International Plastics Inc: IT Network Infrastructure Analysis Report

This report offers a comprehensive analysis of the IT network infrastructure for International Plastics Inc., examining the networks of its headquarters, including the China branch, and other global locations. It identifies the protocols, standards, and cabling types in use, followed by an assessment of network performance and a detailed identification of potential risks and failures, such as outdated hardware and security vulnerabilities like MITM attacks. To mitigate these issues, the report proposes a new network design, including upgrading to faster T2 ISPs, implementing firewalls, and utilizing fiber optic cabling with an enterprise LAN topology, including UPS. The conclusion summarizes the analysis and proposed solutions, emphasizing the importance of the upgrades for improved network reliability and security.

Running head: IT NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
IT Network Infrastructure
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Summary
The purpose of this report is to analyse the networks of the corporation headquarters, the
headquarters at china as well as that of other branches and identify the protocols, standards
and cabling type in use. Based on this the performance of the network and is discussed and
the risks and failures are identified. To mitigate such risks a network design is proposed and
the solutions discussed, after which conclusions are given.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Description.................................................................................................................................4
Brief of Organization.............................................................................................................4
Network Infrastructure and Security Risks............................................................................4
Proposed Network..................................................................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
This report analyses the network of corporation HQ, the china HQ as also networks of
other branches and identifies protocols, standards and type of cables being used. The report
begins reviewing the existing network layout the risks and failures are identified. To mitigate
such risks a network design is proposed and the solutions discussed, after which conclusions
are given.
Description
Brief of Organization
International Plastics Inc manufactures plastic components with office locations
across the world including one station at China. The different branches of the company are
spread over Pontiac, Albany, San Jose and China. The office at San Jose is the company
headquarters. International Plastics Inc is using different telecommunication and networking
standards and protocols for communication between workstations, servers as well as 35 IP
phones across different locations.
Network Infrastructure and Security Risks
The company International Plastics Inc utilizes Wide Area Network (WAN)s to form
the network between the different office buildings. Internet connections are obtained from
tier 3 (T3) Internet Service Providers (ISPs) by each of the office branches situated in the
United States1.
1 Tzou, D., 2016. Liability of Internet Service Providers under Section 337: Why Digital
Models Will Open the Door for ISP Liability on Imports that Infringe a US Patent. IDEA, 56,
p.163.

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Since satellite receivers are installed in both the China headquarters and Corporation
headquarters located in San Jose, USA and the network of headquarters at china only
connects to the Corporation HQ, it is clear that these two networks are connected through
satellite uplinks. These offices appears to be connected in star topology.

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The satellite uplinks are facilitated by ka Band ATM AA1 PVC that offers a data rate of
51.8MB of data rates. Connections to outside T3 based networks are made available through
the VoIP (Voice over IP) data routers. The network within the headquarters resemble a use of
linear bus topology.
However, it must be noted that satellite uplinks as also the T3 lines connecting lines
are no longer as reliable as before since the hardware and physical equipment under use has
aged quite a bit2. This is resulting in the network infrastructure not meeting the continuity in
2 Huang, M., Luo, W. and Wan, X., 2019, April. Research on Network Security of Campus
Network. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1187, No. 4, p. 042113). IOP

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business processes. The repairing and maintenance of the network as a result is leading to
exorbitant investments. Hence there is an urgent requirement to upgrade the existing network.
The risks thus identified are downtimes in the network, power outages, hijacking of
voice communications through Man in the Middle or MITM attack. The linear bus topology
is not suited for the rigorous use of internet today. To address these lingering issues,
immediate upgrade of the network is required. The upgrade should encompass all the possible
branches of the company network.
Publishing.

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Proposed Network
The proposed network consists of acquiring better internet connections from faster T2
ISPs and screening the connection through a firewall before receiving through the company
router3. Next the network follows the enterprise LAN topology efficient use of switches for
both distribution and access purposes to provide connections to individual devices. An
uninterrupted power supply unit is also installed. For cabling of the network fibre optic cables
3 Guardia, M., Haus, E. and Procesi, M., 2016. Growth of Sobolev norms for the analytic
NLS on T2. Advances in Mathematics, 301, pp.615-692.

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are used to enable multiple times bandwidth of 10Base T/coaxial cables4. The firewall takes
care of all information security risks. The UPS ensures power outages do not affect the
network performance and state of the art cabling routers and switches make sure network
failure are prevented.
Conclusion
In conclusion the report analyses networks of corporation HQ, the china HQ as also
networks of other branches and identifies protocols, standards and type of cables being used.
The report begins reviewing the existing network layout the risks and failures are identified.
To mitigate such risks a network design is proposed and the solutions discussed.
4 Korzh, B., Lim, C.C.W., Houlmann, R., Gisin, N., Li, M.J., Nolan, D., Sanguinetti, B.,
Thew, R. and Zbinden, H., 2015. Provably secure and practical quantum key distribution over
307 km of optical fibre. Nature Photonics, 9(3), p.163.

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References
Guardia, M., Haus, E. and Procesi, M., 2016. Growth of Sobolev norms for the analytic NLS
on T2. Advances in Mathematics, 301, pp.615-692.
Huang, M., Luo, W. and Wan, X., 2019, April. Research on Network Security of Campus
Network. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1187, No. 4, p. 042113). IOP
Publishing.
Korzh, B., Lim, C.C.W., Houlmann, R., Gisin, N., Li, M.J., Nolan, D., Sanguinetti, B., Thew,
R. and Zbinden, H., 2015. Provably secure and practical quantum key distribution over 307
km of optical fibre. Nature Photonics, 9(3), p.163.
Tzou, D., 2016. Liability of Internet Service Providers under Section 337: Why Digital
Models Will Open the Door for ISP Liability on Imports that Infringe a US Patent. IDEA, 56,
p.163.