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WAN |
LAN |
| Definition |
A computer network that connects devices across large geographical areas, such as cities, states, and countries |
A computer network that connects network devices in small geographic areas, such as schools, buildings, offices, and home |
| Stands for |
Wide area network |
Local area network |
| Example |
The internet itself, banking networks connecting branch offices, and government networks for information dissemination |
Networks in offices, homes, schools, and university campuses |
| Components |
Multi-layer switches, routers, and other data communication equipment like frame relay switches |
Layer 1 devices like hubs and repeaters and layer 2 devices like switches and bridges |
| Technologies |
Multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), frame relay, and X.25 technologies |
Ethernet and token ring connectivity technologies |
| Transmission |
Satellite links or public switched telephone networks (PSTNs ) for data transmission |
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or co-axial cables for communication and transmission |
| Connections |
Virtual connections over public internet networks |
Physical connections via ethernet cables, wireless access points, telephone lines, and radio waves |
| Coverage |
Hundreds of kilometer |
10 kilometers |
| Speed |
Up to 150 megabits per second (Mbps), may be slower because of covering large distances |
Up to 1000 Mbps or more because of less congestion in the local networks |
| Data transfer and latency |
Lower data transfer rates and higher latency since data travels a longer distance |
Higher data transfer speeds and lower latency than WANs |
| Security |
Firewall systems, encryption, intrusion prevention systems, virtual private networks (VPN), and security audits to protect data from external threats |
More secure than WANs, requiring network monitoring solutions, antivirus software, and implementation of cybersecurity-related best practices |
| Fault tolerance |
Less fault-tolerant than LAN as it’s circuit-based and contains more component systems |
Greater fault tolerance than WANs, meaning shorter downtime doesn’t negatively impact network operations |
| Ownership |
Private or public, typically, multiple organizations with distributed ownership |
Individuals or private organizations |
| Setup cost |
Higher as it requires remote network setup; WANs using public networks can be cheap |
Relatively low, but requires organizations to invest in hubs, switches, routers, and cables |
| Maintenance cost |
Significantly higher than LANs because of the broader geographical coverage |
Cheaper because of the smaller geographical coverage |
| When to use |
- Connecting cloud applications
- Facilitating communication among employees in different places
- Giving remote users access to shared data
- Performing data replication across locations for faster disaster recovery
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by Holly Landis
by Whitney Rudeseal Peet
