Types of Networks
What are the different types of networks?
- A network is two of more devices connected together with the purpose of sharing resources
- There are two different types of networks
- Local Area Networks (LANs)
- Wide Area Networks (WANs)
- For the exam it is important to understand the properties as well as the advantages and disadvantages of LANs and WANs
- It is also important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of having a network
What are the advantages of having a network?
- Users can share resources such as printers and connection to the internet
- Users can access their files from any computer on the network
- Communication can be made easier via email and social networks
- Users can share files and folders easily such as central databases and spreadsheets
- Servers can be used to provide centralised backups, updates and security
What are the disadvantages of having a network?
- There is an increased security risk to data
- Malicious software can infiltrate the network and render it unusable
- Servers and switches can provide a central point of failure, resulting in users not being able to complete tasks using their computer
- Factors can impact the performance of the network such as the number of users and data on the network at one time
