Networking can be defined as the process of making contact through physical and/or online contact, either willingly or unwillingly, to build or achieve an agreement to improve relations, to perform a specific task, to share information or perform a task jointly. Networking in business is basically the exchange of information and services. In most organizations, network communication is achieved through IT networks that support local or regional activities. Businesses that are involved in various fields are always on the look out for more effective and efficient ways to exchange information and work together more effectively. It has become a natural part of business life.
This is why companies all over the world are using different forms of networking and communication medium. The Internet, cell phones, wireless networking devices and other tools of networking are available today to facilitate the exchange of information. With the help of the Internet, people can easily search for different types of information. They can also post their queries and solve their problems, and this helps in finding solutions to problems. It also ensures that there is an open and free communication medium for all.
Networking is an important aspect of computer science because it has provided a platform for many computing devices. The Internet, for instance, is a form of networking that makes it possible for computers and other devices to connect and share resources. Some of the devices include servers, client machines, personal computers, smart phones, pagers, fax machines, modems, routers and networks. It also allows multiple computers to interconnect with each other through networks. Thus, networking provides the backbone for computer technology.
On the other hand, a Cloud is an application that is based on the Internet. It can be described as a collection of applications that allow users to access data from any location at any time. Examples of such devices include printers, fax machines, scanners, wireless printers, modems, USB drives, web cams, printers, USB storage devices, mobile phones, and other Internet-based devices. Without any networking involved, it would be very difficult for users to view the documents or data from these devices over the Internet. Such devices are examples of the Cloud.
There are different forms of networking. These include the Local Area Networking (LAN), Wide Area Networking (WAN), and packet switching networks. For small business computers, the most common form of networking is the Local Area Networking (LAN). This is an area-based network which provides connection to computers using the same network card or router. Wide Area Networking (WAN) is used to connect two or more computers via a high-speed connection such as the cable or DSL modem.
Packet switching networks are very fast and dependable. It consists of a series of computers that send and receive packets of data. Some of these networks allow the users to create their own networks by simply installing the software needed to change the IP addresses of the servers. A peer-to-peer technology also known as an application program interface (API) connects two or more network devices through the use of an API.
The Internet itself is a form of Local Area Networking. This is because the Internet is a network that can be accessed by any device connected together to it. This form of networking is often referred to as Wide Area Networking or Wide-Area-Networks.
Networking allows us to share data among different computers. The computer in a desktop or laptop can be connected with the other computer in another desktop or laptop. All these devices can be connected to the Internet and can share data and applications between them. Networking enables us to easily connect with others and to share data and applications between all these devices. This means that we can easily send mail, create new accounts, publish information, and much more.