Explain Key Considerations For Identifying An Internet Servi ✓ Solved

Explain key considerations for identifying an internet service provider

The final project for this course involves creating network recommendations for a new office location for Newton Ad Agency. Milestone Two specifically requires analyzing internet service providers (ISPs) suitable for the new site—focusing on comparisons based on speed, security, and reliability, and recommending the best provider to meet the business’s needs. Additionally, it includes hardware and software recommendations, printer configurations, and bandwidth considerations tailored to the office’s operations and teleconferencing requirements.

This milestone prompts an in-depth investigation into available ISPs at the chosen location, followed by comparisons of options with regard to their ability to support business objectives effectively. The recommendations must be justified based on research, aligning technological capabilities with organizational goals such as reliable connectivity, secure communications, and efficient data transfer. It also involves strategic planning for hardware, software, printer setups, and bandwidth allocation to ensure operational efficiency for a 50-employee office that supports remote work, videoconferencing, and large media content management.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Setting up a reliable and secure network infrastructure for a new office involves careful evaluation of potential internet service providers (ISPs), as well as strategic planning for hardware, software, and bandwidth requirements. For Newton Ad Agency's upcoming office in Fayetteville, North Carolina, these considerations are vital to ensure business efficiency, security, and growth support.

Evaluating Key Considerations for Internet Service Providers

The primary considerations when selecting an ISP include reliability, speed, security, scalability, customer support, and Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Reliability ensures continuous internet access, which is critical for daily operations, videoconferencing, and remote employee support. Speed impacts the quality of media content transfer, live video calls, and large file uploads, directly influencing productivity and client satisfaction. Security features, including Managed Security Services, VPN support, and threat detection, protect sensitive data and maintain compliance standards.

Furthermore, scalability is essential as the company plans to expand, requiring ISPs that can grow with organizational needs without significant disruptions. Customer support and SLA guarantees ensure prompt resolution of issues, minimizing downtime. These factors collectively impact a firm's ability to operate efficiently and securely, which aligns with Newton Ad Agency’s goal to support flexible work arrangements and expansive digital content needs.

Comparison of Two Available Internet Providers in Fayetteville, NC

In Fayetteville, North Carolina, two prominent ISPs are Spectrum and AT&T. Spectrum offers cable internet services characterized by high-speed options reaching up to 1 Gbps, with symmetrical upload and download speeds that support videoconferencing and large data transfers. Its reliability is typically high, but outages can occur during peak usage times. Security features are somewhat basic, relying on the user's equipment, but they do provide some threat mitigation options through their modem gateways.

AT&T provides fiber-optic internet services with speeds that can go up to 500 Mbps or higher. Fiber offers lower latency, higher reliability, and inherent security advantages due to its wired nature. The fiber infrastructure's scalability supports future growth, and the ISP provides integrated security solutions, including managed firewalls and VPN services, which are advantageous for business operations.

When evaluating these providers, Spectrum's higher maximum speeds can benefit large media content sharing and streaming, which are vital for the New York division's operations. However, AT&T’s fiber service offers more consistent reliability and inherent security, supporting secure, uninterrupted videoconferencing essential for remote team collaboration. Therefore, although Spectrum might seem appealing for raw speed, AT&T's fiber service better aligns with the enterprise’s need for security, reliability, and future scalability, making it the preferred choice.

Recommendation of the Appropriate ISP

Based on the analysis, AT&T’s fiber-optic service emerges as the more suitable internet provider for the Fayetteville office. Its higher reliability, lower latency, and enhanced security features directly support Newton Ad Agency’s business objectives, especially for large media production, secure remote access, and continuous videoconferencing. Additionally, AT&T’s scalability ensures support for future expansion and increased bandwidth demands as the company grows.

Choosing AT&T aligns with Newton's goal to maintain a stable, secure, and scalable network infrastructure capable of supporting remote workers, multimedia content distribution, and growth initiatives. This strategic provider selection is a foundational step toward establishing a robust network capable of meeting current and future organizational needs.

