Wide Area Network

A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a telecommunications network that extends over a large geographical area, such as across cities, states, or countries. WANs enable organizations, institutions, or individuals to connect and exchange information or data over long distances, often through the use of leased telecommunication circuits or satellite links.

WANs differ from Local Area Networks (LANs) and Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) in terms of their scale. While LANs connect devices within a single building or small campus, and MANs cover larger areas like a city or metropolitan region, WANs span even greater distances.

The Internet is the most well-known example of a WAN, as it connects billions of devices and networks globally. However, organizations may also create their own Private WANs for secure communication between various locations. These private networks often use technologies such as virtual private networks or VPNs, leased lines, or MPLS to establish secure connections.

SD-WAN is a technology that leverages multiple WAN connections to deliver a more robust and feature-rich interconnection between remote sites.

Links

https://networklessons.com/cisco/ccna-200-301//introduction-to-wans-wide-area-network