What Is a Computer Network? Definition, Components, Objectives, and Best Practices

Computers are an excellent development. But, they perform essentially well on being a part of a network. When a device is linked to a network, it can achieve more than expected like communicating with colleagues, web surfing, storing data, checking information, and conducting financial transactions.

What Is a Computer Network?

A computer network stands as an interrelated system of two or more computation devices to transmit applications, data, and other tasks. These devices range from laptops to desktops, mobile phones, and even servers. These devices are ideally linked with physical wires. Indeed, they can also be connected via wireless technology.

Key Components of a Computer Network

Network Devices

• End devices covering smartphones, computers, and other exterior devices.
• Servers for data processing, computations, and storage tasks.
• Routers transmit packets of data between networks.
• Switchers are multi-port bridges for smartly transferring data to the destination port.

Links

Links are the means utilized for transmitting data.?

Communication protocols

Communication protocols are specified rules followed by data-transferring nodes.?

Network Defense

This dynamic component is responsible for the safe and secure transfer of data between ports.

Types of Computer Networks

• LAN (Local Area Network)

These smart networks link devices in a restricted area such as an office or a school.

• PAN (Personal Area Network)

PAN is used to link several devices, such as a printer, laptop, or scanner.

• MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

MAN network considers a sequence of LANs and links them into one network, through a phone exchange line.?

• WAN (Wide Area Network)

WAN is powered to cover a significant geographical area like some province, state, or an entire nation. This is done by utilizing satellite links, phone lines, or cables.

Main Objectives of Developing and Installing a Computer Network:

1. Saves Costs:?

Computer networks are direct clear of huge costly mainframes, selecting to engage processors at designated points. Processors are affordable and faster to save time and intensify efficiency.

1. Reducing Error:?

As all the organization’s data comes from one source, there is an section of reliability and permanency, which in turn decreases the probability of mistakes.

1. Improved Storage Capacity:?

In the days when data is everything, companies want all the data storage available to them.

1. Managing Performance:?

The more a company nurtures, the heftier its information-related load would be. By using extra processors, the overall performance can be boosted.

1. Reliability of Resources:?

Networks provide users access to different resources through several access points. Besides this, multiple machines offer an outstanding backup in case any sort of hardware fails.

1. Protected Remote Access:?

This purpose has gained an extra level of significance because of the global pandemic. As a result, users can securely conduct their tasks from home.

1. Rationalized Communication:?

Today, computer systems make it simplified for staff from different departments to plan, talk, share, and collaborate.

Best Practices for Managing Your Computer Network:

• By their very aspect, networks contain numerous devices, and it’s a chore to keep track of them all. Mechanization takes some of that load off your shoulders and averts human error.
• Honeypots and honeynets are said to be the components of cybersecurity, powered to catch threats and decoys.
• A reliable baseline allows administrators to measure network functionality and check when things are operating normally. Admins can develop alerts when those constraints are not being met.
• Discussing consistent baselines, impeccable up-to-date documentation helps things operate smoother and takes the problem out of amenability audits. It is important to keep updated documents about software, hardware, firmware, equipment specifications, and policies.
• Cybercriminals can easily target a company’s employees and make them unknowing assistants. As an outcome, networks need strong verification machines and smart models for managing access control.

Conclusion:

Technology is transforming at a rapid speed and companies are becoming more aware of the importance of networks. Of course, transferring data is not possible without a computer network, which calls for functioning in a safe environment. This is the reason that all high-end devices with a strong network are mandatory to keep information safe. With increasing cyber threats, it has become important for developers to ensure that data does not gets leaked.