Question

Name and describe two key issues related to computer networks.

Short answer

The two key issues related to computer networks are security and scalability.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Network Security

Network security is one of the critical issues in computer networks. It involves protecting data during transmission over the network from unauthorized access, misuse, malfunction, modification, or destruction. Security measures include the implementation of firewalls, encryption protocols, and secure authentication practices to ensure that any information shared over the network remains confidential and secure.

Understand Network Scalability

Network scalability refers to the capability of a computer network to grow and manage increasing demands. An effectively scalable network can accommodate more users, increase in data volume, and higher data transaction rates without performance degradation. To achieve this, network design should allow seamless addition of new nodes or increased bandwidth capabilities, and must be capable of integrating new technologies as they evolve.

Key concepts

Network Security

Network security is a fundamental aspect of computer networks that focuses on protecting the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data transmitted across a network. This involves a variety of strategies and technologies aimed at blocking unauthorized access and preventing cyberattacks. Key elements of network security include:

• Firewalls: These act as barriers between your trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, filtering incoming and outgoing traffic using pre-established security rules.
• Encryption protocols: These ensure that data sent over the network is only readable by those with the correct decryption key.
• Authentication mechanisms: These verify the identity of users and devices, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access sensitive information.

Understanding these concepts can significantly enhance your awareness of how to secure your network effectively.

Network Scalability

Scalability in computer networks is the ability to grow and support increased demand. As businesses or organizations expand, their networks can face more traffic or need to handle more data. A scalable network maintains performance levels regardless of these changes. Here are some strategies for achieving network scalability:

• Modular network design: Implemented through devices that can be added incrementally without interrupting existing operations.
• Load balancing: Distributes network traffic efficiently across multiple servers to ensure a single device does not become a bottleneck.
• Cloud solutions: Offer flexible resource management where additional capacity can be accessed as needed.

By integrating these strategies, a network can adapt to growth or technological advancements with minimal disruption.

Data Transmission Security

The security of data during its transmission is essential to protect it from interception or unauthorized access. Data transmission security ensures that the data remains confidential, intact, and available while it travels from sender to receiver. Some of the primary techniques used are:

• Encryption: Encoding the data so that even if intercepted, it remains unintelligible without the correct decryption key.
• Secure transmission protocols: Protocols like HTTPS or VPNs provide a secure channel over which data can be sent.
• Data integrity checks: Techniques such as checksums and hashes allow the receiver to verify that the data was not altered during transmission.

These measures are critical to ensuring sensitive information remains protected in transit.

Firewalls

Firewalls are a crucial line of defense in safeguarding computer networks against malicious threats. They monitor and control the flow of incoming and outgoing network traffic. Firewalls can be hardware-based, software-based, or a combination of both, and are configured to block or allow traffic based on a set of security rules. The primary functions of firewalls include:

• Packet filtering: Inspects individual packets of data against predefined rules and blocks untrusted packets.
• Stateful inspection: Tracks the state of active connections and makes decisions based on the context of the communication.
• Proxy service: Acts as an intermediary between users and the internet, filtering data and performing content checks.

By implementing firewalls, networks can restrict unwanted access and reduce the risk of cyber threats.

Encryption Protocols

Encryption protocols play a pivotal role in protecting network data from unauthorized access. By converting plain text data into a coded format, encryption ensures that only those with decryption keys can read the data. Some commonly used encryption protocols include:

• SSL/TLS: Secure Sockets Layer and Transport Layer Security provide encrypted links between a server and a client, commonly used for secure web browsing.
• IPsec: Internet Protocol Security encrypts data packets sent over an IP network, often used in VPNs for secure remote access.
• PGP: Pretty Good Privacy encrypts emails and files, ensuring secure communication and data storage.

These protocols are vital for maintaining privacy and securing sensitive information across networks.