CSC 465 – Lecture-1 Notes DAS

Lecture 1: Communications and Networks

Communications
Computer communications is the process of sharing data, programs, and information between
two or more computers. We have discussed numerous applications that depend on
communication systems, including:
• E-mail—provides a fast, efficient alternative to traditional mail by sending and receiving
electronic documents.

• Instant messaging—supports direct, “live” electronic communication between two or more

friends or buddies.
• Internet telephone—provides a very low-cost alternative to long-distance telephone calls
using electronic voice and video delivery.
• Electronic commerce—buying and selling goods electronically.
Here, we are going to focus on the communication systems that support these and many other
applications. Connectivity, the wireless revolution, and communication systems are key concepts
and technologies for the 21stcentury.

Connectivity:
Connectivity is a concept related to using computer networks to link people and resources. For
example, connectivity means that you can connect your microcomputer to other computers and
information sources almost anywhere. With this connection, you are linked to the world of larger
computersand the Internet. This includes hundreds of thousands of Web servers and their
extensive information resources. Thus, becoming computer competentand knowledgeable
becomes a matter of knowing not only about connectivity through networks to microcomputers,
but also about larger computer systems and their information resources.
The Wireless Revolution:
The single most dramatic change in connectivity and communications in the past few years has
been the widespread use of mobile telephones with wireless Internet connectivity. Students,
parents, teachers, business people, and others routinely talk and communicate with these devices.
It is estimated that over 3 billion mobile telephones are in use worldwide. This wireless
technology allows individuals to stay connected withone another from almost anywhere at any
time.
So what’s the revolution? While wireless technology was originally used primarily for voice
communications, today’s cell phones support e-mail, Web access, and a variety of Internet
applications. In addition, wireless technology allows a wide variety of nearby devices to
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communicate with one another without any physical connection. You can share a high-speed
printer, share data files, and collaborate on working documents with a nearby co-worker without
having your computers connected by cables or telephone—wireless communication. High-speed
Internet wireless technology allows individuals to connect to the Internet and share information
from almost anywhere in the world. But is it a revolution? Most experts say yes and that the
revolution is just beginning.

Communication Systems
Communication systems are electronic systems that transmit data from one location to another.
Whether wired or wireless, every communication system has four basic elements. (See Figure 1)

Figure 1. Basic elements of a communication Systems

• Sending and receiving devices. These are often a computer or specialized

communication device. They originate (send) as well as accept (receive) messages in the
form of data, information, and/or instructions.
• Communication channel. This is the actual connecting or transmission medium
that carries the message. This medium can be a physical wire or cable, or it can be
wireless.
• Connection devices. These devices act as an interface between the sending and
receiving devices and the communication channel. They convert outgoing messages into
packets that can travel across the communication channel. They also reverse the process
for incoming messages.
• Data transmission specifications. These are rules and procedures that coordinate
the sending and receiving devices by precisely defining how the message will be sent
across the communication channel.
For example, if you wanted to send an e-mail to a friend, you could create and send the message
using your computer, the sending device.Your modem, a connection device, would modify and
format the message so that it could travel efficiently across communication channels, such as
telephone lines. The specifics describing how the message is modified, reformatted, and sent
would be described in the data transmission specifications. After your message traveled across
the channel, the receiver’s modem, a connection device, would reform it so that it could be

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displayed on your friend’s computer, the receiving device. (Note: This example presents the
basic communication system elements involved in sending e-mail. It does not and is not intended
to demonstrate all the specific steps and equipment involved in an e-mail delivery system.)

Communication channels
Communication channels are an essential element of every communication system. These
channels actually carry the data from one computer to another. There are two categories of
communication channels. One category connects sending and receiving devices by providing a
physical connection, such as a wire or cable. The other category is wireless.

Physical Connections:
Physical connections use a solid medium to connect sending and receiving devices. These
connections include telephone lines (twisted pair), coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable.

(a)Twisted-pair cable (b) Coaxial Cable (c) Fiber-optic cable

Figure 2. Physical Connections

 Twisted-pair cable consists of pairs of copper wire that are twisted together.
Both standard telephone lines and Ethernet cables use twisted-pair. (See 2-a)
Ethernet cables are often used in networks and to connect a variety of components
to the system unit.
 Coaxial cable, a high-frequency transmission cable, replaces the multiple wires of
telephone lines with a single solid-copper core. (See Figure 2-b) In terms of the
number of telephone connections, a coaxial cable has over 80 times the
transmission capacity of twisted pair. Coaxial cable is used to deliver television
signals as well as to connect computers in a network.
 Fiber-optic cable transmits data as pulses of light through tiny tubes of glass.
(See Figure 2-c) In terms of the number of telephone connections, fiber-optic
cable has over 26,000 times the transmission capacity of twisted-pair cable.

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Compared to coaxial cable, it is lighter, faster, and more reliable at transmitting

data. Fiber-optic cable is rapidly replacing twisted-pair cable telephone lines.

Wireless Connections:
Wireless connections do not use a solid substance to connect sending and receiving devices.
Rather, they move data through the air. Primary technologies used for wireless connections are
radio frequency, microwave, satellite, and infrared.

 Radio frequency (RF) uses radio signals to communicate between wireless

devices. For example, smart phones and many Internet-enabled devices use RF to
place telephone calls and/or to connect to the Internet. Most home or business
wireless networks are based on a technology called Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) to
communicate over short distances. A number of standards for Wi-Fi exist, and
each can send and receive data at a different speed. Bluetooth is a short-range
radio communication standard that transmits data over short distances of up to
approximately 33 feet. Bluetooth is widely used for wireless headsets, printer
connections, and handheld devices. The range of Wi-Fi networks is being
extended over greater distances using a new technology known as WiMax
(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). WiMax is commonly
used by universities and others to extend the capability of existing Wi-Fi
networks.

 Microwave communication uses high-frequency radio waves. Like infrared,

microwave communication provides line-of-sight communication because
microwaves travel in a straight line. Because the waves cannot bend with the
curvature of the earth, they can be transmitted only over relatively short distances.
Thus, microwave is a good medium for sending data between buildings in a city
or on a large college campus. For longer distances, the waves must be relayed by
means of microwave stations with microwave dishes or antennas.

 Satellite communication uses satellites orbiting about 22,000 miles above the
earth as microwave relay stations. Many of these are offered by Intelsat, the
International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium, which is owned by 114
governments and forms a worldwide communication system. Satellites rotate at a
precise point and speed above the earth. They can amplify and relay microwave
signals from one transmitter on the ground to another. Satellites can be used to
send and receive large volumes of data. Uplink is a term relating to sending data
to a satellite. Downlink refers to receiving data from a satellite. The major
drawback to satellite communication is that bad weather can sometimes interrupt
the flow of data.

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One of the most interesting applications of satellite communications is for global

positioning. A network of 24 satellites owned and managed by the Defense
Department continuously sends location information to earth. Global positioning
system (GPS) devices use that information to uniquely determine the
geographical location of the device. Available in many automobiles to provide
navigational support, these systems are often mounted into the dash with a
monitor to display maps and speakers to provide spoken directions. Many of
today’s cell phones, including the Apple iPhone, use GPS technology for
handheld navigation.

 Infrared uses infrared light waves to communicate over short distances. It is

sometimes referred to as line-of-sight communication because the light waves can
only travel in a straight line. This requires that sending and receiving devices must
be in clear view of one another without any obstructions blocking that view. One
of the most common applications is to transfer data and information from a
portable device such as a notebook computer or PDA to a desktop computer.

Connection Devices
At one time nearly all computer communication used telephone lines. However, because the
telephone was originally designed for voice transmission, telephones typically send and receive
analog signals, which are continuous electronic waves. Computers, in contrast, send and receive
digital signals. (See Figure 3)These represent the presence or absence of an electronic pulse—
the on/off binary signals. To convert the digital signals to analog signals and vice versa, you need
a modem.

Modems
The word modem is short for modulator-demodulator. Modulation is the name of the process of
converting from digital to analog. Demodulation is the process of converting from analog to
digital. The modem enables digital microcomputers to communicate across different media,
including telephone wires, cable lines, and radio waves. The speed with which modems transmit
data varies. This speed, called transfer rate, is typically measured in thousands of bits
(kilobits) per second (Kbps). The higher the speed, the faster you can send and receive
information. For example, transferring an image like Figure 3 might take 5 seconds with a 500
Kbps modem and less than 3 seconds with an 850 Kbps modem. There are four commonly used
types of modems: telephone, DSL, cable, and wireless. (See Figure 4)

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Figure 3. Analog and digital Signals

 A telephone modem is used to connect a computer directly to a telephone line.

