"A wide area network (WAN) is a telecommunications network that extends over a large geographic area."
Wide Area Network covers a large geographical area like a country or region and connects different LANs.
Transmission media: The physical means by which data is transmitted over a network, such as fiber optics, copper wires, or wireless radio waves.
Wide Area Network (WAN) topology: The arrangement or design of the network, which includes its backbone, distribution, and access layers.
Network protocols: The rules and standards that govern how data is transmitted over a network, such as TCP/IP, DNS, and SMTP.
Network devices: The hardware components used to connect the different elements of a network, such as routers, switches, and modems.
Network security: The measures taken to protect a network from unauthorized access or attack, such as firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection/prevention systems.
Virtual Private Network (VPN): A secure and encrypted connection between two or more private networks over a public network, such as the internet.
Quality of Service (QoS): The ability to prioritize different types of network traffic to ensure that important data is transmitted with minimal delay and loss.
Network management: The process of administering and monitoring a network to ensure its optimal performance, which includes network monitoring, configuration, and troubleshooting.
WAN technologies: The various methods used to connect geographically dispersed networks, such as leased lines, Frame Relay, ATM, and MPLS.
Cloud networks: The use of cloud computing technology to deliver network services, storage, and computing power, which can operate on a global scale.
Leased Line: Leased line refers to a dedicated point-to-point connection between two sites that are rented from a communications provider. It uses a constant speed to transmit data.
Circuit Switched: Circuit switched uses a temporary transference of information to transmit information from one point to another, and a dedicated link is established during the entire duration of the connection.
Packet Switched: Packet switched uses virtual circuits to transmit data via a shared network in the form of packets.
Frame Relay: Frame Relay type of WAN connection is based on packet-switching technology, which uses routers as an interface in between two LANs to transmit data.
ATM: Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is a WAN connection that uses fixed cell sizes to transmit voice, video and data between two locations.
DSL: Digital subscriber line (DSL) is a commonly used WAN connection that uses existing telephone lines to transmit data over long distances.
Cable internet: It is another type of WAN connection that uses existing cable network infrastructure to deliver broadband services.
Satellite: The satellite WAN connection is a type of WAN connection that transfers data between two locations using high-frequency signals through satellites.
Microwave Radio: Microwave Radio transmits data via the atmosphere between two points using radio waves.
WiMAX: Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is a wireless broadband technology that provides high-speed internet access, data and voice connectivity between two locations.
"Wide area networks are often established with leased telecommunication circuits."
"Businesses, as well as schools and government entities, use wide area networks..."
"...to relay data to staff, students, clients, buyers and suppliers from various locations around the world."
"This mode of telecommunication allows a business to effectively carry out its daily function regardless of location."
"The Internet may be considered a WAN."
"Many WANs are, however, built for one particular organization and are private."
"WANs can be separated from local area networks (LANs) in that the latter refers to physically proximal networks." Quotes from the paragraph: