Computer networks allow the sharing and central management of resources, information and applications across a variety of devices in a flexible, secure fashion. They are a vital part of our lives today and offer benefits such as improved collaboration and normalize data in excel communication, reduced costs, improved security, and greater accessibility to data and resources.
Networks are made up of two essential elements, nodes and links. Nodes are network devices such as computers, printers and file servers that can communicate with each other 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 local network by using Wi-Fi can be described as a node and is a link. The routers and switches function as traffic cops who direct data packets in the most efficient way to get them to their destination.
A wide area network (WAN) is a network of greater scale that utilizes bridges and gateways to interconnect multiple networks. A WAN, unlike a local area network (LAN) is connected to global communication networks and the Internet. For instance, students in Florida can conference with friends in Tokyo on their workstations thanks to a WAN and bridge that connects them.
Computer networks simplify workflows and encourage collaboration and engagement in the workplace. Employees can save their 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 standard versions of employee and customer manuals through the network. This ensures accuracy and consistency.