What Is an Enterprise Network? Posted on January 9, 2014June 23, 2021 by Matt Huovinen This is usually referring to a private computer network. The primary pieces will include both LAN and WAN networking. Local area network (LAN) relates to any networked hardware in one building. Traditional items like computers, servers, printers and phone systems are members of a LAN. We are seeing a large number of newer items being brought into LANs, as in security and surveillance (S&S) networks, mobile phones and tablets, although the S&S networks are usually segregated. Wide area network (WAN) usually refers to the network that connects multiple LANs or buildings, although you can have multiple LANs in the same building. Enterprise networking can be simple or extremely complicated, most often they are more complicated than not. Multiple operating systems (OSs), multiple communications protocols, network management systems, storage area networks (SANs), intranet, etc., all add to the complexity of any given network. All of this, and we aren’t even adding the Internet yet! Many times, the Internet is referred to as the WAN connection; however, a LAN and/or WAN connection can exist without a connection to the Internet. All information that is sent to/from a LAN/WAN can be filtered to include or exclude any information. For example, a dedicated video network can restrict anything except video; or if you want, you could only use your network for email or phone or S&S. You could even have dedicated networks for each one of these technologies and have those all share an Internet connection! Above all else, small to medium companies and school districts many times have one person manage their entire network. This is why that person becomes so valuable to their employer!
