The Benefits of Computer Networks

Computer networks allow the sharing and central management of information, resources and applications across multiple devices in a scalable and secure www.boardroomco.net/how-to-type-on-a-pdf manner. They are an integral part of our lives today and offer benefits like improved communication and collaboration, lower costs, improved security, and increased accessibility to data and resources.

Links and nodes are two most important components of a network. Nodes are network devices such as printers, computers and file servers that communicate with one another using an established set of rules known as communication protocols. Links connect these nodes using optical or wired connections. A laptop that connects to a network in the local area using Wi-Fi is a node and is a link. Network switches and routers serve as traffic police, directing data traffic to their intended destination efficiently.

A wide area network (WAN) is a larger-scale network that uses bridges and gateways to connect several LANs. Unlike a LAN the WAN is connected to the Internet and other global communications networks. For instance, students from Florida can join teleconferences with their peers in Tokyo at their workstations due to a WAN and bridge that connects them.

Computer networks can streamline work processes and encourage collaboration and engagement in the workplace. Employees can save documents to a server that is regularly backed-up, instead of sending documents back and forth which could result in lost files. They can also access the most current versions of employee or customer manuals via the network. This ensures accuracy and consistency.