networking to share files and internet

[msnews.microsoft.com]

In a mortgage office we have broadband connections (cat 5 cable connection
at each desk) to allow access to network via our personal
computers/notebooks. We would like to network our two desktops and one
notebook (all Windows XP Home) in our small workgroup and use the Internet
connection while sharing files/accessing our networked contact manager
within our 3 computer workgrooup only.

I've networked my home PC's using a Linksys router so I know that process,
but am concerned how to make sure other computers on the office network
cannot access our 3 computers once we network them and our contact
management files.

If I install a linksys router and share resources in our workgroup, how can
I make sure that no other users/PC's at our company (but not in our 3 user
network) cannot access our data?

 

[Chuck]

In a mortgage office we have broadband connections (cat 5 cable connection
at each desk) to allow access to network via our personal
computers/notebooks. We would like to network our two desktops and one
notebook (all Windows XP Home) in our small workgroup and use the Internet
connection while sharing files/accessing our networked contact manager
within our 3 computer workgrooup only.

I've networked my home PC's using a Linksys router so I know that process,
but am concerned how to make sure other computers on the office network
cannot access our 3 computers once we network them and our contact
management files.

If I install a linksys router and share resources in our workgroup, how can
I make sure that no other users/PC's at our company (but not in our 3 user
network) cannot access our data?

If you install your own NAT router, you can connect your 3 computers as peers to
the LAN side of the router. You connect the WAN side of the router to the
office network. The rest of the office will be treated as the internet, and
won't have any access to your private LAN.

If this is truly what you want, and if the office manager doen't object, that
is.