Advantages and Disadvantages of Networks

The advantages of networks are:

Networks allow valuable resources to be shared. The most obvious example would be printers. But access to the internet over a single phone or broadband connection can be shared by a network.

It is possible to use work stations that have fewer components for example no CD drive No Floppy disk, a small hard disk. This all saves money.

Software can be shared. If users only need software occasionally the network can be used to limit the number of software copies available.

Communication across the network is cheep and fast.

Security can be controlled centrally

Viruses can be detected and controlled centrally.

Use of the network can easily be monitored.

Networks provide flexibility. A worker can work on any machine, so maintenance can be better planned, with workers being moved to other machines.

Backup of data can be controlled and made regular and reliable - often this becomes and automated process.

The disadvantages of networks are:

The cabling and switches can be expensive to install maintain and replace.

A fault with the server or with part of the cabling can prevent the whole or a large part of the network from working.

Security measures are needed to restrict access to vital files within the network.

WANs are vulnerable to hackers and viruses.

There are more components in a network so there is more that can go wrong it also costs more to maintain.

Exercise Network advantages

Prepare a table summarizing the advantages and disadvantages of networks.

© LEV