- Prevents changes in one layer from affecting other layers.
- Divides the network communication process into smaller and simpler components, thus aiding components development, design, and troubleshooting.
- Allows multiple-vendor development through standardization of network components.
- Encourages industry standardization by defining what functions occur at each layer of the model.
- Allows various types of hardware and software to communicate
*Reference model: conceptual blueprint of how communications should take place.
*Binding: communication processes that are related to each other are bounded, or grouped together, at a particular layer.