A virtual switch can connect virtual machines to networks that are external to a Hyper-V host, including an organization`s intranet or Internet. It is programmatically managed and can connect VMs to both virtual networks and physical networks. The switch is a software-based Ethernet network switch and is manageable in Hyper-V Manager and Windows Admin Center (WAC).

Network virtualization works on the concept of shared network infrastructure, in which multiple virtual networks (potentially with overlapping IP addresses) run on the same physical network infrastructure. A Hyper-V virtual switch makes network management easy by allowing admins to configure and view VLANs, while also implementing security policies with Extended Port Control Lists.