Converged Network Solution for Catacomb

This assignment requires students to create an architectural diagram that illustrates the placement of security and other technologies within a converged network solution for Catacomb, Inc., a global logistics provider. The diagram should be accompanied by a one-page description of the proposed technology solution and a list of business requirements, including security requirements. The deliverable is a single MS Word document with a maximum page limit of 2 pages.

Introduction
This is an individual project. This project is related to the Case Study project. Each
student must complete an Architectural Diagram that illustrates the placement of
security and other technologies within the converged network solution. The foundation
for this project is the requirements analysis and proposal document that you completed
for the Case Study project. The target audience will be the organization’s Chief
Information Officer (CIO). The Architectural Diagram deliverable is an MS Word
document.
.
Case Study
Company Overview
Catacomb, Inc. is a global logistics provider that offers fully integrated freight and supply
chain services through managed warehousing and domestic and international freight
forwarding. Services range from door-to-door domestic and international delivery
services to total supply chain management. With branches across the United States and
Europe and partners worldwide, Catacomb continues to expand, and it has experienced
rapid growth through acquisitions.
Note: The term supply chain refers to all the elements involved in bringing an
organization's products from the raw-goods stage to the customer.
The Association for Operations Management (APICS) dictionary
((http://www.apics.org/Resources/APICSDictionary.htm) defines “supply chain
management (SCM)” as the design, planning, execution, control, and monitoring of
supply chain activities with the objective of creating net value, building a competitive
infrastructure, leveraging worldwide logistics, synchronizing supply with demand and
measuring performance globally.

The Business Challenge
Catacomb is competing in an environment where freight transport is as much about
keeping customers informed as it is about on-time delivery. The company has adopted
web-based technologies for tracking freight, differentiating its services, keeping
customers informed, and ensuring the on-time delivery that is Catacomb's hallmark. As
a result, Catacomb enjoys a very high level of customer satisfaction.
Its mobile workforce has rapidly increased, with drivers using PDAs to scan
consignments, which are then synced in real time via GPRS links to headquarters
applications that track the consignments. Customers use Catacomb’s web services to
view the progress of orders, from dispatch to warehousing to final delivery. Customers
also use Catacomb’s web-based systems to create freight documentation and generate
reports. With the EDI interface, invoices and payments are transferred directly between
the customers' systems and Catacomb, saving both time and money.
As the company has expanded, the data flowing in the system have increased as well.
Now, with more than 5,000 employees and thousands of customers worldwide,
Catacomb is suffering from the effects of explosive growth. Demands on its wide area
network (WAN) are exceeding capacity. The main data center has experienced several
network outages and unscheduled downtime. The aging ISDN telephone system is
failing, as the company has avoided the costly upgrades necessary to keep it operating
at optimal performance. Telephone bills have increased without warning, and the voice
mail system is overloaded.
The Opportunity
Catacomb wants to provide increased bandwidth between all 47 of its US offices and
the main data center. There are five (5) metropolitan areas that have four (4) to eight (8)
Catacomb locations that need to coordinate among themselves: Baltimore, Chicago,
Dallas, Kansas City, and San Diego. The company desires a reliable and secure
network to accommodate its planned growth as well as the unexpected.
The company does not want to spend any more on telephone services than it does
today, and its goal is to upgrade the services while protecting against escalating costs
from its ISDN service provider.
Efficiency and productivity goals for this rapidly growing company are of paramount
importance, and there is a desire to provide capabilities and services that incorporate
technology solutions to improve in those areas as well as retain the high level of
customer satisfaction. Catacomb is also interested in reducing travel between its sites
by implementing video conferencing.
In addition, Catacomb wants to be able to monitor and manage data and voice services,
and ensure that capacity and usage is appropriate to its business needs.

The Deliverable
For this assignment, you will use your proposed solution for the Catacomb requirements
analysis. Briefly describe the proposed technology solution and list the business
requirements (including security requirements) that are satisfied. This should be done
on one (1) page. Then provide a diagram that illustrates the placement of various
communications components within the context of developing an effective, efficient,
security posture for the proposed solution for Catacomb's converged network.
Your deliverable is a single 2-page MS Word document that contains:
 A 1-page description of the proposed technology and a list of the business
requirements (including security requirements);
 An architectural diagram that illustrates the placement of various communications
components; and
 Contains the following section headings:
o Description of the Proposed Technology Solution
o Architectural Diagram
The architectural diagram can be developed using other applications (MS Visio or
PowerPoint, CAD, etc.). However, the diagram must be incorporated into the MS Word
document as a bitmap, gif, jpeg, etc. It must be properly positioned (centered) on the
page and must not be off-centered or bleed over the edges or margins of the page.
Description of
the Proposed
Technology
Solution
Description of the
technology solution,
including the business
and security
requirements, clearly
outlines the proposed
converged network
components contained
in the diagram. The
description
demonstrates
understanding of course
concepts, analysis, and
critical thinking.
Description of the
technology solution,
including the
business and
security
requirements,
partially outlines the
proposed converged
network components
contained in the
diagram. The
description does not
fully demonstrate an
understanding of
course concepts,
analysis, and critical
thinking.
Description of the
proposed
technology solution
is not included.
2

Communications
components are
clearly identified
Communications
components are clearly
identified; properly
labeled; and are
applicable to the
proposed technology
solution. Work
demonstrates
understanding of course
concepts, analysis, and
critical thinking.
Communications
components
identified are
somewhat
appropriate; they
may only partially
address the business
requirements of the
proposed solution.
No architectural
diagram is
provided.
3
Technology
diagram
Communications
component layout is
appropriately integrated
in the architectural
diagram. Work
demonstrates
understanding of course
concepts, analysis, and
critical thinking.
Communications
component layout
somewhat
appropriately
integrated into the
architectural
diagram; work may
be lacking in
demonstration of
understanding of
course concepts,
analysis, and/or
critical thinking.
No architectural
diagram is
provided.
3
Diagram quality The architectural
diagram is professionally
presented, is clear, and
appropriately conveys
the information.
The architectural
diagram could be
clearer, and/or could
be improved to
adequately convey
the information.
No architectural
diagram is
provided.
1
Document format The document reflects
effective organization
and correct sentence
structure, grammar, and
spelling; it is presented
in a professional format;
and any references used
are appropriately
incorporated and cited,
using APA style.
The document is not
well-organized,
and/or contains
grammar and/or
spelling errors;
and/or it does not
follow APA style for
references and
citations.
The document is
extremely poorly
written and does
not convey the
appropriate
information.
1
Total Points 10