Computer networks connect devices and computers to share information, resources and services. They can be based on wired or wireless connections, and can be configured in various network topologies. Networks are today essential to business. They allow us to communicate more effectively, collaborate with colleagues and perform more efficiently. They also aid in access to data and security.
Computer networking is a broad area that covers the ideation of architecture, design, and maintenance of communication networks. It is a combination of computer science and electrical engineering.
The Internet is the most famous computer network, allowing billions of users to connect and share the same resources at the same time. The network utilizes a packet switching model to route data traffic through an almost infinite number of connections and pathways. Each packet is comprised of information about control and information from the user. The control information contains the destination and source network addresses errors detection codes, as well as sequencing information. The payload is contained in the data portion of a bytes.
In a typical network central servers store data and manages access by users to crucial resources such as printers, photocopiers, and files. The server is protected by firewalls and multifactor authentication systems to ensure that only authorized users of the network are able to access it. The centralization of data on servers makes it easier for administrators and network security policy enforcers to perform regular backups. Additionally, it allows employees to access corporate apps and services regardless of whereabouts, such as video-calling, document-sharing and other software.