Types of Networks

• Characteristics of Local Area Networks (LANs):

  • Common in businesses and organisations
  • Enable users to share hardware resources like printers and software resources like files and documents
  • Users can log on from any workstation with a username and password
  • Centralized backups of files can be done
  • Anti-virus checks can be carried out across all workstations
  • Common in homes with the growth of media devices like tablets, smartphones, and smart TVs
  • Routers are used to connect multiple devices
• Issues to consider with networking:

  • Cost of setting up and maintaining the network
  • Risk of network failure
  • Security concerns like keeping login details secret and logging out after sessions
• Wide Area Networks (WANs):

  • Connect computers across a large geographical area
  • The Internet is the most well-known WAN, connecting billions of people globally