NTC/320 V5 West Consulting Network Design Summary

NTC/320 v5 West Consulting Network Design Summary NTC/320 v5 West Consulting Network Design Summary

West Consulting is a graphic design and printing company experiencing growth in consumer and sales volume, prompting expansion of its local campus in Des Moines, IA, with an additional test location in Australia. The company currently faces network performance issues due to bandwidth-intensive applications, particularly with server access for CAD software. With plans to add a third building on the same campus housing 500 new users and to expand internationally, West Consulting requires a comprehensive network upgrade and redesign.

The new campus buildings will be located 750 feet from existing structures, with Building 3 comprising three floors: two floors with 200 employees each and a third containing 100 employees plus a data center. The company also intends to establish a presence in Australia for market testing, involving approximately 30 users. The current network architecture supports about 1,000 users, with the need to accommodate the new users efficiently while maintaining security, reliability, and scalability.

As a network consultant, the assignment involves proposing enhancements to support their expansion, focusing on several key areas: secure WLAN deployment for the new building, infrastructure upgrades, unified communications, IP addressing schemes, redundancy, security, virtualization, and overall performance improvements. The solution must support the increased load, ensure high availability, and address current equipment obsolescence issues, all within a 6 to 9-month timeline.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

In an era where digital transformation and technological advancements are pivotal to business success, organizations like West Consulting must continually evolve their network infrastructure to meet growing operational demands. This paper presents a comprehensive network upgrade plan tailored to West Consulting’s expansion objectives, emphasizing security, scalability, reliability, and cost-efficiency. The proposed design aims to support increased user capacity, enhance network performance, and implement modern virtualization and security practices, all within a structured timeline of six to nine months.

Supporting a Secure Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) in New Buildings

The security and efficiency of wireless communications are critical, especially in a new facility hosting many mobile users. For the new building, deploying a robust WLAN infrastructure that supports at least 50% of the users is essential. The deployment should utilize enterprise-grade access points that support WPA3 encryption, 802.1X authentication, and seamless roaming capabilities to ensure secure and uninterrupted connectivity. To keep wiring costs low and future-proof the network, upgrading existing WLAN infrastructure to support multiple access points with mesh networking capabilities is recommended. Mesh networking enables scalable coverage with fewer wired connections, reduces installation time, and offers increased redundancy. Additionally, deploying Cisco’s Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) access points ensures higher throughput, better handling of multiple devices, and future compatibility with emerging standards, aligning with West Consulting’s growth trajectory.

Unified Communications System Recommendations

As international videoconferencing becomes a central component of West Consulting’s operations, establishing a reliable, high-capacity unified communications (UC) system is crucial. Implementing a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solution integrated with unified communications platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Cisco WebEx will facilitate seamless collaboration across locations. To support high traffic volumes with minimal disruptions, Quality of Service (QoS) policies must prioritize voice and video traffic, reducing latency and jitter. Furthermore, deploying Session Border Controllers (SBCs) enhances security and ensures reliable session management. Cloud-based UC solutions can offer scalability, redundancy, and flexibility, but for the on-premises environment, integrating an IP-PBX with failover capabilities and redundancy is advisable. This approach guarantees continuous communication service during outages and supports the international extension of the business.

IP Addressing and Segmentation Strategy

Implementing an IP scheme that accommodates current and future growth involves transitioning to private IP addresses across all networks. Using IPv4 private address ranges such as 10.0.0.0/8 or 172.16.0.0/12 ensures internal routing flexibility and security. Segmenting employee, guest, and infrastructure devices onto separate VLANs enhances security and network management. For example, employee devices could reside on VLAN 10 with subnet 10.1.0.0/16, guest devices on VLAN 20 with subnet 10.2.0.0/16, and infrastructure devices—such as servers, printers, and network management systems—on VLAN 30 with subnet 10.3.0.0/16. Proper VLAN segmentation prevents unauthorized access, limits broadcast domains, and simplifies compliance with security policies, contributing to a resilient and manageable network architecture.

Bandwidth and Redundancy Enhancements

Upgrading core backbone switches to support 10 GbE fiber uplinks between backbone switches is essential for handling increased traffic loads and ensuring high availability. Connecting each server with 10 GbE links reinforces bandwidth capacity, reducing bottlenecks and improving data transfer speeds. To implement redundancy, deploying multiple uplinks with link aggregation (802.3ad) and configuring redundant switches in a star topology ensures continuous operation even in the event of hardware failure. Incorporating Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) or Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP) provides seamless failover for routing paths. These measures collectively enhance network resilience, supporting the demanding demands of bandwidth-intensive applications like CAD and video conferencing.

