LANs do not just form a network of computers. They also form a network of people. An office, comprising diverse departments and employees working on various jobs can be made to function as one once a LAN is installed. Here are some of the ways in which a LAN can benefit an employee in an organization.
Resource Sharing
Using a LAN, expensive resources like laser printers, modems, graphic devices and data storage units can be shared. This enables several users to access these resources at the same time. Software and programs can be stored at a common location where every user who has the need can access them. Resource sharing allows organizations to purchase more sophisticated and faster equipment than would otherwise be practical for them.
Communication
Another use of a LAN is that it can help you make the computer do the job of an office intercom. You can use the computer to flash messages on the screen of other computers in the office. This would save employees the time they would spend in going to someone in another department, on some other floor to deliver a message or a memo. This also reduces the need for face-to-face meetings and the need to circulate memos among employees.
Security
The PC is capable of storing a fair amount of information, but it is not a very secure place to store data. Using a LAN, users can store their files on a computer that is a part of the LAN. A LAN has built-in security features such that it would be virtually impossible for anyone to get hold of these files.
Expanded PC Usage
A LAN is very accommodating. It takes into consideration the fact that employees can get transferred between departments, or machines can be moved to different locations. New machines can be added, or existing ones removed. A LAN ensures that, despite these changes, a user goes through minimum inconvenience and continues to benefit from the LAN.
A Local Area Network is certainly not the only solution for an office to share computing power, but it is surely a means of combining the power of computers in an office location while maintaining the independence of the computers. It helps to make an office a more compact setup and helps increase the efficiency of its functioning.