Analysis Of The Current Network Architecture And Traffic Flo

Analysis of the Current Network Architecture and Traffic Flows for SNHUEnergy Inc.

SNHUEnergy Inc. is a dynamic and rapidly expanding oil and gas enterprise seeking to enhance its communication infrastructure to support future growth. This analysis evaluates the existing physical and logical network configurations, traffic patterns, potential performance issues, and security considerations to inform strategic improvements. With the company's headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and plans to establish additional regional offices, a comprehensive understanding of current operations and anticipated needs is critical for designing a scalable, secure, and efficient network architecture.

Physical Network Devices and Infrastructure

The current physical network infrastructure at SNHUEnergy Inc. leverages key networking hardware to connect all organizational devices and facilitate communication. Core devices include routers that direct traffic between different network segments and external connections, switches that connect end-user devices within local network segments, firewalls that secure the network perimeter, and VoIP-enabled IP phones integrated into the communication system. Specifically, at the Dallas office, the network comprises one router, two switches, and one firewall, supporting approximately 90 employees engaged in diverse functions such as payroll, accounting, and HR services. The Memphis office, smaller in scale with about 30 employees, has similar hardware components—one router, one switch, and firewall allowing smooth operation of billing and operational services.

The network architecture employs wired connections (Ethernet) to ensure stable and high-speed access across all workstations, servers, and communication endpoints. These physical devices enable the reliable transmission of data, voice, and video traffic, which are critical to SNHUEnergy’s operations, especially given the reliance on VoIP and video conferencing. The presence of switches allows segmentation of the network into different departments, reducing congestion and enhancing security. Firewalls at each site enforce security policies, monitor traffic, and prevent unauthorized access from external threats. Router configurations support routing between local area networks (LANs) and facilitate connectivity to wider networks such as the internet and future wide-area network (WAN) expansions.

Critical Traffic Patterns and Examples

The primary traffic types within SNHUEnergy Inc.'s network revolve around voice, application, and management traffic. VoIP traffic constitutes a significant portion of daily communication, with voice packets traversing the network between office locations and external clients. Wireshark captures reveal that VoIP calls primarily utilize UDP ports, emphasizing real-time transmission requirements. Application traffic includes database queries via SQL, supporting operational and financial systems, which involve requests between data servers and user endpoints.

Network management traffic comprises monitoring data, system updates, and configuration commands transmitted between network devices and management consoles. An example includes SNHUEnergy’s server farm communicating periodically with firewalls and switches to report statuses and logs, underpinning system integrity.

In terms of traffic flow, organizational applications such as email and file sharing show consistent patterns of data exchange within each office and between offices, especially as employees access cloud-based systems for collaboration, document sharing, and data analytics. Inter-office traffic, such as SQL database replication or HR data transfer, supports operational continuity and strategic decision-making.

Traffic Patterns of Critical Applications

Critical applications like VoIP, SQL database management, and organizational emails follow specific traffic routes. VoIP calls originate from IP phones within the Dallas and Memphis offices and route through local switches to firewalls, then out via Internet gateways, ensuring low latency and quality of service. SQL queries from branch offices require dedicated paths through routers and switches to central or regional data servers, supporting timely access to operational data. Email traffic, partly cloud-based, involves SMTP and IMAP protocols traveling over secured internet links.

Video conferencing applications such as Cisco WebEx or Microsoft Teams utilize real-time data streams, often consuming high bandwidth. These traffic patterns involve direct peer-to-peer connections or route through centralized conferencing servers, with data generally flowing from endpoint devices to the cloud, then to the remote participants, demanding quality network pathways.

Potential Performance Issues Without Network Expansion

As SNHUEnergy expands, existing network infrastructure may encounter bottlenecks, leading to degraded performance. Limited switch ports or inadequate bandwidth capacity can cause congestion, resulting in delayed voice communications, slow application responses, and interrupted video calls. For instance, with 90 employees in Dallas, heavy SQL database traffic during peak hours can strain network resources, leading to increased latency.

Furthermore, as the company plans to open additional regional offices, the current point-to-point physical connectivity models may prove insufficient. Insufficient bandwidth over internet links might cause slow file transfers and hinder real-time data sharing. The reliance on a single firewall and limited hardware at each site could become points of failure, risking network outages or security breaches.

Security Risks in the Current Network Architecture

Security vulnerabilities pose significant concerns if the infrastructure remains unchanged during expansion. The current architecture, with firewalls at each site, provides perimeter security but may lack comprehensive internal segmentation, potentially allowing lateral movement by malicious actors. As traffic volume increases and sensitive data flows between multiple locations, the risk of cyberattacks such as malware, phishing, or data exfiltration escalates.

Unencrypted communications, especially for remote or cloud-based access, could be intercepted, exposing confidential business intelligence. Additionally, insufficient monitoring and intrusion detection mechanisms at the existing firewalls may delay threat detection, amplifying the damage. The growing number of endpoints and remote workers exacerbates these security challenges, demanding more robust security policies, segmentation, and monitoring tools.

Visual Representation of Network Traffic Flows

The end-to-end path flow diagram depicts traffic moving from end-user devices (computers, IP phones) through departmental switches, to firewalls safeguarding the network perimeter, and onward to external networks via routers. Critical traffic, such as VoIP, traverses specific paths optimized for low latency, while SQL and email data follow routes through internal switches to servers, then out to the internet or cloud services. In the future, expanding offices will connect through dedicated VPNs or MPLS links, ensuring secure and reliable communication channels across geographically dispersed locations. The diagram, created in Visio, illustrates these pathways, with clear demarcation of data, voice, and management flow routes, providing a holistic view of current network traffic behavior and capacity limits.

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