Elimination of Obsolete Equipment and Hardware Modernization

Replacing all end-of-life or end-of-support equipment is non-negotiable to maintain security and performance standards. Legacy switches, routers, and access points should be decommissioned and replaced with modern, enterprise-grade hardware capable of supporting current protocols and security features. For example, Cisco Catalyst 9300 series switches and Cisco ISR 4000 series routers, with their robust security and scalability features, are recommended. Upgrading firmware and software ensures compatibility with new network features and security patches. Such modernization reduces vulnerabilities inherent in aging hardware and prepares the network infrastructure for future advancements.

On-Premises Data Center with Virtualization Technologies

The new building’s data center should leverage server and network virtualization to optimize hardware utilization, lower costs, and simplify management. Implementing VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V enables server consolidation, reducing physical hardware requirements. Virtualization facilitates rapid deployment of services, high availability, and disaster recovery. Network virtualization techniques, such as Software-Defined Networking (SDN), allow centralized management, dynamic provisioning, and enhanced security controls. Combining virtualization with redundant physical hardware ensures continuous availability of critical services, aligns with best practices for modern data center design, and offers flexible scalability for future growth.

Internet Link Speed and Redundancy

To improve external connectivity, upgrading the internet link speed is vital. Transitioning from a single T-1 line to a fiber-based broadband connection such as Gigabit Ethernet or fiber Internet ensures higher bandwidth capacity. Establishing a secondary ISP connection provides redundancy, with automatic failover capabilities enabled through Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) configuration. This configuration ensures continuous internet access, critical for remote collaboration and cloud services. SLA agreements with ISPs should emphasize latency, uptime, and support responsiveness. These improvements support remote access, cloud-based applications, and high-volume data transfer essential for business operations.

Enhanced Security Measures

Security enhancements are imperative due to previous attacks on the DMZ and the active use of intranet servers by partners and employees. Implementing a multi-layer security framework includes deploying next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) with intrusion prevention systems (IPS), deep packet inspection, and application awareness. Segregating the DMZ from internal networks using firewalls enforces strict access controls. Applying network access controls (NAC), 802.1X port authentication, and VPNs for remote access further fortify security. Regular security audits, vulnerability scans, and patch management programs help in early detection and mitigation of threats. These measures collectively protect sensitive data and critical servers integral to operations.

Project Timeline and Implementation Strategy

Achieving the proposed network enhancements within 6 to 9 months requires a phased implementation approach. Initial phases include assessment, planning, and procurement, followed by hardware deployment and configuration. Prioritizing core network upgrades—such as backbone switches, routers, and firewalls—ensures foundational stability. Subsequent phases focus on WLAN deployment, virtualization setup, security implementations, and redundancy configurations. Continuous testing and validation are essential at each stage to minimize operational disruptions. Engaging experienced project managers, leveraging vendor support, and establishing clear milestones will facilitate timely completion, aligning with West Consulting’s expansion goals and operational timelines.

Conclusion

Expanding West Consulting’s network infrastructure demands a strategic approach that balances performance, security, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Upgrading core hardware, deploying advanced WLAN and UC systems, implementing virtualization, and enhancing security form the pillars of this plan. A phased, well-managed implementation within the specified timeline will position the company to support its international growth, improve operational efficiency, and safeguard critical assets. This comprehensive design ensures West Consulting remains competitive, resilient, and capable of meeting future technological challenges.

References

• Kroenke, D. M., & Boyle, R. J. (2020). Using MIS (12th ed.). Pearson.
• Cisco Systems. (2023). Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Switches Data Sheet. Cisco.
• Microsoft. (2023). Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business documentation. Microsoft.
• VMware. (2023). vSphere Virtualization Platform Overview. VMware.
• Juniper Networks. (2023). Security Solutions and Next-Generation Firewalls. Juniper.
• Amazon Web Services. (2023). Cloud Network Architecture Reference. AWS.
• Gartner. (2023). Network Infrastructure Trends for 2023 and Beyond. Gartner Research.
• IEEE Standards Association. (2020). Ethernet Standards and Protocols. IEEE.
• Fortinet. (2023). Enterprise Security and Firewall Solutions. Fortinet.
• International Telecommunication Union. (2022). Recommendations for Network Redundancy and Reliability. ITU.