Touchstone $4$: Formal Report

ASSIGNMENT: Now it$$s time to put all the thought and effort from the five Touchstone Tasks together to create your final project in this course.

Imagine that you have been asked by Greenfield Properties to provide guidance and advice about how they should set up the IT network in their new building. Review the scenario and client requirements about Greenfield Properties again if needed, including the various job roles and devices to be supported.

Your assignment is to write a formal report to the company$$s executives mentioning your recommendations.

Since your target audience is not highly technical, you will need to explain technical features and their importance in simple terms. Do not use a lot of jargon that they will not understand; if you do use jargon, you must explain each term.

Your report should focus on benefits and drawbacks and show an awareness of what the company$$s decision$-$makers want as the end result of this network rollout. In other words, you should focus on what their overall goals are. Availability is certainly one and security is another. Consider what you know of the company from the scenario, and think of other outcomes they may also want; then make sure your report addresses how your recommendations will help with achieving those outcomes.

Along with your report, include a cover letter addressed to the president of the company, Chris Nelson. Remember, your goal in this letter is to introduce yourself, provide context for the report, and create an impression that you understand the company$$s needs and have given careful thought to your recommendations. The letter should also provide your contact information, in case they have any questions.

As you respond to the prompts and questions in the Touchstone $4$ template, consider what the client is trying to accomplish and what they have shared about their expectations. Use these perspectives to shape your responses to the questions.

Include client information.

Introduce yourself.

Cover Letter

Confirm your understanding of the project.

Present the overall concept of your proposal.

Address it$.$

Introduction

Network Infrastructure

Network Segmentation

and Printing

Start your report with an introduction to the proposal.

Include the request, client background information, and client expectations.

Explain the network architecture you recommend and the reasons for your choice.

Describe the type$($s$)$ of cable you recommend using and why you chose it$.$ If you chose more than one cable type, explain the

difference and what parts of the network will use which type.

List the servers you recommend they set up$,$ and describe the benefit of each of the servers you recommend.

Recommend whether the servers should be on$-$site or on the cloud, and explain your reasoning.

Describe the operating system$($s$)$ the servers should run and the versions of them you recommend, and explain your choices.

Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of virtualizing some of the servers, and make a recommendation based on the facts in

the scenario.

Explain your recommendation.

Explain the benefits of subnetting the network.

Explain your subnetting strategy and list the subnets you would create. Include how many subnets you think you will need and

how many nodes each of them must support.

Evaluate whether implementing virtual LANs $($VLANs$)$ is a good idea or not, given the scenario, and explain your reasoning.

Describe how printers should connect to the network: via a print server or via direct IP printing. Explain your reasoning and the

benefits and drawbacks of your chosen method.

Describe the importance of full Wi$-$Fi coverage throughout the building and your estimate of how many devices will connect

wirelessly to the network concurrently.

Explain your strategy for planning Wi$-$Fi coverage that is robust and trouble$-$free. Include the diagram you created in

Touchstone Task $3$ and explain what it shows. Make sure you explain the significance of the different colors and$/$or numbers

on the diagram.

Describe the network infrastructure components that will be needed to support the wireless hosts.

Can you help me with the formal writing report? This is what I have so far $($see below$)?$ I am stuck at some of the other sections and how to explain them. Please help.

Here is the formal report:

Chris Nelson

President

Greenfield Properties

$123$ Sophia Way

Minneapolis, MN $55000$

Dear Mr$.$ Nelson:

I am writing to present my recommendations for Greenfield Properties' new IT network infrastructure in your upcoming building. As per your request, I have carefully analyzed the company's needs and job roles, taking into account the desired balance between security, efficiency, and user experience.

This formal report outlines my comprehensive plan, addressing key aspects like network segmentation, Wi$-$Fi coverage, security measures, and server recommendations. I have prioritized clarity and avoided technical jargon, ensuring the information is read