Using networks

Advantages and Disadvantages of using a network

Advantages:

Computers can be connected together which means that they can

share data with eachother on the network

External devices such as printers can be shared amongst the network

instead of having each individual computer use separate external
devices

Internet connection can be established and shared from a network

allowing access to the internet

Communications can be sent from one computer to another

Files can be stored in a central location, making backup, organization

and file-accquiring more convinient and possible.

Users can access data from different computers on the network

Cost effective, for example application servers can be used to store

software in a central location, the cost of the software license for
having it on a network is generally cheaper than having it on each
individual computer.

Disadvantages:

Viruses may be able to infect all computers connected to the network

as data is shared between them

May have high cost if it is a large network for stuff like cabling, wirless
access points, multiple servers, staff costs for maintainence.

Could have security risks, users' data could be accessed if an

unauthorized user gains access to a networked server file.

Depending on the network architecture, a whole network may fail if

only one element of it fails.

High amounts of network traffic can cause delays