7.2.1 networks

• Networks connect electronic devices together so that they can communicate and share resources
• 3 main benefits of networks:

  reliability

  Accessibility

  Manageability
• Main 3 drawbacks of networks:

  Reliance on centralized servers

  Costs

  Maintainability
• Reliability is a benefit of networks as in networks data can be stored on a server and an individuals device, allowing for data redundancy
• Accesibility is a benefit of networks as using networks resources can be accessed across distances, whether vast distances with WANs or shorter distances within a LAN
• Maneagability is a benefit of server-based networks as all computers can access centralized servers that can help manage these connected devices and provide resorces
• Server reliance is a drawback of networks as they often utilise these servers to an extent at which, without these servers, many systems fail
• Costs are important drawback of networks as they are particularly expensive at lower scales. They are very expensive to initially implement and will often require large change to a companies infrastructure such that significant downtime may occur.
• Maintainability is an important drawback of networks. This is because to maintain a large network vast amounts of resources, and specialist effort must be allocated.
• Security is a benefit and drawback of networks as it is all centralized which means it is harder to breach security, but when it is all within the network can be accessed