BEFORE WI-FI BECAME ubiquitous, Ethernet was the way to link devices together. By running Ethernet cables in a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), you could send traffic back and forth. Ethernet enables machines to recognize data meant for them and to send data to other devices. It is still widely used because sending data along cables is faster, more reliable, and more secure than sending it as radio waves, as Wi-Fi does.

, Ethernet is still a great way to do it, and it’s an obvious choice for any organization that prizes high speed, security, and reliability. Here’s everything you need to know about Ethernet. You may also want to dip into our guides on