EZY Books Network Design Proposal: Streamlining Business Processes

This report provides a network design proposal for EZY Books, a book publishing company aiming to modernize its IT infrastructure and communication systems. The proposal addresses the limitations of the current system and suggests a new network layout that incorporates hardware components, wireless technologies, and a central server for efficient data access and communication. It outlines the importance of local and wide area networks (LAN and WAN) with security measures like authentication mechanisms and firewalls. The report also recommends networking services such as Network Address Translation (NAT), emailing, extranet, and intranet to enhance security and communication. Furthermore, it suggests cloud storage for secure data storage and backup, along with a client-server model for data processing. The proposed network design aims to improve customer experience, streamline internal communication, and ensure data security for EZY Books.

Network Design Proposal
Student’s name
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Network Design Proposal
Executive Summary
Most businesses nowadays have their own IT infrastructure and a networking system that
connects their users. The network system of any institution will determine the efficiency of
running their operations. An organization’s activities will determine the networking system that
developers will create and its layout for the firm. The layout of the network should assist the
business in meeting the objectives of the company EZY Books is a book publishing company that
wants to change from the old-fashioned ways of paper form in communicating among its staff
and customers and adopt an IT approach in achieving the same. The management of the
organization has decided to set up a new networking solution and do away with the current
structure as it is an old version that will need multiple patches to fix making it costly and may
still fail to offer a long lasting solution to the company's problems (Hou, Qiu, He & Gao, 2017,
p.301). The following is a report that offers an analysis to the factors that the management
should consider in developing the network layout of the company. Any alternative that the
company chooses should be based on the network infrastructure which comprises of the
devices in use, cabling plan, local and wide area network types and the convergence of network
and integrated communications. The alternative should also include the best networking
services that the institution should incorporate plus a data processing facility offering solution
to data storage and a data processing model. EZY-Books should set-up a network layout that
will allow its users to easily connect and navigate through their system with minimal technical
difficulties, and safe connections with strong security measures. Hopefully, the management of
the business will find this report useful in finding a solution to their networking challenges.
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary...............................................................................................................................2
Introduction..........................................................................................................................................4
Network Infrastructure......................................................................................................................4
Network Convergence and Cabling plan..................................................................................4
Local Area Network and Wide Area network...........................................................................5
Networking services..........................................................................................................................5
Network Address Translation......................................................................................................5
Emailing............................................................................................................................................5
Extranet.............................................................................................................................................5
Intranet..............................................................................................................................................6
Data Processing facilities.................................................................................................................6
Data Storage....................................................................................................................................6
Data Processing..............................................................................................................................6
Conclusion and Recommendation.................................................................................................6
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Network Design Proposal
Introduction
According to Liao, Hong, Wen, Pan & Wu, (2018) applying technology in running the operations of
a business is now a common technique in most industries. The use of technology and
networking capabilities has helped firms cover a great mile in not only reducing communication
barriers but also boosting the security of their data and information. The network layout of any
business, however, should be robust and easy to use for all users including individuals with
minimal computer knowledge. Customers and employees of EZY books are experiencing delays
and are frustrated with the current system applied in running activities in the firm ((Treasury,
H.M.S., 2011).).The customers find the order processing cycles to be extensive and dislike the
paper forms as they easily get damaged or lost. They prefer an electronic system with
monitoring capabilities that will reduce the work of tracking their records. Employees (Sales
representatives) on the other hand find the current communicating structure of the
organization internally to be slow. They get updates on discounts and promotions late which
creates a challenge in doing their roles. The staff also prefer a centralized server that eases the
gain to access to the company’s information and data. To increase the employees’ satisfaction
and maintain their good reputation on excellent customer experience, EZY books will need to
incorporate a new networking system within their activities. Certain factors will be considered
in the design of the system that will help in arriving at the best networking solution that will
solve the firm’s current issues and still be relevant to their operations in the future as the
company grows (Escobar,Montoya & Galindo, 2018).
The following is an analysis of the factors to consider in creating the new networking system
for EZY Books.
Network Infrastructure
Network Convergence and Cabling plan
The new system will need hardware components added for it to work effectively. The devices that will
be incorporated should fit to meet the needs of the business. For EZY books, they will acquire hardware
components that will offer a secure connection to a common database for the staff members. Devices
obtained should also allow the employees to remotely transmit data among themselves (Fritzsche,
Schweigel & Zhao, 2019, p. 43-52). The hardware components should allow customers to get real-time
output on the placement of their orders, track them and get notified once they are complete. A central
server could be acquired that stores all the company’s information and data in a common database.
Wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi could also be installed to allow for scalability and remote
connectivity (Jin & Chapman, 2018). The central database identifies all the users under the network and
retrieves and organizes data from any device across the system. This will help the staff members in
easily accessing data with less redundancy of information and operations. Staff will be able to easily
carry out their tasks. For example, information updates on discounts and bonuses or memos can be
posted by the management (head office) and accessed by the staff in all branch through the central
server. This reduces the workload of the administrators in transmitting a common message to multiple
recipients and ensures information gets to the intended recipient on time. Remote devices such as
smartphones and laptops could be acquired that enable staff members to operate beyond the work
premises. Users do not necessarily have to be physically in contact to enable communication among
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Network Design Proposal
them. Through wireless technologies and the central server, staff using mobile gadgets such as
smartphones allows them to carry their work with them. Customers to benefit from the remote
communication as they can receive relevant updates from the company anytime (Lee, SOHN & Seok,
2018).
