Final Project Overview
There are many factors that must be considered when designing a network, including
the number of users, the location(s), and information security. If the network is being
designed as a hotspot for a local coffee shop, the security concerns are not as great as
a network created for a bank. Imagine that a business wants to expand from strictly
brick and mortar to add the ability for online customers to place orders. How does the
business keep its customer information secure and how does it prevent unauthorized
access to its network? As a computing professional, you need to balance network
performance with network security and ensure that you stay within a budget. Once you
have your network designed, you also have to review your design with your peers and
with project stakeholders.
Starting this week and continuing for the next five weeks, you will design a network for a
small business. There are four businesses to choose from:
A. Media Magic is a media design firm located in Kansas City, Missouri. Fifteen
employees work in this firm to create advertising graphics, to develop web page
branding, and to create fliers and other advertising materials. In addition to
artists/designer, there are also web developers and a customer relations team.
The company is moving to a new office space. You have been asked to design a
network for the firm’s new office.
B. Fixin Folks is a chiropractic, physical therapy, and wellness facility located in
Spokane, Washington. The team consists of three doctors, two physical
therapists, four massage therapists, and four office administrators. Currently,
they have three computers all in the front office area. One computer stores
patient contact information and supports appointment scheduling. The other two,
for general use, are commonly used for insurance filing, financial records, e-mail
communications, and word processing. Patient medical records are maintained in
paper form. Fixin Folks have asked you to help design a network that will allow
them to move to paperless records with information entered on tablets when
interacting with patients. They also want the network to allow them to do
scheduling, insurance filing, and other tasks from any computer.
C. Kids Korner is a preschool in Provo, Utah. The owner wants to provide computer
accessibility and training to every child age 2 and older. She has purchased two
computers for every classroom as well as a set of 20 tablets, which can be
carried between classrooms. In addition, there are two computers in the front
office with a student records database and basic office software. The owner has
asked you to design a network that will allow the children to be connected
through computers. However, she has shared concerns about protecting the
private records and controlling the children’s Internet access for safety.
D. Star Smoothie in Summerville, South Carolina specializes in smoothies but also
sells light breakfast and lunch items as well as coffee, tea, and soda. The owner
noticed that many customers bring their computers to do work while enjoying a
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smoothie. He wants to support these customers by offering them wireless
Internet access. A recent customer survey also indicated that many customers
loved the smoothies but were frustrated by the time to wait in line and to wait for
the smoothie to be made. One of the employees suggests that an order-ahead
application would allow customers to choose and pay for a smoothie from their
phones and then just stop in at the specified time to pick them up. The owner
wants to integrate support for making and fulfilling such orders. Currently the only
forms of communication the shop owners have are a telephone and a credit card
machine for payments. The owner has asked you to design a network that will
allow customer Internet access, will support the order-ahead idea, and will allow
customers to move inventory, finances, and other records to electronic systems.
Whether you choose to design a network for Media Magic, Fixin Folks, Kids Korner, or
Star Smoothie, your process is the same. During Week 4 and Week 5, you will conduct
a needs analysis to generate a set of design requirements. During Week 5 and Week 6,
you will design the network and create a diagram of it. During Week 7 and Week 8, you
will create a short presentation to explain the design to the business stakeholders.
Throughout, you will be sharing your work with colleagues in class and will be providing
one another feedback and additional ideas.
Each project deliverable is described in the appropriate weekly area. Project deliverable
deadlines are:
Week 4, Day 3: Post a needs analysis description to the Discussion forum.
Week 4, Day 5: Provide your colleagues feedback on their needs analysis.
Week 5, Day 7: Submit a design requirements list.
Week 6, Day 2: Post the first draft of your network diagram to the Discussion
forum.
Week 6, Day 5: Provide your colleagues feedback on their network diagram.
Week 6, Day 6: Submit the final draft of your network diagram.
Week 8, Day 5: Submit your presentation.
There are no deliverables in Week 7; however, you should be working during this week
to develop your needs analysis, network diagram, and presentation.
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