Internet was not possible without the invention of smart switches, satellites, fiber optic cables and LAN cards. Those who find it difficult to get an idea of the global network are one living example of this. Before we consider a wide area network (WAN), we need to understand what a local area network (LAN) is.
A local network, as the name implies, is a network built in a limited area, using LAN cables, switches and LAN cards. One example is a network of a university or business office in one place. LAN computers are connected to a network switch. You can either make this network a working group (share limited resources), or a domain (share all kinds of resources and services). In the domain, you have the privilege to give users access to resources or limit them to use certain services. Since LAN can only work at a certain distance, we need a WAN to connect institutions and offices in different places.
A WAN connects two or more LANs, and this is possible using devices such as routers. There are many ways to build a global network. You can stack your own cables between two or more locations or use leased lines. Most companies use leased lines, as very limited companies can incur costs of thousands of pounds for this.
Businesses and institutions receive leased lines from different service providers and pay them monthly. Today, many companies are creating a virtual private network (VAN) using dedicated lines. A VAN can be set by purchasing direct IP addresses from a service provider in two or more different places. To protect this network, the network administrator uses routers and firewalls to protect the network.
In WAN, users in different places are connected to a central server. The name of this computer is the server, because it serves to serve all the computers on the network. All computers on the network are connected to a central database on the server. These computers store real-time data, simultaneously send requests to the server, and retrieve reports. The banking system is a very good example of a WAN.
The benefits of the global network are not limited. You are sitting in one country, and an office in another country is similar to the next room. You can share documents, reports, fingerprints, query databases, search thousands of records in seconds, track remote locations with digital cameras and do much more. The benefits of the global network are endless; it is up to you what advantages you want to use with this technology; sophistication obviously increases with a cost factor.
With many of the benefits of the global network, there are also some drawbacks that can be fixed with the latest technology. WAN security is a big factor. When you connect to the Internet using Live IP, anyone can intervene and hack your system. For this purpose, implemented firewalls and routers, which, of course, come at the expense of thousands of pounds. The waiting period in the WAN is high, but it can also be solved using high-speed Internet connections. To create a global network, enterprises and institutions need a lot of money, because the technologies that ensure the security of your network, as well as meeting your needs, are very expensive.
