Department of Accounting

Individual Assignment on IT

By: Zebib Yohannes

Section

Submitted to:
December, 2017
 Wide Area Network (WAN)
A wide area network, or WAN, The WAN is a network which is a collection of LANs and other
network types connected using router. It covers large geographical distance compare to LAN and
MAN types. IT occupies a very large area, such as an entire country or the entire world. A WAN
can contain multiple smaller networks, such as LANs or MANs. The Internet is the best-known
example of a public WAN. There many types of WAN viz. private network, value added service,
PSDN, PSTN, ISDN

Advantages

 Covers a large geographical area (businesses can connect long distance).

 Allows connecting workstations to share resources and software.
 Messages can be sent very quickly to anyone else on the network.
 Everyone on the network can use the same data. This avoids problems where some users
may have older information than others.
Disadvantages

 High costs.
 More associated errors.
 Require to invest in a good firewall system to avoid disruption by hackers.
 Once set up, maintaining a network is a full-time job which requires network supervisors
and technicians to be employed.
 Low security (Vulnerable to hackers or other outside threats)
 Information may not meet local needs or interests.
 Advantages and disadvantages of MAN
Metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network that interconnects users
with computer resources in a geographic area or region larger than that covered by
even a large local area network (LAN) but smaller than the area covered by a wide
area network (WAN). The term is applied to the interconnection of networks in a
city into a single larger network (which may then also offer efficient connection to a
wide area network). It is also used to mean the interconnection of several local area
networks by bridging them with backbone lines. The latter usage is also sometimes
referred to as a campus network.

Advantages of MAN

 ➨It utilizes drawbacks of both LAN and WAN to provide larger and controllable

computer network.

 ➨MAN requires fewer resources compare to WAN. This saves the

implementation cost.

 ➨It helps people interface fast LANs together. This is due to easy implementation

of links.

 ➨It provides higher security compare to WAN.

 ➨It helps in cost effective sharing of common resources such as printers etc.

 ➨Like LAN and WAN, it also offers centralized management of data and files.

disadvantages of MAN

 ➨It is difficult to manage the network once it becomes large.

 ➨It is difficult to make the system secure from hackers and industrial espionage.

 ➨Network installation requires skilled technicians and network administrators.

This increases overall installation and management costs.

 ➨It requires more cables for connection from one place to the other compare to

LAN.
 Advantages and Disadvantages of Local Area Network
LAN - Local Area Network :LAN is the Network which connects the computers and other
devices within one office, building or a group of nearby buildings.
Advantages of LAN or Local Area Network
1. Software Applications Sharing:It is cheaper to use same software over network instead of
purchasing separate licensed software for each client in a network. It will cost more to purchase a
separate licensed software for each computer in a network.
1. Resource Sharing: Computer hardware resources like printers, modems, DVD-Rom drives
and hard disks can be shared with the help of local area networks. This will reduce cost of
hardware purchases.
3. Easy and Cheap Communication :Data and messages can easily be transferred over
networked computers. It saves a lot of time and money.
4. Centralized Data: The data of all network users can be saved on hard disk of the server
computer. This will help users to use any workstation in a network to access their data. Because
data is not stored on workstations locally. But it is stored on a server computer. User will access
their own data by logging into their accounts from any client computer in the network.
5. Data Security: Since, data is stored on server computer centrally, it will be easy to manage
data at only one place and the data will be more secure too, because of more security for the
server computer.
6. Internet Sharing: Local Area Network provides the facility to share a single internet
connection among all the LAN users. In Net Cafes, single internet connection sharing system
keeps the internet expenses cheaper. Because only one high speed internet connection is
purchased by a net cafe from any ISP - Internet Service Provider company.
Disadvantages
1. High Setup Cost: Although the LAN will save cost over time due to shared computer
resources but the initial setup costs of installing Local Area Networks is high. This is because
any organization that will setup a network, will have to purchase necessary hardware equipment
for networking.
2. Privacy Violations: The LAN administrator has the rights to check personal data files of each
and every LAN user. Moreover he can check the internet history and computer use history of the
LAN users.
3. Data Security Threat: Unauthorized users can access important data of an organization if
centralized data repository is not secured properly by the LAN administrator. LAN Administer is
responsible for the security of the whole data resource in an organization.
4. LAN Maintenance Job: Local Area Network requires a LAN Administrator. Because, there
are problems of software installations or hardware failures or cable disturbances in Local Area
Network. A LAN Administrator is needed at this full time job.A LAN Administrator may be
with a M.C.S. or B.S.C.S. degree holder person additionally with a diploma in network field.
5. Covers Limited Area :
Local Area Network covers a small area like one office, one building or a group of nearby
buildings.