Hardware and Software Recommendations

To support the new office’s operational needs, deploying enterprise-grade hardware such as Cisco routers with VPN support, managed switches, and enterprise wireless access points (e.g., Cisco Meraki) is prudent. These devices provide secure, scalable, and manageable network connectivity, crucial for a mixed environment of wired and wireless access for 50 employees. The wireless access points should support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) to accommodate high-density environments and ensure strong, seamless connectivity throughout the office.

On the software side, deploying centralized management platforms like Cisco DNA Center for network administration, along with enterprise-grade endpoint security solutions, is advisable. These tools facilitate remote troubleshooting, security monitoring, and policy enforcement, ensuring comprehensive protection of the network and connected devices. Antivirus, endpoint DLP, and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) further safeguard organizational data and support compliance with regulatory standards.

Printer Configuration Recommendations

Considering the distance within the office and the need for seamless printing capabilities, network printers should be strategically placed to serve high-demand areas, connected via wired Ethernet for stability and speed. Wireless printers should be used in flexible workspaces, with secure Wi-Fi connections supporting mobile device access. Printers should support high-speed printing for large billboard media files and be configured to accept secure print jobs from remote laptops through support for IP security, user authentication, and print job encryption, ensuring data confidentiality.

Bandwidth and Device Recommendations for Videoconferencing

To support live video teleconferencing, which is a critical component for remote collaboration, a minimum of 100 Mbps dedicated bandwidth per conference room is recommended. Given the high demand for media streaming and remote teamwork, uplink speeds should be prioritized alongside download speeds. Deploying at least two 48-port managed switches per floor with VLAN segmentation allows for prioritizing voice and video traffic to minimize latency and jitter, ensuring high-quality conferencing experiences.

Additionally, VoIP phones integrated into the network can leverage Quality of Service (QoS) policies to prioritize voice traffic, further enhancing clarity and reducing disruptions during critical meetings. The combination of robust hardware, sufficient bandwidth, and proper device configuration ensures the new office can efficiently support teleconferencing, media sharing, and remote employee connectivity while maintaining network security and performance.

Conclusion

Effective network setup for Newton Ad Agency’s new Fayetteville office hinges on careful ISP selection, hardware and software planning, and bandwidth management. Choosing AT&T’s fiber-optic service provides the reliability, security, and scalability necessary to support the organization’s strategic goals. Coupled with enterprise-grade networking hardware, optimized printer configurations, and ample bandwidth for teleconferencing, these recommendations ensure a resilient, secure, and efficient network infrastructure aligned with the company's vision for growth and remote workforce support.

References

• Bisoi, S., & Padhy, N. P. (2019). Comparative analysis of internet service providers. International Journal of Networks and Communications, 9(2), 55-62.
• FitzGerald, J., & Dennis, A. (2020). Business Data Communications and Networking (13th ed.). Wiley.
• Goleniewski, J. (2021). Fiber optics: Building futureproof networks. Communications of the ACM, 64(12), 46-51.
• Grance, T., & Lucchini, R. (2022). Cloud and Internet Security: Best Practices for Business. Springer.
• IEEE Standards Association. (2020). IEEE 802.11ax-2021: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications Amendment-High Efficiency WLAN. IEEE.
• Paul, D., & Reid, J. (2018). Network Hardware Security: Best Practices and Strategies. Network Security, 2018(8), 15-22.
• Smith, R., & Johnson, M. (2021). Advanced Network Infrastructure Planning. Journal of Network and Systems Management, 29(3), 530-546.
• Tan, C., & Pham, T. (2020). Towards Secure and Scalable Corporate Networks. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 22(3), 2010-2034.
• Wirem, N. (2019). Enterprise WLAN Design: Planning and Deployment Strategies. Cisco Press.
• Zhao, P., & Li, X. (2022). Optimizing Bandwidth for Video Conferencing Applications. Journal of Telecommunication Systems, 79, 147-161.