Haneen Shariff

When I checked Google for an exact definition of computer networks, it said a computer network is a network of computers. But a computer network is much more than that. It is a network that allows a computer to pass on information to another computer, or in fact many other computers. The data is transferred through the network nodes. Network nodes are known as a connection point, and its functions are to send, receive and forward data.

 

An example of a network is the Intranet. It is used in many organizations and can only be accessed by the authorized people of that organization. For example, employees and employers. It allows effective communication between the staff. Thus, the intranet is known to be a private system. Earlier, the intranets would be used to transfer simple information between colleagues, but nowadays the intranet is collaborated with other software such as time management and project management software. The use of such software has proved to be time saving and efficient and has shown an increased in productivity over time. Customers are given permission to access a part of the network; this part is now referred to as the extranet.

 

An Extranet enables access for the outsiders of an organization such as business partners and customers. It can be seen as an extended form of an intranet.  Two companies can exchange information, showcase their products, and also use another company’s applications through the Extranet. However, a lot of people are concerned with the security risks that may be present while using an Extranet. The data being transferred through the network may be deleted or changed, although the chances of this happening are very minimal, there are still a few loopholes that can be risky for the company.

 

The Internet, in contrast to the Intranet, is a global system. It is accessible by users worldwide through the Internet protocol suite (IP). It is a network consisting of several other networks that are linked to each other. The internet has enabled a lot of services including, Voice over Internet protocol (VOIP)., Instant Messaging (IM) as well as Online shopping and banking. Web servers each hold web sites and are capable of sending a requested web page to the user. A unique address (URL) has been assigned to each webpage in order to allow easy access to the users. The Internet has now become a very essential part of peoples lives.

 

Questions that I have?

 

1) How is a data transmitted through a network

2) How efficent is it to encrypt the data being transferred?

3) How can a Computer Network be improvised in order to provide more features?

 

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