These modems can be either internal or external. Internal modems are on an
expansion card that plugs into a slot on the system board. An external modem is
typically connected to the system unit through a serial or USB port.
 A DSL (digital subscriber line) modem uses standard phone lines to create a
high-speed connection directly to your phone company’s offices.

These devices are usually external and connect to the system unit using either
USB or Ethernet ports.

Figure 4. Basic types of modems

 A cable modem uses the same coaxial cable as your television. Like a DSL
modem, a cable modem creates high-speed connections using the system unit’s
USB or Ethernet port.
 A wireless modem is also known as a WWAN (wireless wide area network)
modem. It is usually a small plug-in USB or Express-Card device that provides
very portable high-speed connectivity from virtually anywhere.

Connection Service
For years, large corporations have been leasing special high-speed lines from telephone
companies. Originally, these were copper lines, known as T1 lines that could be combined to
form higher-capacity options known as T3 or DS3 lines. These lines have largely been replaced
by optical carrier (OC) lines, which are substantially much faster. While the special high-speed
lines are too costly for most individuals; Internet service providers do provide affordable
connections. For years, individuals relied on dial-up services using existing telephones and
telephone modems to connect to the Internet. This type of service has been replaced by higher-
speed connection services including DSL, cable, satellite, and cellular services.

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 Digital subscriber line (DSL) service is provided by telephone companies using

existing telephone lines to provide high-speed connections. ADSL (asymmetric
digital subscriber line) is one of the most widely used types of DSL. DSL is
much faster than dial-up.
 Cable service is provided by cable television companies using their existing
television cables. These connections are faster than DSL.
 Satellite connection services use satellites to provide wireless connections. While
slower than DSL and cable modem, satellite connections are available almost
anywhere using a satellite-receiving disk.
 Cellular services use 3G and 4G cellular networks to provide wireless
connectivity to the Internet. Although not as fast as the other services, cellular
services are rapidly growing in popularity for mobile devices such as cell phones
and other portable devices.

Data Transmission
Several factors affect how data is transmitted. These factors include bandwidth and protocols.

Bandwidth
Bandwidth is a measurement of the width or capacity of the communication channel.
Effectively, it means how much information can move across the communication channel in a
given amount of time. For example, to transmit text documents, a slow bandwidth would be
acceptable. However, to effectively transmit video and audio, a wider bandwidth is required.
There are four categories of bandwidth.

 Voiceband, also known as low bandwidth, is used for standard telephone

communication. Microcomputers with telephone modems and dial-up service use
this bandwidth. While effective for transmitting text documents, it is too slow for
many types of transmission, including high-quality audio and video.
 Medium band is used in special leased lines to connect minicomputers and
mainframes as well as to transmit data over long distances. This bandwidth is
capable of very high-speed data transfer.
 Broadband is widely used for DSL, cable, and satellite connections to the
Internet. Several users can simultaneously use a single broadband connection for
high-speed data transfer.
 Baseband is widely used to connect individual computers that are located close to
one another. Like broadband, it is able to support high-speed transmission. Unlike
broadband, however, baseband can only carry a single signal at one time.

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Protocols
For data transmission to be successful, sending and receiving devices must follow a set of
communication rules for the exchange of information. These rules for exchanging data between
computers are known as protocols.
The standard protocol for the Internet is TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet
protocol). The essential features of this protocol involve (1) identifying sending and receiving
devices and (2) breaking information into small parts for transmission across the Internet.

 Identification: Every computer on the Internet has a unique numeric address

called an IP address (Internet protocol address). Similar to the way a postal
service uses addresses to deliver mail, the Internet uses IP addresses to deliver e-
mail and to locate Web sites. Because these numeric addresses are difficult for
people to remember and use, a system was developed to automatically convert
text-based addresses to numeric IP addresses. This system uses a domain name
server (DNS) that converts text-based addresses to IP addresses. For example,
whenever you enter a URL, say www.google.com, a DNS converts this to an IP
address before a connection can be made.
 Packetization: Information sent or transmitted across the Internet usually travels
through numerous interconnected networks. Before the message is sent, it is
reformatted or broken down into small parts called packets. Each packet is then
sent separately over the Internet, possibly traveling different routes to one
common destination. At the receiving end, the packets are reassembled into the
correct order.

