Changes

A '''wide area network''' or '''WAN''' is an incredibly large [[computer network]] covering a wide geographical area. This is different from [[personal area network]]s (PANs), [[metropolitan area network]]s (MANs) or [[local area network]]s (LANs).

A '''wide area network''' or '''WAN''' is an incredibly large [[computer network]] covering a wide geographical area. This is different from [[personal area network]]s (PANs), [[metropolitan area network]]s (MANs) or [[local area network]]s (LANs).

Now that the Internet provides a high speed WAN, the need for a private network made up of leased lines owned by the organisation who wants to connect the sites has reduced, and a [[virtual private network]] is often used, which uses [[encryption]] and other techniques to make it appear that the organisation has a dedicated network while making use of the shared infrastructure of the WAN.

Now that the Internet provides a high speed WAN, the need for a private network made up of leased lines owned by the organisation who wants to connect the sites has reduced, and a [[virtual private network]] is often used, which uses [[encryption]] and other techniques to make it appear that the organisation has a dedicated network while making use of the shared infrastructure of the WAN.