What you'll learn

A frustrating aspect of modern data communications is keeping up with the introduction of new technologies and the mind-numbing quantity of corresponding buzzwords. In this course, Data Communications: The Big Picture, you'll learn how to communicate intelligently on any networking topic. First, you'll learn what data communications encompasses, how it works, and the core technologies and protocols involved. Next, you'll discover a wide variety of networks that exist, including enterprise, network service provider, and cloud architectures and the primary differences between them. Finally, you'll understand how various applications transit over these networks, and some strategies to optimize that transmission. When you're finished with this course, you'll be conversationally fluent in all of the technical areas mentioned.