We now have four computers in our office. People tell me it’s worth networking them together, but I don’t really see the need. Can you go through the advantages of doing so – can’t we just email documents to each other seeing as it’s free?

Q: We now have four computers in our office. People tell me it’s worth networking them together, but I don’t really see the need. Can you go through the advantages of doing so – can’t we just email documents to each other seeing as it’s free?

Answered by Phil Verity, Mazars

As the number of documents you have on your system increases, it won’t be practical to send documents over email, as it’s difficult to know which version of the document you’re working with.

A network allows you to share files or information across the company, but can also offer the ability to share a printer between the computers in your office and, as you grow, can offer an element of control over what individual machines are allowed to access and do.

If your business has broadband or a number of computers connected to a network, then it may be worth considering a wireless (Wi-Fi) network. Wi-Fi is a technology that allows computers to connect to the network and the internet from anywhere within the wireless area, using a radio frequency, much like a cordless telephone.

Phil Verity is a partner at Mazars, the international accounting and business advisory firm, and head of the mid corporate market business line.