Local Area Network and Wide Area network
The devices connected under a common network will need to be properly organized to check
security threats. A network layout that defines each device and its role in the system is
established. This is the Local Area Network (LAN) for users within the organization and a Wide
Area Network (WAN) that recognizes external devices that are added to the network. For the
local area network, the topology of the network should have an authentication mechanism that
regulates access to information by staff members. The authentication mechanism checks to
ensure any user is authorized to access certain information by use of passwords. User accounts
are created under the LAN that uses a hierarchical approach in classifying staff members (Xu,
Lan, Lin, Khalifa, Bergmann, Hassan & Hu, 2017). For example, the managers and department
heads could each have a user account under the system that categorizes them under one level.
For them to access data and resources related to their role, they will need to fill in their
passwords. Subordinates and lower level staff cannot access the same contents as the network
layout prohibits them. Firewalls could be added to the network limiting unauthorized access by
third parties to the network. External users will have a specified port that allows them access to
the network through the WAN. The port will be configured to limit the users' access to
information only relevant to them. For example, Customers should be able only to view their
records on the system and limit their access to staff and other customers' information (Hou, Qiu,
He & Gao, 2017).
Networking services
Network Address Translation
The networking features of the new system should have networking services with Network
Address Translation (NAT) capabilities. This will add a security feature to the traffic of data
between the organizations’s LAN and the internet. This feature translates the addresses and the
port numbers on the firm's network into a public address that hide the actual address of the
devices in the private network. This assist in reducing unauthorized access to the organization's
internal network resources by unknown users. The management will also be able to regulate
the web addresses that staff members’ access via the company’s network (Menachem, Raikin,
Burstein & Kagan, 2018).
Emailing
Emailing will also be used as a networking service in transmitting files within the network
system (Johannisson, 2017, p.368-386). The private network for EZY books should be configured
with emailing techniques that will assist staff send data to each other. Emails are a simple way
of sending different types of data files. Creating an email address for all staff members in the
company integrated with the central server system will enable the users to send emails easily.
The emailing system will also be secure as it will allow users to send messages to only the staff
members under the private network by implementing a file transfer protocol (FTP). This
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reduces instances of employees sending the organization’s information to irrelevant parties
(Chen, Gan, Li & Hua, 2018).
Extranet
An extranet can also be used in bridging communication between the staff members and
customers. An extranet is a networking service that allows specific individuals to communicate
with the staff members in a private virtual space. The individuals should be crucial to the
organization like suppliers or customers. In our case, EZY books could add a closed virtual place
for their customers to place and track their orders. They will be able to send any further
information directly to the employee they are familiar with. The extranet will also allow the
sales vendors to broadcast information on offers and promotions to the customers in a secure
environment (Barnier, Mueller, Dean & Madrid, 2017).
Intranet
An intranet networking service would also be ideal for the business. The idea of this approach is
somewhat similar to extranet but excludes individuals outside the organization. An intranet is a
private network that is designed to specifically allow only staff members to communicate within
the network. For EZY books, the approach will allow the head office to transmit information to
their branches securely. Users will also be able to send data among themselves without the
need of using third party file sending protocols (Dendooven, & Luisi, 2017).
Data Processing facilities
Data Storage
The organization needs to find a perfect data storage solution. The alternative they choose
should be able to securely protect their data from access to unauthorized personnel and also
offer a backup capability for the data (Turner, 2018). A cloud storage technique would work out
for the business. Cloud computing is a service that offers databases and files storing resources
through the internet. Users are charged for the service and pay for only the service they require
(Li, Li, Huang, Gao, Chen & Chen, 2017, p.1-10). EZY Books could pay for cloud services that offer
storage solutions. Acquiring this service minimizes the operations used in running the
organization's network infrastructure and creates a contingency plan as a backup to the
company's data. Cloud services are also secure. Users are required to set up virtual accounts
with the vendors of the cloud services. This creates an authentication mechanism that allows
only registered users to access the data stored in the cloud (Matsuoka, Masuda, Hase, Yamada &
Fujiwara, 2017).
Voice over IP
The organization needs to develop voice over network protocol. This would assist the company
to deliver voice multimedia and communication sessions over a through the internet protocol
like the internet. The VoIP would enable the company to have dynamic interconnections
among their clients
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World Wide Web
This would help to avail the products of the company to all users over the internet. The clients
would be able to view the products freely on after another by use of the hypertext links
Data Processing
When it comes to a data processing model that will be used in transmitting data among the
network users, a client-server model (C2S) would be effective for the company. This is a
centralized system whereby the communication framework involves clients who request for
data from a central server (Cao, Wang, Kamel & Kim, 2017, p.1822-1835). The server capabilities
include database, Web, and email while the client’s side has email software’s and web browsers
to request services. For EZY books, the C2S model allows staff to request relevant data from the
central server. The model enables the users to store their data and resources on the server.
This creates a pool of data and resources that can be accessed by any employee in the business.
Sales representatives will find the model effective in getting information that will help them in
running their operations (Mei, Li, & Li, 2017).
Conclusion and Recommendation
EZY books is facing challenges in communication and data management for their employees
and customers. The issue if not addressed will create a negative working atmosphere leading to
employee frustrations. Customers will also view the company as a disorganized firm with little
regard to their satisfaction. Growth for the company will be a challenge if their internal
communication barriers persist. A new networking system will be a win-win situation for the
staff and customers alike. The system if properly designed, will ease the transfer of data and
information within the organization, increase security measures in the networking services used
in transmitting files and create an opportunity for scalability to add more users under the
network. The management, however, needs to come up with a budget plan for the network.
The hardware needed to design the network, switches, routers, and computers are costly and
require one to estimate the amount they are willing to spend on the equipment. A perfect
budget estimate will also assist the management plan for the future growth of the network
infrastructure (Yang, Huang, Li, Liu & Hu , 2017, p.13-53).
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