What is WAN? A Comprehensive Guide
Have you ever heard about WAN but have no idea what it is? Maybe you've seen the term pop up online or in reference to your office's computer network. Well, WAN or Wide Area Network is your answer.
To put it simply, WAN is a network that covers a vast geographical area, connecting computers and devices that might be located thousands or even millions of miles apart. WAN permits distant computers to share information and communicate with each other as if they were in the same local area network (LAN).
A WAN's function is to provide a channel for data transmission from one point to another. A perfect example is the internet, which is the largest and most extensive WAN in existence. It allows computers from different parts of the world to communicate, share data, and access resources.
Large companies, governments, and organizations use WAN to connect branch offices, data centers, and other facilities in different locations, resulting in an easier communication system. Moreover, WAN is also used for telecommunications, cloud computing, and even streaming video services.
Overall, WAN is an important part of modern computer networking, facilitating communication and access to data, and it's likely that you've used it before without realizing it. Without a WAN, remote communication, data sharing, and widespread internet access would be impossible. Now that you understand what WAN is, it's apparent why it's a must-have for many businesses and organizations that operate across vast geographical areas.