Analyze Business Technology Needs | Myabode | Network Infrastructure Essay.

Purpose of the Trainer's Guide

This report presents the fundamentals which could improve the internal infrastructure of the Myabode. Myabode is a Melbourne based company and associated with mortgage breaking business. The company is facing rapid growth in mainly real estate areas of western suburbs. Even though they have a number of competitor target in the same area, their optimal local presence and knowledge, participation in community events, and a team of dedicated mortgage consultants provide the required competitive edge to the business. They are mainly depends on their ten full time staffs and fifteen mobile consultants that visit prospective clients throughout the area. They also have a software package which is capable of finding the best available options based on the clients desired. This software able to quickly evaluate the available options/products and suggest the best possible product/solution to their clients. Their current head office is connected via a local area network that allows the staffs to communicate and share information. The company uses ADSL router and a wireless access point to establish connection to mobile devices. The network uses dedicated web and application servers (Windows 2008) but uses the CEO’s PC as the file server as it was initially set up as a standalone storage point but later connected to the network. In order to maintain the rapid growth within the last two years, they need to improve their internal infrastructure. 

Myabode observed some issue in their current infrastructure which needs to be resolved in order to deal with the enormous number of potential buyers in overseas markets. The first problem is telephone costs have considerably increased as mobile consultants needs to constantly communicate with the head office through mobile in order to share information about the clients and properties. Further, Mobile consultants have been asking for access to the files on the system, as well as the ability to run the evaluation software from remote as they often meet clients outside office hours. Additionally, they want to increase the awareness to protect sensitive business and client information. In its current strategic plan, the company has identified, among other strategic priorities which are followed:

• Minimise operational costs, in particular telephony costs
• Ensure data security and safeguard against hacking or unauthorised access.
• Ensure protection of sensitive client information and mitigate any business risks due to unintentional or intentional disclosure of unauthorised client information.
• To leverage their existing technical expertise and resources in minimising the response time to clients and enhancing their competitive position.

Myabode current head office is connected via a local area network that allows the staffs to communicate and share information. The company uses ADSL router and a wireless access point to establish connection to mobile devices. The network uses dedicated web and application servers (Windows 2008) but uses the CEO’s PC as the file server as it was initially set up as a standalone storage point but later connected to the network. In order to maintain the rapid growth within the last two years, they need to improve their internal infrastructure. They also have a software package which is capable of finding the best available options based on the clients desired. This software able to quickly evaluate the available options/products and suggest the best possible product/solution to their clients.  

Their existed network is consist of one ADSL router which is directly connected to the internet service provider. The CEO is directly connected to the router via a switch. CEO’s PC is only connected to the webserver and act as the file server. Later the PC is connected with the other devices and access points. The access points provide the connection to the smartphones which are currently used by the company for communicating with the potential buyers. In this local network, certain issues are analysed as

• There is no firewall or any kind of security measures in the whole network.
• Operational costs for the communication is too high as they use general mobile communication for communicating with potential clients.
• Mobile consultants are unable to access the required information while they are working out of office shift time.  

In order to resolve the three key issues, a new network infrastructure has been proposed below:  

In the new network infrastructure, certain devices and network is replaced with new peripherals. In order to prevent unauthorized access and vulnerabilities, a firewall is necessary. A firewall is added between the router and the internet service provider. A firewall provides basic protection against unwanted third parties. Firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external network, such as the Internet. In order to solve the file accessing issues, mobile consultants can use tablets and use NIC to access the desired file from the web server. They can also use a software package to enable authenticated file transferring between the mobile consultants and the web server. In order to control the over cost issue they can use IP phone switch will assist them to minimal the operational cost. 

• Limited lifetime hardware warranty
• A wide range of software features to provide ease of operation, highly secure business operations, sustainability, and a borderless networking experience.
• Enhanced troubleshooting for problem solving, including link connectivity and cable diagnostics
• GbE for data connectivity
• Limited lifetime hardware warranty, including next-business-day replacement with 90-day service and support

• Single IP address management for up to 16 switches

• Fast Ethernet connectivity with Power over Ethernet (PoE) of up to 15.4W per port
• The Cisco Catalyst 2960 Series Switches with LAN Lite Software have the following capabilities
• Enhanced troubleshooting for problem solving, including link connectivity and cable diagnostics
• A wide range of software features to provide ease of operation, secure business operations, sustainability and borderless networking experience.
• 24 and 48 ports of Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) 10/100/1000 desktop connectivity.
• USB storage interface for file backup, distribution, and simplified operations
• 1 GbE Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) uplinks
•  

59-series cable (preferred) —20 AWG (0.032 in./0.81 mm diameter) silver plated, copper-clad, steel center conductor; bonded foil inner shield; 95% braid second shield; non-bonded foil third shield; 95% braid fourth shield.

• Up to 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor
• Ports: USB-C (Gen1), 2 USB 3.1, USB 2.0, HDMI, Micro SD card reader, RJ-45, audio combo jack.
• Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
• Up to AMD Radeon™ RX 550 2 GB graphics
• 14-inch antiglare display, up to FHD (1920 x 1080) resolution with IPS technology
• Up to 32 GB DDR4 memory (2 DIMM)
• Up to 2x2 AC WiFi + Bluetooth® 4.1
• Up to 512 GB PCIe M.2 SSD and 2 TB HDD storage

References: 

1. Support, Product, and Cisco Routers. 2018. "Cisco 4321 Integrated Services Router". Cisco. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/routers/4321-integrated-services-router/model.html.
2. Services, Products, Campus Access, End-of-Sale Products, Cisco Switches, and Data Sheets. 2018. "Cisco Catalyst 2960-S And 2960 Series Switches With LAN Lite Software Data Sheet". Cisco. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/catalyst-2960-series-switches/product_data_sheet0900aecd806b0bd8.html.
3. Services, Products, Collaboration Endpoints, IP Phones, and Cisco Series. 2018. "Cisco IP Phone 8865". Cisco. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collaboration-endpoints/ip-phone-8865/index.html.
4. Support, Product, Cisco Routers, and Install Guides. 2018. "Cisco Ubr10012 Universal Broadband Router Hardware Installation Guide - Cable Specifications [Cisco Ubr10000 Series Universal Broadband Routers]". Cisco. https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/cable/cmts/ubr10012/installation/guide/hig/u10kcbl.html.
5. "Small Business Laptops | Thinkpad Edge Series | Lenovo India". 2018. Com. https://www.lenovo.com/in/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-e-series/c/thinkpade.

"Microsoft Evaluation Center". 2018. Microsoft.Com. https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2012