Designing A Network For A Successful CPA Firm With Future Ex

Designing a Network for a Successful CPA Firm with Future Expansion

You Have Been Asked To Design A LAN For A Very Successful CPA Firm Wit You Have Been Asked To Design A LAN For A Very Successful CPA Firm Wit You Have Been Asked To Design A LAN For A Very Successful CPA Firm With Five Departments In One Building And A Total Of 560 Employees. Currently, The Firm Has No Networked Computers, And It Is Open To Any Suggestions You Can Offer. The Firm Does Have A Few Requirements: It Wants To Make Sure That It Can Easily Expand Its LAN In The Future Without Exorbitant Costs And Moving A Lot Of Equipment. Every Department Must Have Very Fast Access To The LAN. The LAN Must Remain Up At All Times. Must Use The Windows Operating System. Determine What Kind Of LAN Your Team Will Design For This Company. Deliverable Instructions: Create A 1 Page Executive Summary To Summarize Your Design, Followed By A 4 To 5 Page Paper With Diagrams About The Detailed Network Design. Put These In One Word Document In APA Format.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Designing an efficient and scalable Local Area Network (LAN) for a successful CPA firm requires thorough planning and consideration of various factors including future growth, reliability, speed, and security. The firm in question comprises five departments within a single building, employing a total of 560 staff members. The current absence of a network infrastructure creates an opportunity to design a robust and future-proof LAN that aligns with the firm’s operational requirements and growth ambitions. This paper presents a comprehensive network design, emphasizing scalability using modern infrastructure techniques, reliability, and high-speed access to support the firm’s operations continuously, utilizing Windows-based systems.

Network Type and Architecture

The optimal LAN design for this CPA firm is a switched Ethernet network employing Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) technology combined with fiber-optic backbone segments between switches. The choice of switched Ethernet provides dedicated bandwidth, low latency, and scalability, which are essential for a high-performance environment. A hierarchical three-tier architecture will be implemented: core, distribution, and access layers. The core layer comprises high-speed core switches that connect to the fiber backbone, ensuring high-speed communication across the entire building. The distribution layer consolidates access switches within each department, providing aggregation and security, while the access layer connects end-user devices within departments.

Design for Scalability and Expansion

To facilitate future expansion without significant costs or disruptive reconfigurations, the network will employ modular switches with stacking capabilities and fiber-optic cabling. The use of modular switches enables adding more switches or upgrading existing hardware easily. Fiber-optic cabling between core and distribution layers ensures high bandwidth and supports additional connections as the firm grows. The LAN design will include Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches to power VoIP phones and wireless access points, reducing the need for separate power infrastructure.

Connectivity and Speed

Every department will have dedicated high-speed switches connected via fiber-optic links to the core to ensure minimal latency and high throughput. This setup guarantees rapid access to data resources, vital for facilitating accounting, auditing, and client communications. To support mobility and remote access, high-performance wireless access points compatible with IEEE 802.11ac/ax standards will be strategically placed throughout the building, ensuring seamless connectivity for mobile devices. The network will support Windows-based systems natively, with appropriate configurations for domain services, DHCP, DNS, and group policies, ensuring a secure and manageable environment.

Redundancy and Uptime

Reliability is a critical requirement; thus, the network will integrate redundancy at key points. Dual links and redundant switches will be used at the core and distribution layers to eliminate single points of failure. Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) will be implemented to prevent loops, and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems will support network hardware to maintain operation during power outages. Additionally, network monitoring tools will be deployed to detect and address issues proactively, ensuring the LAN remains operational at all times.

Physical and Logical Site Layout

The physical layout includes ceiling-mounted switches in equipment rooms, with structured cabling to desktops and departmental areas. Logical network segmentation will be achieved through Virtual LANs (VLANs) for departments, enhancing security and traffic management. Firewall and access control configurations will safeguard sensitive data, while secure Wi-Fi networks will support wireless devices.

Diagrams and Implementation Plan

The detailed network topology diagram will illustrate the hierarchical structure, showing core switches, distribution layers, access points, and interconnects. Implementation phases will include infrastructure setup, hardware configuration, testing, and staff training to ensure a smooth transition.

Conclusion

This LAN design combines high-speed Gigabit Ethernet, fiber-optic backbone, modular and scalable hardware, redundancy, and comprehensive security measures to meet the CPA firm’s current and future networking needs. The architecture ensures continuous uptime, rapid data access, and effortless scalability, positioned to support the firm’s growth and operational excellence.

References

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