Networks are loosely affiliated groups of domains that serve a common goal or interest. The Grid itself links these networks together; interested corporations, organizations, individuals, and governments set up and maintain their networks themselves. Types of networks include academic, access service, corporate, financial, government, military, open, operational, and ultrasecure.

Academic networks are run by colleges, universities, libraries, and public access think-tanks for the benefit of their students and staff. They contain a variety of powerful computing equipment, excellent reference functions, and an open, carefree atmosphere of exploration and recovery. Generally, these institutions limit access to individuals with some connection to themselves, but their almost universal lack of in-depth security makes them popular targets for illegal use of their supercomputers, high-speed access, and depth of data.

Access service networks set up and maintain special interest groups, often with very narrow fields of discussion, such as exotic birdwatching, the politics of a particular area, or extremely low temperature physics. More often, the topic is sex, drugs, or gaming. Such networks also sometimes set up anonymous meeting areas for mercenaries and their employers, thieves and fences, and others desiring very private transactions. Access service networks usually have good security.

Corporate networks serve the interests of businesses large and small. These networks are designed to serve the employees and customers of the business in question, allowing them to buy and sell goods, services, and contracts, track projects and business information, assign work, and so on. Corporate networks generally have only ordinary security, though specific domains or nodes within a network—those pertaining to especially sensitive information or operations— may have much better security in place.

Financial networks exist solely to perform and govern financial transactions. They are extremely security conscious and is almost always illegal to hack or interfere with them in any way.

Government networks tend to be gray, poorly maintained, and often well behind the technology curve. The idiosyncratic structure and sheer data volume of these networks often makes users and gridpilots alike throw up their hands in disgust. Hidden beneath all of that red tape, virtual dust, and malaise, however, can be some treasures worth digging for. A skilled and patient data miner can find valuable information about anything from top secret research and projects to financial and personal information on politicians and public servants. While general security in government networks tend to lax and outdated, the juiciest files are often protected by good or better defenses.

Military networks carry privileged information on troops and logistics, as well as tactical, geographical, and order-of-battle data. They are tightly controlled and often require special hardware and software to access. Secure as military networks are, however, military commands use ultrasecure networks to hold the most sensitive intelligence and to monitor and control weapons and defenses.

Open networks are the front doors of most other types of networks. Anyone can access these networks with anything for the dumbest GID to the hottest new gridcaster, but open networks are usually limited to basic Grid access, catalogues, sales information, message boards, and so on.

Operational networks run factories, air– and spaceports, and other complex hardware. Because they control such important systems and have such potential for havoc, operational networks are usually isolated from the Grid and other networks, with only minimal connections to government or corporate networks and the comm sector.

Ultrasecure networks handle the most important and sensitive traffic on the Grid: military ordinance control, classified intelligence and research, and the most sensitive financial information of major corporations and banks. While it is possible to intercept data from these networks, it is little more than meaningless junk without state-of-the-art decryption hardware and software. Furthermore, codes and protocols are changed regularly. As the name would suggest, ultrasecure networks boast the very best of defenses. Aside from murderous software defenses, ultrasecure networks are constantly monitored by teams of crack gridpilots who detect and nullify any threat very quickly. Of course, like operational networks, ultrasecure are usually only minimally connected to outside networks and the rest of the Grid, often requiring that a potential hacker gain access from a specific controlled location before even attempting to break into them. Only the very best gridrunners, usually working in concert with teams of others and even AI assistance have any hope of cracking ultrasecure networks, and the penalties for doing so are severe.

The above types of networks are found on most Grids, but many other types exist. Religious networks are common in areas where one or more religions are popular, and AI sectors are found on some Grids. Alien Grids also have specialized networks; mechalus Grids include cybermedical networks, and fraal Grids usually maintain mindwalking grids devoted to that art and its interface with their specialized technologies.