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Networks
A computer network is a communication system that connects two or more computers so that
they can exchange information and share resources. Networks can be set up in different
arrangements to suit users’ needs. (See Figure 5)

Figure 5. Computer Network

Terms
There are a number of specialized terms that describe computer networks. These terms include:
•Node—any device that is connected to a network. It could be a computer, printer, or data
storage device.
•Client—a node that requests and uses resources available from other nodes. Typically, a
client is a user’s microcomputer.
•Server—a node that shares resources with other nodes. Dedicated servers specialize in
performing specific tasks. Depending on the specific task, they may be called an
application server, communication server, database server, file server, printer server, or
Web server.

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•Directory server—a specialized server that manages resources, such as user accounts,
for an entire network.
•Host—any computer system that can be accessed over a network.
•Switch—central node that coordinates the flow of data by sending messages directly
between sender and receiver nodes. A hub previously filled this purpose by sending a
received message to all connected nodes, rather than just the intended node.
•Network interface cards (NIC)—these are expansion cards located within the system
unit that connect the computer to a network. Sometimes referred to as a LAN adapter.
•Network operating systems (NOS)—control and coordinate the activities of all
computers and other devices on a network. These activities include electronic
communication and the sharing of information and resources.
•Network administrator—a computer specialist responsible for efficient network
operations and implementation of new networks.
A network may consist only of microcomputers, or it may integrate microcomputers or other
devices with larger computers. Networks can be controlled by all nodes working together equally
or by specialized nodes coordinating and supplying all resources. Networks may be simple or
complex, self-contained or dispersed over a large geographical area.

Network Types
Clearly, different types of channels—wired or wireless—allow different kinds of networks to be
formed. Telephone lines, for instance, may connect communications equipment within the same
building or within a home. Networks also may be citywide and even international, using both
cable and wireless connections. Local area, metropolitan area, and wide area networks are
distinguished by the geographical area they serve.

Local Area Networks

Networks with nodes that are in close physical proximity—within the same building, for
instance—are called local area networks (LANs). Typically, LANs span distances less than a
mile and are owned and operated by individual organizations. LANs are widely used by colleges,
universities, and other types of organizations to link microcomputers and to share printers and
other resources. For a simple LAN, see Figure 6. The LAN represented in Figure 6 is a typical
arrangement and provides two benefits: economy and flexibility. People can share costly
equipment. For instance, the four microcomputers share the laser printer and the file server,
which are expensive pieces of hardware. Other equipment or nodes also may be added to the
LAN—for instance, more microcomputers, a mainframe computer, or optical disc storage
devices. Additionally, the network gateway is a device that allows one LAN to be linked to
other LANs or to larger networks. For example, the LAN of one office group may be connected
to the LAN of another office group.

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Figure 6. Local area network

There are a variety of different standards or ways in which nodes can be connected to one
another and ways in which their communications are controlled in a LAN. The most common
standard is known as Ethernet. LANs using this standard are sometimes referred to as Ethernet
LANs.

Home Networks
While LANs have been widely used within organizations for years, they are now being
commonly used by individuals in their homes and apartments. These LANs, called home
networks, allow different computers to share resources, including a common Internet
connection. Computers can be connected in a variety of ways, including electrical wiring,
telephone wiring, and special cables. One of the simplest ways, however, is without
cables, or wireless.

Wireless LAN
A wireless local area network is typically referred to as a wireless LAN (WLAN). It uses
radio frequencies to connect computers and other devices. All communications pass
through the network’s centrally located wireless access point or base station. This
access point interprets incoming radio frequencies and routes communications to the
appropriate devices.

Personal Area Network

A personal area network (PAN) is a type of wireless network that works within a very
small area—your immediate surroundings. PANs connect cell phones to headsets, PDAs
to other PDAs, keyboards to cell phones, and so on. These tiny, self-configuring networks
make it possible for all of our gadgets to interact wirelessly with each other. The most

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popular PAN technology is Bluetooth, with a maximum range of around 30 feet.

Virtually all wireless peripheral devices available today use Bluetooth, including the
controllers on popular game systems like the PlayStation and Wii.

