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Instructions

Overview

Within an organization, the dependability of network infrastructures has become less of a want and more of a need. Without a fully developed communication architecture around business growth, efficiencies, and competitive advantage, many companies will find themselves underperforming. Network connectivity used to be considered a luxury for many businesses, but it has recently become a critical piece of an organization. The fundamental understanding of how networks play such a big role in the success of a company has to be assessed from the basic approach of the advancement in Transmission Control Protocol$/$Internet Protocol $($TCP$/$IP$)$ communication and the functionality of the Open Systems Interconnection $($OSI$)$ model.

Understanding how a network communicates is key to understanding how your corporate applications and services work within the business. Your understanding around the concepts of IP communication, devices used to communicate, and the traffic that is continually passed between devices is the first key to gaining the understanding of network infrastructure. The knowledge you develop through this course will help build on your basic understanding of network infrastructures and the components that are critical to the success of any business communication architecture.

For your final project, you will assume the role of a network consultant for an organization looking to expand its communication reach. You have been be tasked with analyzing the current network architecture of the organization and determining any key changes that should occur as the organization prepares for future growth. You will evaluate traffic patterns to determine critical aspects of your business and provide basic insight into what should be done to the network from a capability aspect and from a security viewpoint as the organization prepares for future growth. Ultimately, you will recommend a design for the future network architecture of the organization.

Prompt

Imagine that you are a newly hired network consultant for SNHUEnergy, Inc. The leadership team at the organization has asked you to create a network analysis and architecture evaluation on the current network. Your report will also include design recommendations for the organization$$s future network architecture, including basic recommendations to mitigate any potential performance or security issues.

Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

Executive Summary: Provide a high$-$level overview of the contents of your report for the leadership team. Include your findings around data traffic flows, applications impacted, and the overall network and security recommendations for the future needs of the organization.

Current Network Architecture: In this section, you will analyze the information provided in the SNHUEnergy, Inc. scenario to provide high$-$level assumptions about the design of the network.

Identify the network applications that are a part of the current network.

Describe how the current network is designed by explaining how the different layers of the Open Systems Interconnection $($OSI$)$ model relate to each other within the network.

Develop a visual representation of an end$-$to$-$end path flow of the existing network by creating a Visio diagram showing the output of the traffic flows. Use the provided logical network design example as a guide for creating your diagram, and include your diagram with your submission.

Explain the types of physical network devices used in connecting all devices across the organization based on what you know from the scenario.

Identify the critical traffic patterns currently used by the organization, supported by examples. Use the provided Wireshark capture to guide your response.

Describe the traffic patterns that the organization$$s critical applications take across the infrastructure from office to office. Remember, the organization$$s critical applications were specified in the scenario.

Describe the potential performance issues that may occur within the current network if no changes are made to support the organization$$s expansion. Provide examples to support your response.

Describe the potential security issues that may occur within the current network if no changes are made to support the organization$$s expansion. Provide examples to support your response.

Future Network Architecture

Determine the future communication needs of the organization based on what you know from the scenario.

Describe in detail a network architecture that would be appropriate for supporting the ultimate growth of the organization and defend how this recommended network would improve communication across the company.

Develop a visual representation of your recommended network architecture by creating a Visio diagram. Use the provided physical network design example as a guide for creating your diagram, and include your diagram with your submission.