You Have Been Hired By Evil Corp Unlimited ECU To Provide AP

You Have Been Hired By Evil Corp Unlimited Ecu To Provide Aproposa

You have been hired by Evil Corp. Unlimited (ECU) to provide a proposal on how they can best address the growing number of security concerns and network growth they are experiencing in their Cisco-only enterprise network environment. ECU is a growing corporation with 150 employees, a Headquarters Office (HQ), and a single Remote Office (RO) facility. Your task will be to evaluate the ECU network environment and then to compose a proposal paper in which you will articulate your recommendations to help them secure their Cisco network.

Paper For Above instruction

The rapidly expanding network for Evil Corp. Unlimited (ECU) presents both opportunities and challenges that necessitate a comprehensive security overhaul. This proposal aims to address critical vulnerabilities, optimize network management, and ensure secure remote access, aligning with industry best practices for Cisco enterprise environments. A thorough evaluation of the current configuration reveals multiple security gaps—including weak password policies, unencrypted management protocols, lack of logging, inadequate firewall rules, and insecure routing configurations. These deficiencies compromise the integrity and availability of ECU's network infrastructure, risking data breaches, service disruptions, and non-compliance with security standards.

To effectively secure the ECU network, the proposal recommends implementing robust authentication and encryption mechanisms, refining routing security, establishing a comprehensive security policy, and deploying advanced firewall and intrusion detection solutions. Central to these enhancements are the migration from Telnet to SSH for management access, the deployment of centralized logging and monitoring, the introduction of VPN-based remote access, and segmentation strategies that isolate critical resources. Additionally, securing the DMZ with dedicated firewall inspection and applying strict access controls will mitigate external threats. Implementing network segmentation and VLAN strategies will improve traffic isolation, reduce broadcast domains, and enhance overall security posture.

Given the current reliance on default configurations and the absence of security policies, the first step involves creating a formal security policy tailored to ECU’s operational needs. This policy will establish guidelines for password management, account privileges, device hardening, and incident response. For authentication, transitioning to centralized methods such as RADIUS or TACACS+ will replace local privilege levels and Type 7 passwords, strengthening credential security. To prevent accidental device misconfigurations, a dedicated configuration management process and regular backups are essential, coupled with training and access controls to limit junior administrators’ ability to modify critical settings.

The routing protocols, primarily OSPF and BGP, require enhanced security configurations. Implementing OSPF authentication (such as MD5 authentication) will prevent unauthorized devices from participating in the routing process. Similarly, for BGP, establishing session authentication and route filtering, alongside multi-homing strategies, will improve resilience and prevent route hijacking. The firewall must be upgraded from 'any to any' to a more restrictive policy, focusing on necessary traffic such as HTTP and HTTPS for Web servers, while blocking all unnecessary inbound connections. Introducing deep packet inspection in the DMZ will enable ECU to monitor, filter, and block suspicious traffic, reducing the risk of intrusions.

Remote access solutions should prioritize security and usability. Deploying Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) with strong encryption should facilitate secure, remote access for ECU employees while ensuring that data confidentiality and integrity are maintained. Multifactor authentication will further reduce the risk of compromised credentials. As for the internal infrastructure, replacing all default settings on switches with hardened configurations, implementing VLAN segmentation to isolate different departments, and enabling Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) features such as BPDU guard and root guard will prevent network loops and attacks exploiting the Layer 2 domain.

Furthermore, DHCP configurations should be expanded beyond simple pool definitions to include IP address management best practices, such as scope exclusion, reservations, and option configurations for DNS and default gateways. Network monitoring and logging should be prioritized, with centralized logging solutions to facilitate incident response and forensic analysis. Installing intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) strategically within the network will provide real-time alerts and automated threat mitigation. Lastly, the company’s physical security measures, especially given the placement of devices in accessible areas, must be strengthened with controlled access and audit trails.

Implementing these recommendations requires phased deployment, starting with policy development and device configuration updates, followed by infrastructure enhancements and staff training. A clear implementation timeline, resource allocation plan, and testing procedures should underpin this process to minimize downtime and ensure compliance. To evaluate effectiveness, periodic audits, vulnerability assessments, and performance metrics will be conducted, enabling ECU to continually adapt their security posture. This comprehensive, multi-layered approach aligns with industry best practices and anticipates future network growth and technological advancements, ultimately enabling ECU to secure their enterprise environment effectively and sustainably.

References

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  • Narayan, S. (2019). Implementing Secure Routing Protocols in Enterprise Environments. Cybersecurity Journal, 7(2), 101-115.
  • Scarfone, K., & Mell, P. (2007). Guide to Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS). NIST Special Publication 800-94.
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