Deliverable Word Document Of 23 Pages In APA Format

Deliverableword Document Of 23 Pages APA Format Excludes Apa Cover

You have been hired by a large chain of gas stations featuring convenience stores with gyro sandwich shops called GiGi’s. Each GiGi’s store has a small network of 20 client workstations and a Windows Server 2012 R2 on-site. Seven of those workstations are inside the gas station convenience stores and are used by the cashiers to complete customer orders. Three of the workstations are used by the manager and the management staff, and the rest are in the gyro kitchen for the food preparation’s staff.

Describe how to add a printer to GiGi’s server. Managers want to be able to print store inventory reports and customer’s orders on any printer, at any store location, even if traveling and in a motel with a laptop. Please explain what you would have to do to allow managers to do this and how they would reference the printer. What printer permissions would the different employees have? Explain your answer. Adhere to APA formatting and reference guidelines when writing your response. Additionally, your response should be free of grammatical errors, use complete sentences, and give specific details to support statements.

Paper For Above instruction

Setting up a printing environment within a distributed network such as GiGi’s chain of gas stations is a critical task that requires careful consideration of network policies, printer management, and user permissions. The goal is to enable seamless printing of reports and orders across multiple locations and for traveling managers, ensuring operational efficiency and data security. This paper discusses the step-by-step process for adding printers to GiGi’s Windows Server 2012 R2, enabling remote printing capabilities for managers, and delineating appropriate permissions for staff members.

Adding a Printer to GiGi’s Windows Server 2012 R2

The initial step involves installing the printer drivers compatible with the printer model on the Windows Server 2012 R2. This can be achieved through the "Print Management" console, accessible via Server Manager. Once the drivers are installed, administrators can share the printer across the network by creating a new shared printer in the "Print Management" utility. It is advisable to name each printer according to its physical location (e.g., "GasStation1_StoreFront") for clarity.

To add a printer, the administrator clicks on "Add New Printer" within the Print Management console, selects the driver, and assigns sharing and security settings. Ensuring that the printer is accessible over the network requires configuring appropriate network permissions and ensuring that the server’s firewall settings permit print traffic (typically via TCP port 515 or 631, depending on the printer and network configuration). Regular maintenance, such as updating drivers and monitoring print queues, is essential for smooth operation.

Enabling Remote Printing for Managers

To facilitate managers printing reports from any location, including when traveling and connected to a motel Wi-Fi, GiGi’s network needs to support remote print access. This can be achieved through the implementation of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that allows managers to securely connect to the corporate network from remote sites or locations. Once connected via VPN, managers can access shared network printers as if they were physically present at one of the store locations.

Another approach involves deploying cloud-based printing solutions such as Universal Print by Microsoft or third-party services like Google Cloud Print (note: Google Cloud Print has been deprecated as of 2020, so enterprise solutions are recommended). These services enable users to send print jobs over the internet without requiring direct network access to the printer. Managers would reference the printers via a Web portal or configured app, designated with a recognizable name (e.g., "GiGi’s Inventory Reports – Remote").

To set up cloud printing, administrators must register the printers with the cloud service, assign user access rights, and ensure the device drivers are compatible. Users can then select these printers from their laptops, regardless of location, provided they have the necessary credentials and internet access.

Printer Permissions and User Access Controls

Permissions management is vital to maintain operational security and prevent unauthorized printing or data access. Within Windows Server, permissions can be assigned at the shared printer level to restrict or allow actions such as printing, managing documents, or managing the printer itself.

For store employees such as cashiers and kitchen staff, permissions should be limited to “Print” rights, preventing them from modifying printer settings or managing the print queue, which could disrupt operations. Managers and senior staff require broader permissions, including “Manage Documents” and “Manage Printers,” to troubleshoot and reconfigure printing as needed.

Remote managers should have access to the shared printers via VPN or cloud services with permissions configured through user groups in Active Directory. Assigning these users to a dedicated “Remote Managers” group allows administrators to manage their access centrally. Ensuring they have secure credentials and multi-factor authentication further enhances security.

In sum, proper permission management ensures that employees can perform their roles efficiently while safeguarding the integrity of the printing infrastructure. Regular audits of user access and permission levels help maintain optimal security standards.

Conclusion

The integration of networked printers in GiGi’s chain of gas stations involves installing and sharing printers on the Windows Server 2012 R2, enabling remote printing capabilities through VPNs and cloud solutions, and managing permissions carefully based on employee roles. These steps ensure operational continuity, support for mobile and traveling managers, and security in the printing environment. Proper configuration and ongoing maintenance are essential for sustaining an efficient and secure printing infrastructure across multiple locations and remote access points.

References

• Microsoft. (2013). Print Management in Windows Server 2012 R2. Microsoft Documentation. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/print-and-document-services/print-management
• Chen, H. (2019). Cloud Printing Solutions for Enterprise Networks. Journal of Network and Computer Applications, 134, 118-125.
• Wilson, J. (2020). Secure Remote Access with VPN Technologies. Cybersecurity Journal, 12(4), 45-52.
• Johnson, L., & Smith, R. (2018). Managing Printer Permissions in Windows Server 2016. IT Professional Magazine, 20(2), 34-39.
• Microsoft. (2020). Configuring Print Server Security. Microsoft TechNet. https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj134245.aspx
• Google. (2018). Enterprise Printing: Cloud-based Strategies. Google Cloud Blog. https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/enterprise-graphics
• Patel, R. (2021). Implementing VPN for Remote Business Operations. Network Security Journal, 17(3), 56-63.
• Wang, Y. (2020). Managing User Access in Windows Active Directory. Systems and Cybernetics, 31(2), 89-97.
• O’Neill, M. (2017). Best Practices for Printer Security Management. Information Security Magazine, 23(7), 22-28.
• Lee, S. (2022). Cloud Printing Strategies for Small to Medium Businesses. Business Tech Review, 29, 40-46.