Metropolitan Area Networks

The next step up from the LAN is the MAN—the metropolitan area network. MANs span
distances up to 100 miles. These networks are frequently used as links between office buildings
that are located throughout a city. Unlike a LAN, a MAN is typically not owned by a single
organization. Rather, it is either owned by a group of organizations who jointly own and operate
the network or by a single network service provider who provides network services for a fee. An
example of MAN is shown in figure 7(A), where a LAN is connected to the other LANs forming
a MAN.

A. MAN B. WAN
Figure 7. MAN and WAN

Wide Area Networks

Wide area networks (WANs) are countrywide and worldwide networks. These networks
provide access to regional service (MAN) providers and typically span distances greater than 100
miles. They use microwave relays and satellites to reach users over long distances—for example,
from Los Angeles to Paris. Of course, the widest of all WANs is the Internet, which spans the
entire globe. An example of WAN is shown in figure 7(B) where a MAN is connected to the
other MANs forming a WAN.

The primary difference between a LAN, MAN, and WAN is the geographical range. Each may
have various combinations of hardware, such as microcomputers, minicomputers, mainframes,
and various peripheral devices.

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Network architecture:
Network architecture describes how a network is arranged and how resources are coordinated
and shared. It encompasses a variety of different network specifics, including network topologies
and strategies. Network topology describes the physical arrangement of the network. Network
strategies define how information and resources are shared.

Topologies:
A network can be arranged or configured in several different ways. This arrangement is called
the network’s topology. While many different topologies can be used for networks, six basic
categories represent the past and present. Figure 8 shows the different network topologies.
The past is represented by two network topologies that can still be found today but have
beenreplaced in large part by newer, more efficient topologies. These older or legacy networks
are

 Bus network—each device is connected to a common cable called a bus or

backbone and all communications travel along this bus. An example is shown in
figure 8-a, where three computers and one printer are connected with a common
cable.
 Ring network—each device is connected to two other devices, forming a ring.
(See Figure 8-b) When a message is sent, it is passed around the ring until it
reaches the intended destination. Both of these legacy topologies pass messages
device-to-device in sequence, which causes several disadvantages. A single
incorrectly configured or malfunctioning device could cause errors or even bring
the whole network down. Since all messages must pass through all nodes between
the source and destination, bandwidth usage is high, making this type of topology
slow and less efficient. Finally, security is a greater challenge since intermediate
devices receive messages that are not intended for them.
The present is represented by four network topologies that are widely used today. These current
network topologies are

 Star network—each device is connected directly to a central network switch.

(See Figure 8-c) Whenever a node sends a message, it is routed to the switch,
which then passes the message along to the intended recipient. The star network is
the most widely used network topology today. It is applied to a broad range of
applications from small networks in the home to very large networks in major
corporations.

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(a)Bus (b) Ring (c) Star

(d) Tree (e) Mesh

Figure 8. Different Network Topologies

 Tree network—each device is connected to a central node, either directly or

through one or more other devices. The central node is connected to two or more
subordinate nodes that in turn are connected to other subordinate nodes, and so
forth, forming a treelike structure. (See Figure 8-d) This network, also known as a
hierarchical network, is often used to share corporate-wide data.
 Hybrid network—is a combination of different topologies. For example, large
organizations today typically have a complex network of smaller networks. These
smaller networks have been created over time and use a variety of different
topologies. Connected together, these smaller networks form a hybrid network.
 Mesh network—this topology is the newest type and does not use a specific
physical layout (such as a star or a tree). Rather, the mesh network requires that
each node have more than one connection to the other nodes.
The resulting pattern forms the appearance of a mesh. (See Figure 8-e) If a path
between two nodes is somehow disrupted, data can be automatically rerouted
around the failure using another path. Wireless technologies are frequently used to
build mesh networks.
Network Strategies:
Every network has a strategy, or way of coordinating the sharing of information and resources.
Figure 9 shows the different types of network strategies.

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The most common network strategies are terminal, client/server, peer-to-peer, and distributed.
In a terminal server network, processing power is centralized in one large computer, with the
capacity to handle a large number of connections. The nodes connected to this host computer are
either terminals with little or no processing capabilities or microcomputers running special
terminal emulation software such as Windows Remote Desktop. (See Figure 9-a)
Many airline reservation systems are terminal server networks. A large central computer
maintains all the airline schedules, rates, seat availability, and so on. Travel agents use terminals
to connect to the central computer and to schedule reservations. Although the tickets may be
printed along with travel itineraries at the agent’s desk, nearly all processing is done at the
central computer.
One advantage of terminal server networks is the centralized location and control of technical
personnel, software, and data. One disadvantage is the lack of control and flexibility for the end
user. Another disadvantage is that terminal server networks do not use the full processing power
available with microcomputers.

