Advantages of networking

The main reason organisations connect their devices into a network is so that shared resources can be used by everyone, instead of buying and storing a copy for every machine. A device that joins the network can use resources held elsewhere on it, such as a printer in another room.

Sharing resources

• Peripherals such as printers, scanners and 3D printers are shared by every connected device, so one good laser printer can do the work of ten cheap ones.
• Software can be installed once on a server and run by many users, instead of buying a copy for each computer.
• Files and data are kept in one shared place, so people open the same up-to-date version instead of passing copies around on memory sticks.
• One internet connection is shared by the whole network, so it is paid for once rather than in every room.

A small recording studio with three edit rooms shows the saving: one printer, one copy of the editing software on the server and one broadband connection are shared by all three rooms, which costs far less than three printers, three software licences and three broadband lines.

Talking and working together

Communication covers email, messages and video calls between users. Collaboration goes further: several people edit the same shared document at once, or book a slot on a shared calendar, without swapping copies. Work carries on even when people are in different rooms or different buildings.

Managing everything from one place

Because files and accounts sit on central machines, one technician can look after the whole network:

• Backups are run on the server rather than on each computer in turn.
• Security settings, passwords and permissions are set once for everyone.
• Software updates are installed centrally and reach every device.
• User accounts are created, changed and removed in one place, so one account can be switched off the day a person leaves.

Central storage also means files can be opened from any connected device, so you can log on at a different workstation and carry on where you left off.