Week 1: Fun with Firewalls

Options for Building Knowledge and Improving Network Protection

 You can only answer one of the options. In your solution, please specify the option that you chose.  No plagiarism. Please use the attached RUBRIC to meet requirement on this paper. Please use grammar check for correct expressions. Pick ONE of the following options: Week 1: Fun with Firewalls Firewalls are an essential part of network management and security. As one of the first lines of defense and discrimination of packet access to a network, effective placement, and management of firewalls is important. Improper placement can render the device ineffective which would pose a false sense of security. Failure to discriminate in accepting packets into the network can expose the network to unnecessary risk and bandwidth usage. In this assignment, we will look at three options for you to build knowledge and improve network protection. Pick ONE of the following options: Option 1 Write a research paper/How-to procedure for the installation and configuration of a firewall (software or hardware). In this option, you will not actually set up and configure the firewall but will gather resources and make recommendations for the specific installation of a firewall (hardware or software). Option 2 Set-up and configure a hardware firewall on a network. For this option, you will select a firewall and configure or reconfigure it for a specific network (your home network or other network with permission). To prove completion you will submit the following: Identification of the hardware firewall – brand, model, etc. Why this particular make/model was selected, or why it is appropriate for the network Identification of the type of network including type (home, business), number and types of nodes (platform, operating system (ex: Dell Latitude laptop hosting Windows 10). Detailed location information for the network – meaning exactly where the firewall is installed (such as prior to the printer (obviously, that is incorrect placement). Are there additional firewalls on this segment of the network? If so, identify those here. Steps taken to install and configure or to assess and reconfigure if the firewall was previously installed. A ‘lessons learned’ section detailing specifics on what you wish you had checked prior to installation, resources you need, what went well and where any improvement was needed. After all of the other sections above are completed, an executive summary identifying what is in the document and high-level key points as if this were to be submitted to management. Option 3 Set-up and configure a software firewall on a network. For this option, you will select a firewall and configure or reconfigure it for a specific network (your home network or other network with permission). To prove completion you will submit the following: Identification of the software firewall – brand and if pre-installed (like Windows Firewall in a Windows operating system or the brand/version if a 3rd party product is used). Why this particular firewall program was selected, or why it is appropriate for the system or network. Identification of the type of network including type (home, business), number and types of nodes (platform, operating system (ex: Dell Latitude laptop hosting Windows 10). Detailed location information for the network – meaning exactly where the firewall is installed (such as on a printer (obviously, that is incorrect placement). If multiple software firewalls are used, list the different versions here. Steps taken to install and configure or to assess and reconfigure if the software firewall was previously installed. A ‘lessons learned’ section detailing specifics on what you wish you had checked prior to installation, resources you need, what went well and where any improvement was needed. After all of the other sections above are completed, an executive summary identifying what is in the document and high-level key points as if this were to be submitted to management. Paper Criteria • APA Reference Guide APA Reference Guide - Alternative Formats - PDF Document (633 KB) Use the APA paper Reference Guide (above) and including the following: • Font: New Times Roman, 12 pt • Full-page illustrations are not counted as a page • These items will be considered for grading: • Subject matter • Contents • Linkage • Exhibits, etc… Your paper should be formatted with these requirements: • Page 1: Title page: subject title, your name, my name, course number and title • Page 2: Abstract • Page 3: Table of contents page (This is not an APA requirement; however, it is a course requirement) • Pages 4 to 10: Body pages • Last page: Reference page