COM 520 Written Assignment 6: Always Fresh F Project Scenari

Com 520 Written Assignment 6 Project Scenario Always Fresh Foods Inc Is

Com 520 Written Assignment 6 Project Scenario Always Fresh Foods Inc. is a food distributor with a central headquarters and main warehouse in Colorado, as well as two regional warehouses in Nevada and Virginia. The company runs Microsoft Windows 2019 on its servers and Microsoft Windows 10 on its workstations. There are 2 database servers, 4 application servers, 2 web servers, and 25 workstation computers in the headquarters offices and main warehouse. The network uses workgroups, and users are created locally on each computer. Employees from the regional warehouses connect to the Colorado network via a virtual private network (VPN) connection.

Due to a recent security breach, Always Fresh wants to increase the overall security of its network and systems. They have chosen to use a solid multilayered defense to reduce the likelihood that an attacker will successfully compromise the company’s information security. Multiple layers of defense throughout the IT infrastructure makes the process of compromising any protected resource or data more difficult than any single security control. In this way, Always Fresh protects its business by protecting its information.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

In the contemporary digital landscape, network security is paramount for safeguarding organizational assets, especially for companies like Always Fresh Foods Inc., which handle sensitive information across multiple geographical locations. The recent security breach underlines the necessity for a comprehensive approach to fortify Windows authentication, networking, and data access. Implementing specific hardening techniques tailored to address identified vulnerabilities ensures robust defense mechanisms that sustain the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of critical systems and data.

Password Security Enhancement

One of the primary issues faced by Always Fresh is users writing down passwords or selecting easily guessable passwords. To mitigate this, the implementation of complex password policies is essential. Enforcing strong password requirements—such as a minimum length of 12 characters, inclusion of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters—significantly increases password complexity, making brute-force attacks less feasible. Additionally, enabling password expiration policies compels users to change passwords regularly, reducing the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit compromised credentials (Microsoft, 2020). Educating users about the importance of strong passwords and avoiding writing them down complements technical controls, fostering a security-aware culture within the organization.

Individual User Accounts and Role Segregation

To ensure accountability and limit access privileges, each employee must have a unique user account. Creating role-based accounts prevents privilege escalation and enforces the principle of least privilege, whereby users only access resources necessary for their designated roles (ISO/IEC 27001, 2013). For users operating in multiple capacities, separate accounts dedicated to each role minimize the risk of accidental or malicious misuse. This segregation facilitates detailed audit trails, aiding incident response efforts and compliance requirements. Regular review and revocation of inactive or unnecessary accounts further tighten security controls.

Restricting Anonymous Web Users

Restricting anonymous access is vital to prevent unauthorized users from exploiting web server vulnerabilities. Configuring web servers within the demilitarized zone (DMZ) to handle anonymous connections ensures limited access rights, providing a controlled environment for external users (Microsoft, 2019). Using IP filtering, disabling anonymous authentication, and implementing robust access control lists (ACLs) restrict unauthenticated users from accessing sensitive internal resources. These measures reduce attack surface and ensure that only authenticated, authorized users can reach protected systems, thereby strengthening perimeter security.

Server Authentication of Connections

Authenticating server connections based on source computer and user identity is critical to prevent unauthorized access and impersonation attacks. Implementing network layer security protocols, such as IPsec, enforces secure, authenticated communication channels between servers and clients (Kamble et al., 2018). IPsec uses cryptographic security services to verify the identity of the source and destination, maintaining integrity and confidentiality of data in transit. Additionally, deploying strict network access controls, such as VLAN segmentation and firewall rules, restricts communication to trusted hosts, further reducing potential attack vectors.

Conclusion

Implementing these hardening techniques—strengthening password policies, enforcing role-specific user accounts, restricting anonymous web access, and authenticating server connections—creates multiple layers of defense essential for protecting Always Fresh Foods Inc. These controls not only mitigate current vulnerabilities but also establish a scalable security framework adaptable to organizational growth. Continuous review, user training, and adherence to best practices are necessary to sustain a resilient security posture, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational data and resources.

References

• Kamble, P., Ingalagi, M., & Dixit, S. (2018). Application of IPsec for Secure Communication. International Journal of Computer Science and Mobile Computing, 7(9), 9-17.
• Microsoft. (2019). Enhance Security with Windows Server Security Enhancements. Microsoft Documentation. https://docs.microsoft.com
• Microsoft. (2020). Password Policy Settings. Microsoft TechNet. https://technet.microsoft.com
• ISO/IEC 27001. (2013). Information technology — Security techniques — Information security management systems — Requirements.