Mr. Khoza runs a small business in Midrand, Gauteng. His business has been steadily growing since
its inception in February 2019 in spite of the ill-effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns as well as the
ripple effects of the economic issues and financial markets such as rising fuel prices and inflation.
He, Mr. Khoza, has asked you to design a secure network for his small business. Additionally, he
would like you to design and build a cost-effective network for his business.
The current setup is such that every PC and laptop user uses a 3G dongle to connect to the Internet.
When users need to print, they either copy the work that needs to be printed to USB flash drives
or email their work to any one of the five users whose PCs are attached to a printer – all printers
connect via USB cables.
The new network, according to Mr. Khoza, should cater to at least thirty devices, fifteen desktops
(PCs), seven laptops including Mr. Khoza’s laptop, two servers and four BYOD devices. Additionally,
Mr. Khoza wants to allow visitors such as customers and suppliers to connect mobile devices to get
Internet connectivity. All users with PCs and laptops should still be able to print.
The premises where Mr. Khoza runs his business has six offices (rooms). All the rooms are located
on the same floor. Mr. Khoza has an office and does not share office space. There are two open-
plan offices, the first open-plan office houses seven desktops and the remainder of the PCs are
housed in the second open-plan office. Two laptop users share an office while the other three
laptop users share a separate office. A small storeroom has been selected for use as a server room.Mr. Khoza is looking at opening two new offices within twelve months, one in Roodepoort and
the other in Pretoria North. The two branches will be launched at the same time. The
Roodepoort branch is expected to launch with ten computer users. The Pretoria North branch is
expected to kick off with 25 users.
Q.1.1 With all the work completed in Part 2 and additions to this Part, you are required to write
a network proposal for Mr. Khoza’s network. The network solution for Mr. Khoza must
enable all offices to connect, work remotely, communicate and share information.The details of the QoS involved.
In order to meet the requirements of Mr. Khoza's business, a network solution must be designed that provides secure connectivity, supports remote work, facilitates communication, and allows for information sharing. Additionally, quality of service (QoS) considerations should be taken into account to ensure reliable and efficient network performance.
1. Network Infrastructure:
- Implement a wired network infrastructure using Ethernet cables to provide reliable and fast connectivity between devices within each office. This will ensure consistent performance and minimize the risk of interference or signal loss.
- Use network switches to connect devices within each office and to connect the offices together.
- Install wireless access points in each office to provide Wi-Fi connectivity for laptops and other mobile devices.
- Implement a firewall at the network perimeter to secure the network from external threats.
2. Internet Connectivity:
- As the current setup relies on 3G dongles, it is recommended to upgrade to a more stable and higher bandwidth internet connection. An ISP should be selected that can provide a dedicated and reliable internet connection based on the business needs.
- Consider implementing a failover solution using a secondary ISP or a backup connection such as cellular data to ensure internet connectivity in case of an outage.
3. Virtual Private Network (VPN):
- Set up a VPN server to enable secure remote access for employees working from outside the office. This will ensure that data transmitted between the remote workers and the company's network is encrypted and protected.
- Provide VPN clients or applications to employees to facilitate easy and secure access to the network.
4. Communication and Collaboration:
- Implement a VoIP (Voice over IP) solution to enable cost-effective and efficient communication between employees. This can include features such as call forwarding, voicemail, and conference calls.
- Deploy a unified communication platform that integrates voice, video, and messaging to allow employees to communicate and collaborate seamlessly.
- Consider implementing a video conferencing solution to facilitate remote meetings and discussions.
5. File and Printer Sharing:
- Set up file servers to centralize and secure the storage of business data. This will simplify access and sharing of files between employees and enable data backups and data protection.
- Implement network-attached printers to replace the existing USB-connected printers. This will enable users to print directly from their devices over the network without the need for USB flash drives or email transfers.
6. Branch Office Connectivity:
- To connect the future branch offices in Roodepoort and Pretoria North, consider implementing virtual private network (VPN) tunnels between the main office and the branches. This will provide secure connectivity for the branch offices and allow employees to access resources and systems located in the main office.
- Configure appropriate firewall settings and access controls to ensure secure and controlled access between the main office and the branch offices.
7. Quality of Service (QoS):
- Implement QoS policies on the network infrastructure to prioritize critical traffic, such as voice and video, over less important traffic.
- Utilize traffic shaping and bandwidth management techniques to ensure that essential services and applications have sufficient bandwidth and a consistent level of performance.
Overall, the proposed network solution aims to provide a secure and reliable network infrastructure that supports remote work, facilitates communication and collaboration, enables file and printer sharing, and allows for future expansion to branch offices. The inclusion of QoS measures ensures that critical services are prioritized, leading to optimal network performance.