The reasons for networking your office systems include the following:

• Centralized Data Storage. Having all your data files in one location provides many benefits, including:

  • Easy protection of data. Only one location needs to be backed up. Use of RAID systems for real-time backup becomes practical. Use of UPS and electrical power filtering is only required on one system.

  • Data is easy to find and control. Revision control becomes practical.

  • Only one system needs large disk storage capacity.

  • Files are easily shared between users. With files getting ever larger in size, file transfer via floppies is no longer an option.

  • Data availability is high, as the server is always running and protected against many failures afflicting the desktop computer.

• Peripheral Sharing.  Sharing of peripherals is easy. Whether sharing printers or other devices attached to network computers or via a print server.

  • Printers and Plotters.

  • Fax and Modems.

  • Internet access.

  • CDROM drives, burners, and just about any storage device.

• Inexpensive Internet Access. The whole office can be inexpensively connected for Internet access.

  • With new technologies like DSL and Cable Modem, Internet access is fast becoming inexpensive even for fast data transfer rates.

  • Proper network design and installation of routers and firewalls ensure your internal office network is safe from intruders.

  • Proper firewall installation can easily and inexpensively restrict user access to websites containing nudity and other undesirable or unproductive material.

• Remote User Connectivity. Stay connected to corporate data by having inexpensive access to the office network via the Internet.

  • Work from home.

  • Office "on the road".

  • Link remote office sites.

  • Access security is provided by encryption, as well as user authentication.

• Remote System Administration. 

• Standardize Office Applications. 

• System Redundancy. One computer breaks, move to another one. With data at the server and with applications standardized, a user can easily use another computer temporarily until his/her computer is repaired or upgraded.

• E-Mail Services.