02/06/2016
Networking Primer
What are the Benefits of Computer Networking?
The most obvious benefit of computer networking
is that you can store virtually any kind of
information at, and retrieve it from, a central
location on the network as well as access it from
any connected computer. You can store, retrieve,
and modify textual information such as letters and
contracts, audio information such as voice
messages, and visual images such as facsimiles,
photographs, medical x-rays, and even video
segments.
A network also enables you to combine the power
and capabilities of diverse equipment and to
provide a collaborative medium to combine the
skills of different people—regardless of physical
location. Computer networking enables people to
share information and ideas easily, so they can
work more efficiently and productively. Networks
also improve commercial activities such as
purchasing, selling, and customer service.
Networks are making traditional business
processes more efficient, more manageable, and
less expensive.
Cost-Effective Resource Sharing
By networking your business computers you can
reduce the amount of money you spend on
hardware by sharing components and peripherals
while also reducing the amount of time you spend
managing your computer system.
Equipment sharing is extremely beneficial: when
you share resources, you can buy equipment with
features that you would not otherwise be able to
afford as well as utilize the full potential of that
equipment on your network. A properly designed
network can result in both lower equipment costs
and increased productivity.
Suppose that you had a number of unconnected
computers. Employees using these computers
would not be able to print unless you purchased a
printer for each computer or unless users manually
transferred files to computers with printers. In this
scenario you would be choosing between hardware
and labor expenses.
Networking the computers would give you other
alternatives. Because all users could share any
networked printer, you would not need to buy a
printer for every computer. As a result, instead of
buying numerous inexpensive, low-end printers
that would sit idle most of the time, you could buy
a few inexpensive printers and a few printers with
high-end productivity features. The more powerful
printers would be able to print more rapidly and
with better quality than the less expensive ones. In
addition, the more powerful printers might also be
able to print in color and to sort, staple, or bind
documents.
When you select the right mix of printers and
assign each network user appropriate access to
them, you have enough printing power to address
the needs of all of your employees. Rather than
leave expensive equipment idle, you provide your
employees with the latest, most powerful
productivity features—all for a significantly lower
cost than if you were to purchase an inexpensive
printer for each workstation on the network.
A network enables you to share any networkable
equipment and realize the same benefits that you
would enjoy from sharing printers. On a network,
you can share e-mail systems, modems, facsimile
machines, data storage devices such as hard disks
and CD-ROM drives, data backup devices such as
tape drives, and all network-enabled software.
When you compare the costs associated with
sharing these resources to the costs of purchasing
them for each computer, the savings can be
enormous.
A network also enables you to save money on
software. Instead of buying separate copies of the
same application for various machines, you can
purchase one copy with enough user licenses for
your network. In large businesses the amount of
money saved on software is substantial.
Finally, you will also be able to reduce your
administrative overhead. On a computer network,
updates to software, changes in user information,
and network security can all be accomplished from
one location. With standalone computers you
would be required to make these updates on each
individual computer workstation.
