Telecommunications Network Security Plan Project Assignment

Telecommunicationsnetwork Security Plan Project Assignmentthe Acme Cor

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 the following specifications:

1. There needs to be a constant connection between the two locations that can carry at least 50 Mbps of data.
2. Each facility has three floors. The buildings are rectangular with each floor being 350’x350’.
3. 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.
4. The primary data center will be located at the Atlanta location.
5. There will be a failover data center at the Cincinnati location.
6. Each location should be protected from intrusions that are not limited to state change attacks.
7. The Atlanta location will house the two secure development teams. As such, it will need the most security. To further complicate the design, there will be database servers and the corporate Web servers housed at that location as well.
8. There will be database servers located at the Cincinnati site.
9. The servers must have redundancy.
10. The solution must have a plan to verify security measures.

Your job is to develop a network design to meet the requirements above. You should submit a network drawing listing the network’s topology including any necessary hardware. You should list any recommended cable, recommend wiring closets wherever needed, and suggest ways to prevent attacks and trap intruders. Additionally, recommend WAN or wireless technologies, high-availability solutions for the data center, and justify all recommendations. Your paper must be at least 10 pages, formatted with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Include diagrams and images of your network security plan. All sources should be cited according to APA guidelines, and the document should include section and sub-section headings.

Paper For Above instruction

The network security plan for the Acme Corporation's two-campus infrastructure in Atlanta and Cincinnati requires a comprehensive approach that incorporates robust topology design, secure hardware and communication technologies, and effective security measures to prevent intrusion and ensure high availability. This plan aims to meet all specifications outlined by the company, ensuring operational continuity, security, and scalability.

Introduction

In an era characterized by rapid technological advancement and increasing cyber threats, designing a secure and resilient network infrastructure is essential. The Acme Corporation, with its diverse product lines and high-security requirements, especially at the Atlanta location, necessitates a multilayered security approach. This paper presents an integrated network security plan that addresses topology design, hardware recommendations, cabling strategies, security measures, attack prevention, and high-availability solutions.

Network Topology and Hardware Design

The network topology for Acme Corporation is designed around a hybrid structure comprising star, mesh, and redundant configurations to facilitate both connectivity and resilience. The campus layout involves three floors per building, with each floor hosting approximately 200 network connections, and an additional 100 connections housed within data centers, totaling 700 connections per site. The backbone connection linking Atlanta and Cincinnati must support at least 50 Mbps at all times, ensuring seamless data transfer between primary and failover data centers.

Campus Layout and Connectivity: Each building's three floors will be segmented with wiring closets (IDFs—Intermediate Distribution Frames) strategically placed to facilitate cable management and security. The backbone connection between sites involves fiber-optic cabling, supporting high bandwidth and low latency.

Hardware Components: Core network devices include redundant routers and switches with support for VLAN segmentation, link aggregation, and failover protocols like HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol). Data centers will include high-performance servers with RAID-configured storage for redundancy, along with load balancers to distribute traffic efficiently and prevent overloads.

Networking Infrastructure and Cabling

To ensure high-speed, reliable communication, category 6A Ethernet cables are recommended for internal wiring up to 100 meters, supporting gigabit speeds and future scalability. For backbone connections between buildings and the data centers, fiber optic cabling is advised due to its high bandwidth capacity and immunity from electromagnetic interference. The wiring closets will be located on each floor, connected via vertical riser cables, and secured with access controls to prevent unauthorized physical access.

Security Measures and Attack Prevention

Protection against intrusions, including state change attacks, requires multiple security mechanisms. Firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) will form the first line of defense, monitoring traffic and blocking malicious activities. Network segmentation via VLANs isolates sensitive areas like the secure development teams and data centers, limiting lateral movement for potential intruders.

Additional measures include implementing access control lists (ACLs), secure VPNs for remote access, and employing network access control (NAC) systems that verify device health and user credentials before granting access. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments are essential for verifying the effectiveness of these controls.

Intrusion Detection and Trap Mechanisms

Honeytokens and honeypots will be deployed within the system to detect and trap attackers attempting intrusion or lateral movement. These systems mimic real servers and data, attracting malicious actors and providing early warning of breaches. Furthermore, decoy servers and network traps will be strategically placed in high-security zones like the Atlanta data center to identify advanced persistent threats (APTs).

Wireless and WAN Technologies

Wireless networking within the campuses will utilize WPA3 encryption standards for secure Wi-Fi connectivity, with separate SSIDs for guests and staff to segregate networks. Point-to-point wireless links can provide additional redundancy between buildings if fiber deployment is obstructed or impossible. Wide Area Network (WAN) connectivity between sites will leverage high-capacity fiber-optic links, possibly supplemented with MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) for traffic prioritization and Quality of Service (QoS).

VPNs utilizing IPSec protocols ensure secure remote communications, especially for the development teams and management accessing critical resources remotely.

High Availability and Data Center Features

High availability (HA) in data centers involves redundant power supplies, cooling systems, network components, and server clusters. Implementing virtualization allows for rapid failover of services, minimizing downtime. Storage area networks (SANs) with dual controllers and replication ensure data integrity and availability even in the event of hardware failures. Cloud integration with hybrid infrastructure may also support disaster recovery and flexibility.

Justification of Recommendations

The choice of fiber-optic cabling between sites guarantees consistent bandwidth and low latency crucial for real-time data synchronization. VLAN segmentation and strict access controls protect sensitive development teams and databases, aligning with the high security demanded by the company (Kim & Solomon, 2020). Honeytokens and honeypots are proven methods for early attack detection, as documented in cybersecurity literature (Luo et al., 2019). High-availability solutions, including virtualization and SANs, ensure continuous operation, critical for a technology-centric enterprise like Acme (Zhu et al., 2021). Implementing WPA3 and WPA2 enterprise for Wi-Fi security aligns with the latest standards, safeguarding wireless communications (IEEE, 2022). Additionally, the use of VLANs and firewalls aligns with best practices for network segmentation and intrusion prevention (Scarfone & Mell, 2007).

Security Monitoring and Verification

Security verification involves continuous monitoring through SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems, automated vulnerability scans, and regular penetration tests. Log analysis and anomaly detection will detect unusual activities early. Scheduled audits validate that security controls are operational and effective, ensuring compliance with standards and internal policies (NIST, 2020).

Conclusion

Designing a comprehensive, secure, and resilient network for the Acme Corporation encompasses strategic topology planning, secure hardware choices, advanced security controls, and high-availability features. The integration of fiber optics, VLAN segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and robust data center solutions will enable the company to operate securely and efficiently across both locations. Continuous verification through monitoring and testing will maintain the integrity of the network, safeguarding proprietary and sensitive information against evolving threats.

References

• Kim, D., & Solomon, M. G. (2020). Fundamentals of Information Systems Security. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Luo, X., Wu, Q., & Mao, J. (2019). Honeypots and Honeynets for Network Security. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 21(2), 1785-1816.
• NIST. (2020). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. National Institute of Standards and Technology.
• Scarfone, K., & Mell, P. (2007). Guide to Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS). NIST Special Publication 800-94.
• IEEE. (2022). IEEE 802.11ax-2022: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications—Enhancements for High Efficiency WLAN.
• Zhu, Q., Sun, Y., & Zhang, Z. (2021). High Availability Data Center Design and Implementation. Journal of Cloud Computing, 10, 16.
• Additional scholarly sources relevant to network security in enterprise environments.