(a)Terminal server network (b) Client/server network (c) Peer-to-peer networkFigure 9.

Figure 9. Different network strategies

Client/server networks use central computers to coordinate and supply services to other nodes
on the network. The server provides access to resources such as Web pages, databases,
application software, and hardware. (See Figure 9-b) This strategy is based on specialization.
Server nodes coordinate and supply specialized services, and client nodes request the services.
Commonly used server operating systems are Windows Server, Mac OS X Server, Linux, and
Solaris.
Client/server networks are widely used on the Internet. For example, each time you open a Web
browser, your computer (the client) sends out a request for a specific Web page. This request is
routed over the Internet to a server. This server locates and sends the requested material back to
your computer.

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One advantage of the client/server network strategy is the ability to handle very large networks
efficiently. Another advantage is the availability of powerful network management software to
monitor and control network activities. The major disadvantages are the cost of installation and
maintenance.
In a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, nodes have equal authority and can act as both clients and
servers. (See Figure 9-c) The most common way to share games, movies, and music over the
Internet is to use a P2P network. For example, special file-sharing software such as eDonkey or
BitTorrent can be used to obtain files located on another microcomputer and also can provide
files to other microcomputers.
P2P networks are rapidly growing in popularity as people continue to share information with
others around the world. The primary advantage is that they are easy and inexpensive (often free)
to set up and use. One disadvantage of P2P networks is the lack of security controls or other
common management functions. For this reason, few businesses use this type of network to
communicate sensitive information.
In a distributed processing network, processing capability is located and shared at different
nodes or locations. This type of strategy is common for decentralized organizations where
divisional offices have their own computer systems. The computer systems in the divisional
offices are networked to the organization’s main or centralized computer.

Organizational Networks
Computer networks in organizations have evolved over time. Most large organizations have a
complex and wide range of different network configurations, operating systems, and strategies.
These organizations face the challenge of making these networks work together effectively and
securely.

Internet Technologies:
Many organizations today employ Internet technologies to support effective communication
within and between organizations using intranets and extranets.
• An intranet is a private network within an organization that resembles the
Internet. Like the public Internet, intranets use browsers, Web sites, and Web pages.
Typical applications include electronic telephone directories, e-mail addresses, employee
benefit information, internal job openings, and much more. Employees find surfing their
organizational intranets to be as easy and as intuitive as surfing the Internet.
• An extranet is a private network that connects more than one organization. Many
organizations use Internet technologies to allow suppliers and others limited access to
their networks. The purpose is to increase efficiency and reduce costs. For example, an
automobile manufacturer has hundreds of suppliers for the parts that go into making a
car. By having access to the car production schedules, suppliers can schedule and deliver

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parts as they are needed at the assembly plants. In this way, operational efficiency is
maintained by both the manufacturer and the suppliers.

Network Security:
Large organizations face the challenge of ensuring that only authorized users have access to
network resources, sometimes from multiple geographic locations or across the Internet.
Securing large computer networks requires specialized technology. Three technologies
commonly used to ensure network security are firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and virtual
private networks.

 A firewall consists of hardware and software that control access to a company’s

intranet and other internal networks. Most use a special computer or software
called a proxy server. All communications between the company’s internal
networks and the outside world pass through this server. By evaluating the source
and the content of each communication, the proxy server decides whether it is safe
to let a particular message or file pass into or out of the organizations’ network.
(See Figure 10)

Figure 10. Intranets, extranet, firewalls, and proxy servers

 Intrusion detection systems (IDS) work with firewalls to protect an

organization’s network. These systems use sophisticated statistical techniques to
analyze all incoming and outgoing network traffic. Using advanced pattern

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matching and heuristics, an IDS system can recognize signs of a network attack
and disable access before an intruder can do damage.
 Virtual private networks (VPN) create a secure private connection between a
remote user and an organization’s internal network. Special VPN protocols create
the equivalent of a dedicated line between a user’s home or laptop computer and a
company server. The connection is heavily encrypted and, from the perspective of
the user, it appears that their workstation is actually located on the corporate
network.

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