Telecommunications Case Assignment: The Acme Corporat 162433

Telecommunicationscase Assignmentthe Acme Corporation Is A New Startup

The Acme Corporation is a new startup that wishes to sell their new phone to the public called Acmephone, a more secure version of the phone to business organizations, called the Acmephone B+, and highly secure version of the phone, called the Acmephone G+, to the government. Due to the fear of corporate espionage and government security requirements, there are many security concerns that must be addressed. As a security professional, you have been employed to design a network infrastructure for their two campuses located in Atlanta and Cincinnati based upon specific requirements:

• There needs to be a constant connection between the two locations that can carry at least 50 Mbps of data.
• Each facility has three floors of rectangular shape, each measuring 350’x350’.
• There will be 200 network connections on each floor with an additional 100 network connections in the data centers located on the third floor of each building.
• The primary data center will be located at the Atlanta location, with a failover data center at Cincinnati.
• Each location should be protected from intrusions, including state change attacks.
• The Atlanta location will house the two secure development teams, requiring the highest level of security, along with database servers and web servers.
• Database servers will also be located at Cincinnati, with redundancy for all servers.
• The solution must include security verification measures and defenses against attacks.

Your task is to develop a comprehensive network design to meet these specifications, including topology, hardware, cabling, security strategies, WAN/wireless technologies, high availability solutions, and justification for all recommendations.

Paper For Above instruction

Designing a secure, reliable, and efficient network infrastructure for the Acme Corporation’s two campuses in Atlanta and Cincinnati involves multiple considerations spanning topology, hardware, security, and redundancy. This paper outlines a comprehensive plan addressing each of the specified requirements, emphasizing security and high availability to support Acme’s innovative yet sensitive telecommunications products.

Network Topology and Hardware Recommendations

Given the geographic separation and need for constant connectivity, a hybrid topology combining leased fiber optic WAN links with an MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) network is ideal. MPLS provides reliable, scalable, and secure communication channels with QoS (Quality of Service) capabilities, essential for maintaining the 50 Mbps minimum bandwidth. The primary link connects Atlanta and Cincinnati via dedicated fiber, ensuring high-speed data transfer and redundancy.

At each campus, a hierarchical network topology should be deployed. Core switches connect to high-performance routers that handle routing and security policies. Each floor is served by a distribution switch, linking to access switches that connect to individual workstations and servers. Data centers require high-capacity, redundant switches with dual power supplies and link aggregation (LACP) for load balancing and failover.

Hardware components should include enterprise-grade routers (such as Cisco ISR 4000 series), multilayer switches (Cisco Catalyst series), firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and wireless access points (WAPs) supporting WPA3 encryption for secure wireless connectivity. Data centers should utilize blade servers or rack-mounted servers with hardware RAID and hot-swappable drives for redundancy.

Cabling and Wiring Infrastructure

For intermediate connections within the buildings, Category 6a Ethernet cabling is recommended, capable of supporting 10 Gbps speeds over the 350-foot distances. Fiber optic cabling (Om3 or Om4 multimode fiber) should connect different floors and the external link between campuses, ensuring high bandwidth and immunity to electromagnetic interference. Wiring closets should be strategically placed on each floor to facilitate efficient cable management and reduce latency.

Security Measures and Attack Prevention Strategies

Securing the network involves multiple layers of defense. Firewalls with advanced threat detection should be deployed at each site’s perimeter, with separate zones for public, secure development, and data center environments. Network segmentation via VLANs will isolate sensitive systems like database and web servers in their dedicated security zones.

To prevent state change and other attacks, deploy host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) capable of real-time monitoring. Implement strict access controls, multi-factor authentication, and VPNs for remote administration. Regular vulnerability scans and security audits will verify the effectiveness of these controls.

In addition, deploying honeypots or trap hosts within the network can divert attacker efforts, gathering intelligence on attack techniques. Anomaly detection systems utilizing machine learning algorithms can identify unusual activities indicative of ongoing attacks, enabling rapid response.

Wireless and WAN Technologies

For wireless connectivity, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) access points with WPA3 encryption should be used, ensuring secure, high-speed wireless access for employees and visitors. A dedicated wireless VLAN and separate SSID for secure development and management ensure further security segmentation.

The WAN connection via fiber should be complemented with redundant links, possibly utilizing SD-WAN technology to dynamically route traffic based on link health, bandwidth, or latency issues. This ensures constant connectivity and automatic failover in case of fiber disruption.

High Availability and Data Center Technologies

Redundancy in data centers can be achieved using clustering technologies such as VMware vSphere HA and database replication mechanisms like synchronous or asynchronous replication depending on latency tolerances. Using Cisco’s Application-Centric Infrastructure (ACI) or similar solutions supports policy-driven network automation and resilience.

Power supplies should be dual-fed with uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and backup generators to avoid outages. Storage should utilize SANs with multipath I/O for uninterrupted access. Regularly scheduled backups, off-site replication, and disaster recovery plans are essential for operational resilience.

Justifications of Recommendations

The choice of MPLS-based WAN ensures scalability, security, and QoS necessary for Acme’s high-volume data transfer. Hierarchical topology simplifies management and enhances security through segmentation and access controls. Fiber optics and CAT 6a cabling provide the high bandwidth and interference immunity required for enterprise connections within buildings and between campuses.

Security layers including firewalls, VLAN segmentation, IDS/IPS, and honeypots provide comprehensive defense against a wide array of cyber threats, including state change attacks, malware, and unauthorized access. Wireless security protocols like WPA3 safeguard mobile device connectivity, while high-availability solutions minimize downtime, supporting business continuity.

Overall, this network architecture emphasizes security, redundancy, and performance, aligning with Acme’s mission to deliver secure telecommunications products while maintaining operational integrity against evolving cyber threats.

References

• Cisco. (2021). Cisco Catalyst Switches. Cisco Systems. https://www.cisco.com
• Ferguson, D., & Whalen, D. (2019). Enterprise Network Security. John Wiley & Sons.
• Odom, W. (2020). Cisco IOS Fundamentals. Cisco Press.
• Poole, C. (2021). WAN Technologies and Architectures. Network World.
• Schulz, M. (2022). Data Center Networking Best Practices. TechTarget.
• Stallings, W. (2018). Data and Computer Communications. Pearson.
• Turak, N. (2020). Implementing Secure Wireless Networks. IEEE Communications Magazine.
• Vacca, J. R. (2017). Network Security: Know It All. Morgan Kaufmann.
• Zhang, Y. (2021). SD-WAN Migration Strategies. Gartner Reports.
• Juniper Networks. (2023). Data Center High Availability Solutions. Juniper Networks Technical Documentation.