Overview Of This Assignment Consisting Of Two Sections

Overviewthis Assignment Consists Of Two Sections An Infrastructure Do

This assignment consists of two sections: an infrastructure document and a revised project plan. You must submit both sections as separate files, each labeled according to its respective section. You may create or assume all necessary assumptions required for completing this assignment. The focus is on presenting the infrastructure and security policy that support the organization's expected growth and development.

The network solution selected should support the developed information system and be scalable to accommodate future expansion. The network infrastructure will underpin organizational operations, and a visual depiction—including workstations, servers, routers, bridges, gateways, and access points—must be included. Since the organization plans to merge with a multinational company, virtualization and cloud technologies should be incorporated. Additionally, access paths for internet connectivity must be depicted, accompanied by a narrative explaining each network node and the reasoning behind its placement.

Furthermore, employing the Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) Triangle, a comprehensive security policy must be established. This policy should detail how the organization intends to protect its infrastructure and assets, utilizing CIA principles as core benchmarks. Ethical considerations related to employee conduct, contractor access, password management, and resource accessibility should also be addressed.

Section 1: Infrastructure Document

Develop a 5–10 page infrastructure document that includes the following components:

• Identify potential vulnerabilities within the network infrastructure.
• Specify security measures to mitigate identified vulnerabilities, including considerations for virtualization and cloud technology.
• Design a logical and physical topographical layout of the planned network, utilizing graphical tools such as Microsoft Visio, Dia, or similar open-source software.
• Explain the rationale behind the logical and physical layout, detailing the placement of servers, access paths to the internet, firewall implementations, and network nodes.
• Illustrate the placement of network devices including workstations, printers, routers, switches, bridges, and access points, considering facility limitations.
• Create and describe a comprehensive security policy based on CIA principles, covering confidentiality, integrity, availability, and ethical considerations such as employee behavior, contractor access, password policies, and data access controls.

Section 2: Revised Project Plan

Using Microsoft Project, update the project plan (both summary and detailed views) originated from Project Deliverable 4: Cloud Technology and Virtualization. Incorporate 3–5 new project tasks, each with 5–10 subtasks, reflecting additional steps needed for implementing the infrastructure improvements and security measures outlined in the first section.

This task aims to demonstrate an ability to prepare a detailed design document that proposes a secure network infrastructure and corresponding security policies aimed at safeguarding organizational assets.

Paper For Above instruction

The strategic design of a secure, scalable, and efficient network infrastructure is integral to supporting an organization’s growth, especially in an environment where virtualization and cloud technologies are prevalent. An effective infrastructure must not only encompass physical components but also incorporate comprehensive security policies based on CIA principles that safeguard organizational assets and promote ethical standards.

Identifying vulnerabilities within a network infrastructure is the initial step toward building a resilient system. Common vulnerabilities include outdated hardware, misconfigured network devices, inadequate access controls, and unsecured data transmission channels. In a modern organization integrating virtualization and cloud computing, additional vulnerabilities emerge, such as misconfigured virtual networks, insecure cloud APIs, and risks associated with multi-tenancy environments (Zhao et al., 2020). To address these vulnerabilities, security measures such as firewalls, Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS), network segmentation, and encryption should be employed. Cloud security protocols, including Identity and Access Management (IAM), and multi-factor authentication, are essential to protect cloud resources (Sicari et al., 2015).

Developing a logical and physical topology of the network involves mapping nodes, devices, and connections to depict the infrastructure comprehensively. The physical topology considers the actual placement of servers, firewalls, routers, switches, and access points across the facility layout, taking into account physical constraints. The logical topology reflects data flow, network segmentation, and security zones, ensuring efficient communication while minimizing vulnerabilities. Graphical tools like Microsoft Visio offer precise visualization, assisting stakeholders in understanding the network architecture's rationale. For instance, servers hosting sensitive data should be located behind multiple firewalls with segmented access paths, while less critical endpoints could be placed on the perimeter network (perimeter zone).

The illustration should include placement of workstations, printers, network devices, and internet access points. Connecting these components through secure pathways, such as VPNs for remote users and fortified Wi-Fi access points, enhances security and operational efficiency. Firewall placement should create a demilitarized zone (DMZ) to isolate public-facing services from internal resources. Virtualization introduces a layer of flexibility, allowing multiple virtual servers to coexist on a physical host, thereby consolidating resources and reducing attack surfaces (Alam et al., 2021). Cloud integration facilitates scalable data storage and processing but necessitates strict security controls and compliance measures.

The security policy grounded in the CIA framework should specify practices to safeguard confidentiality by encrypting sensitive data and enforcing access controls. Integrity measures include implementing checksum validation, access logs, and regular audits to detect unauthorized modifications. Availability ensures that resources are accessible when needed, employing redundant systems, disaster recovery, and failover strategies. Ethical considerations emphasize responsible employee behavior, such as adherence to password policies, prohibition of unauthorized access, and training on security best practices. Contractors should be granted limited, role-based access, and all access should be logged and monitored continuously.

In conclusion, designing a robust network infrastructure that integrates virtualization and cloud technology requires a careful balance of physical hardware placement, logical segmentation, and security policies aligned with CIA principles. Such an approach ensures organizational resilience, supports future growth, and protects critical assets against evolving cyber threats (Sood & Bisht, 2019). Continuous assessment and adaptation of security policies and infrastructure are necessary to maintain a secure computing environment in a dynamic organizational landscape.

References

• Alam, M., Zia, T., & Satti, S. (2021). Virtualization security challenges and mitigation techniques: A systematic review. Journal of Network and Computer Applications, 186, 103099.
• Sicari, S., Rizzardi, A., Grieco, L. A., & Coen-Porisini, A. (2015). Security, privacy and trust in Internet of Things: The road ahead. Computer Networks, 76, 146-164.
• Sood, A. K., & Bisht, R. (2019). Future of Cloud Security: Challenges and Solutions. Journal of Cybersecurity Technology, 3(3), 125–134.
• Zhao, W., Zhang, J., & Xu, J. (2020). Cloud security in the Internet of Things: Architecture, challenges, and solutions. IEEE Access, 8, 150051-150072.