Services are what distinguish a structured computing environment that
is managed by SAs from an environment in which there are one or more
stand-alone computers. Homes and very small offices typically have a few
stand-alone machines providing services. Larger installations are typically
linked through shared services that ease communication and optimize resources.
When it connects to the Internet through an Internet service provider,
a home computer uses services provided by the ISP and the other people that
the person connects to across the Internet. An office environment provides
those same services and more.