WAN

Wide-area network. This is a broad description of the coreThis can have more than one meaning. When discussing networks, the core is the heart of the network where much of the traffic (or at least that part that has to go a long ways to its destination) moves. This is in contrast to the edge -- the outer part of the network where devices like computers and printers get connected. When discussing computers, you can think of it as the same as a CPU. networksA collection of items like computers, printers, phones, and other electronic items that are connected together by switches and routers. A network allows the connected devices to talk to each other electronically. The internet is an example of an extremely large network. Your home network, if you have one, is an example of a small local network. that connect different LANs together around the world. When trafficRefers to any kind of electronic message -- email, web request, streaming video, or anything else -- that travels over a network. leaves a building, it usually goes through a gatewayA piece of electronic network equipment that takes a local network and gives it access to the internet. Your cable modem, for instance, might act as a gateway. out onto the WAN before returning elsewhere through a different gateway into a different LANA data-link-layer security protocol, largely used with Ethernet. This protects data within a LAN only. It’s normally administered by IT professionals. Not likely to be used within IoT devices.. You could think of this as the internet.