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What networking means
A network is a group of connected devices that can exchange data or share resources such as files, printers or an internet connection. Networks can be small, such as the devices on a home Wi-Fi network, or interconnected at enormous scale. The Internet is a network of networks.
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Networking is not one device or one protocol. It is the combination of physical or wireless connections, equipment that forwards traffic, addressing systems and rules that let devices communicate. Cisco’s computer network overview describes switches, routers and wireless access points as foundational network devices.
What the main network devices do
| Device | Where it works | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Switch | Within a local network | Connects devices such as computers, printers and servers so they can communicate locally. |
| Router | Between separate networks | Routes data toward its destination across network boundaries. A home router commonly connects a home network to an internet connection; capabilities vary by device. |
| Wireless access point | Wireless connection to a network | Lets wireless devices join a network without a cable. |
| Firewall | At a network or host security boundary | Controls traffic according to security policy between networks or hosts with different security postures. |
A single home appliance may combine several of these functions, but their roles remain distinct. A switch forwards local traffic, a router connects networks, an access point provides wireless access, and a firewall applies traffic-control rules. NIST’s firewall definition makes clear that a firewall is a device or program for controlling traffic, not a guarantee that a system is secure.
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How data gets from one device to another
When someone enters a website name, several networking components work together. The name must be resolved, the destination identified, and data carried across one or more network links. The following concepts describe different jobs in that process; they are complementary rather than interchangeable.
IP addresses packets between networks
Internet Protocol (IP) carries data from sources to destinations across packet-switched, interconnected networks. Information is divided into packets that can be forwarded across network boundaries toward the destination. An IP address identifies a network endpoint for this delivery process. NIST’s Internet Protocol glossary entry describes IP as a protocol for transmitting data from sources to destinations across interconnected networks.
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TCP supports an ordered data stream
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) enables hosts to establish a connection and exchange a stream of data with ordered delivery. It serves a different purpose from IP: IP handles packet addressing and movement across networks, while TCP supports reliable, ordered communication between hosts. NIST summarizes TCP in its TCP glossary entry.
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People use domain names such as website addresses; network communication needs the corresponding IP address. The Domain Name System (DNS) translates domain names into IP addresses. DNS is therefore both a practical directory service and an important part of network security. NIST’s SP 800-81 Rev. 3, Secure Domain Name System (DNS) Deployment Guide, published in March 2026, discusses authoritative and recursive DNS, DNSSEC and the confidentiality of client queries. The publication page also notes a July 2026 errata planning note; consult the current document and errata before relying on it for operational configuration.
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Why networking matters to cybersecurity
Security controls work along communication paths and around network services. Understanding which devices connect, where traffic travels and what service a protocol provides helps explain where a policy can allow, inspect or block communication.
Traffic control depends on boundaries and policy
A firewall controls traffic between networks or hosts with differing security postures. Its rules can restrict communication according to policy, but a firewall is only one measure within a broader security approach. The appropriate rules depend on the systems and services being protected; the presence of a firewall alone does not establish that a network is secure.
DNS needs protection, not just availability
Because devices rely on DNS to find destinations by name, failures or manipulation of DNS can affect access to network services. NIST’s 2026 DNS guide treats DNS as integral to enterprise network architecture and identifies integrity, availability and confidentiality as security concerns. DNS security is not a substitute for other controls, but it belongs in the security design of a network.
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Network knowledge helps make security work concrete
Knowing the path from a device to a service makes it easier to reason about what a control can see or affect. For example, IP describes packet delivery, TCP describes an ordered host-to-host stream, DNS maps names to addresses, and a firewall enforces traffic policy. Treating these as distinct roles avoids confusing a protocol with the equipment or security rule that operates around it.
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How to start learning networking for security
Start with the basic components, then move from concepts to observed traffic and troubleshooting. CISA’s Defensive Cybersecurity course catalog includes networking fundamentals, TCP/IP, the OSI model, topologies, Wireshark packet analysis, network traffic analysis and basic troubleshooting among its learning outcomes.
- Learn the building blocks. Be able to explain what switches, routers, access points, IP, TCP, DNS and firewalls do, and how their roles differ.
- Study network models and protocols. Use TCP/IP and the OSI model to organize how communication is described, then connect those models to the services and devices you encounter.
- Observe traffic at packet level. Wireshark’s official learning page offers materials for learning packet analysis and troubleshooting. Packet analysis helps make network communication visible, but it does not replace an understanding of the protocol being observed.
- Practice basic troubleshooting. Follow a communication problem through the connection, local network, addressing, name resolution and destination service rather than assuming every failure has the same cause.
For a more structured course of study, Pearson describes Introduction to Networks Companion Guide (CCNAv7) as the supplemental textbook for Cisco Networking Academy’s Introduction to Networks course. Its coverage includes network architecture, protocols, components, IP addressing, Ethernet and network security. Check the edition and current availability if choosing the book.
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