s download and 250Mb/s upload speeds. This is several times faster than what a DOCSIS 3.0 modem can deliver.

So, if you’re thinking that you’re doing a good job by not renting an Xfinity modem and you’re still using a DOCSIS 3.0 modem, you’re likely hindering your network performance significantly. It’s worth checking what internet speed you’re paying for. If it’s anything faster than 400Mb/s download and 50Mb/s upload, then it’s time to replace that old DOCSIS 3.0 modem These days, most ISPs offer fairly decent Wi-Fi routers. The thing is, unless you change your internet plan, most ISPs won’t actually replace your modem unless you ask.

That means, you might be paying $10 to $12 per month for a modem rental, but you could still be using old technology. I’ve been to multiple friends’ homes where they still had the old Wi-Fi 5 AT&T Fiber modem installed, and I had to tell them to call AT&T to get a new one. I’ve seen the same with Xfinity. These ISPs will often give you a new Wi-Fi router/modem combo if you ask for it. It’s a simple upgrade that will transform how your home network works.

If you’re still using a Wi-Fi 5 gateway from your ISP, give them a call. There’s no reason to be paying for a gateway and not getting the latest tech.

Your NAS, or network attached storage, is actually a bigger deal than you might think it is. If you have an old NAS on your network that hasn’t received updates for its operating system in years, then there’s a good chance it’s running an outdated kernel and possibly software that could be full of security holes in the modern world.

Now, if you want to go the DIY route and your NAS supports it, you can replace the operating system with something more modern and that would solve this problem easily. However, that sometimes requires some tech savviness—and sometimes it’s just straight up not possible. So, while the NAS might still technically work, if it hasn’t received an update in a long time, then it might be time to pick up a new one.