The simple straight forward answer is yes! However, this is no big deal since you've very likely already got one. Do you have more than one computer connected to the Internet through a router? If your answer's yes, then you're networked and all you have to do is decide how to make the most of it.A network is a group of computers and other 'resources' which, when connected together allow the organization to work more effectively. 'Resources' could be many things, for example, printers, scanners, storage, routers or other internet connection devices, and backup devices. The most common network is those computers connected to a router, wired or wireless, to share a single Internet connection. The parts of a network need to be connected together in order to be able to talk to each other. Traditionally this is done using special Ethernet (CAT 5, CAT5E or CAT6) cables (readily obtainable from your computer supplier). Over the last couple of years wireless networks have become much more reliable, less expensive and hence are becoming more popular. Running a cable between computers can be a real hassle and wireless networking can simplify this. But as in everything, there is a trade off. Wireless networks can be more difficult to set up and are definitely not as secure or reliable. Additionally, wireless networks are not as fast as wired networks and so if you are transferring lots of information between computers this is a consideration. I firmly believe that business should primarily have a wired network, with wireless available for visitors or occasionally attached laptops.After your computers are networked you need to look at what you're sharing, in a business environment you'll probably be sharing, printers, backup devices, scanners, the Internet connection, of course, and these days, hopefully storage. Another decision is do you need / want a 'server'. A server can be used for many things, a few examples are:· To control the overall security of a domain based network.· As a central computer to attach printers, scanners etc.· A computer to control email and other collaboration products e.g. Microsoft Exchange· A central place where you store all your data.If you follow these articles you'll soon see my major focus for small businesses (read one track mind) is that the single most critical function is that of centralized storage - a place where all your company data lives which is secure, the equipment reliable (using mirroring or RAID), and can easily and automatically be backed up. Use either a full blown server or a Networked Attached Storage (NAS) server for this. Microsoft has tried to introduce a sort of small server - Windows Home Server for this purpose, but frankly it's never taken off because it's not that useful. Either go the whole way with a computer running Windows Server (or even better Windows Small business Server) or use a specialist NAS server (potentially much more cost effective).
