What’s a data network?

Print anything with Printful



A data network is a communication process for transmitting data only. There are two types: private networks for companies and industries, and public networks for residential and business customers. Public networks require a subscription fee for access to authorized portions of the network.

A data network is an electronic communication process that allows for the orderly transmission and receipt of data, such as letters, spreadsheets, and other types of documents. What distinguishes this type of network from other forms of communication, such as an audio network, is that it is configured to transmit data only. This is in contrast to audio or voice networking, which is often employed for both voice communications and data transmission, such as a fax transmission.

There are two basic types of data networks in operation today. A private network is essentially a local area network designed to allow data to be transmitted between various departments within a given entity, such as a company. All company locations can be included as nodes in the network and be able to communicate through a common server that acts as a repository for all data files used in the company. There are also examples of private networks that allow data to be shared between multiple companies that are part of the same profession or industry. Connections can be achieved by setting up a virtual private network, or VPN, that resides on a master server, or by providing connections over a communication carrier.

Unlike the private data network, a public network will be widely accessible to both residential and business customers of a given carrier network. Setting up this type of network can involve using multiple servers and connecting to the network through several processes. Often, the network will require some type of subscription process, such as a monthly usage fee. Upon receipt of the fee, the service provider will allow the creation of login credentials that will allow the consumer to access authorized portions of the network and perform various functions commonly involved with data. These include the ability to recover store documents, create backups of important data files, and archive data such as historical information or other data deemed valuable for future applications.




Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN


Skip to content