Yet, just as no two businesses are exactly alike, neither are two networks exactly the same. To help you avoid being overwhelmed by the range of network solutions available, we'll walk you through the fundamentals. In its most basic form, a network is composed of two or more computers connected together to share information and peripherals such as printers. Networking your computers can drastically improve your company's productivity, secure data, and reduce expense. Creating the network is normally a simple process, whereby a small piece of hardware is fitted inside each computer and then linked with cables to other computers on the network.
Software helps the network run.
Larger organizations, generally operating 10 computers or more, require a central organizing computer, or server. In most cases servers require additional software, plus an internal or out-sourced system administrator to keep things humming. Each computer user acts as his or her own administrator and chooses what data to share with others over the network and what to keep private. With ICS, one person can surf the Web as another sends e-mail. And, best of all, you don't have to install additional modems.