Networks

A network is a system containing any combination of computers, computer terminals, printers, audio or visual display devices, or telephones interconnected by telecommunication equipment or cables: used to transmit or receive information.

There sare many advantages of a network: messages can be sent between users using a network, also software is cheaper for a network than it is for individual licences. periples, like printers and scanners can be shared on a network.

There are also many disadvantages to a network, these are that if a network collapses, no computers work, also security is an issue as viruses can affect all the computers connected to the network. wiring can be expensive to buy and install which is also a disadvantage.

There are two types of networks: lAN and WAN. LAN is a local Area Network. WAN is a Wide Are Network.
LAN computers are fairly close together, generally within a building, where as WAN computers are spread over larger areas, these can be in different buildings, different sites, or even different countries!!!
LAN uses cable to connnect to a network, where as WAN uses global communications such as telephones, satelite or even the internet.

On a network it is important to have different levels of access becuase it stops data being seen by anyone and it stops files being deleted and settings being changed. A network prevents people from seeing personal information because people are given different access levels controlled by their password and user name, so they have different access rights.