Answer

Study Project 1 Proposal

Project outline

Smalltown High School is one of the best performing organisations in the district and has been one of the top 3 leading institutions of learning. The organisation has 1,000 students and 60 members of staff including 40 teachers. However, the organisations’ existing network infrastructure is ineffective considering the current advancements in technology. In specific, the central hub of the schools can only supply internet to the computer laboratory, the main offices but is slow and ineffective in the classes and school compounds.

The school’s population is growing, and there is a need for installation of a network infrastructure which promotes the use of fibre links and ensures high fast internet to the various offices in the organisation. In specific, the new design ought to provide wireless access to different persons and areas using the internet in the institution. The main high school core router should be able to serve all the other servers and ensure that the connectivity does not regularly buffer and students and staff can enjoy the high-speed internet.

Figure 1: Current network infrastructure in Smalltown High School

The proposed project aims to change the current network infrastructure and ensure a better learning environment for both the students as well as the members of staff. Additionally, the proposed project will ensure that the network used is not only safe but also secure. Moreover, it will be the goal of the project to make sure that the system is maintained under budget. Modernising the existing infrastructure will ensure that Smalltown high school will meet its organisational goals.

Project description

One of the critical challenges faced by the existing network infrastructure in Smalltown High School is poor network performance. In specific, the organisation’s network does not give the right equipment at the endpoints and midpoints which impedes its ability to provide high-speed communication required in the contemporary classroom. Apart from the speed, the reliability of the network is in question as it experiences a lot of buffering. The current network design is unable to handle spikes in load and provide alternative routes when a specific link fails. The other challenge is that of security as the existing network infrastructure does not effectively block unauthorised outside traffic from the internet network and thus the data of its students are at risk. Moreover, Smalltown High School is facing high costs related to the maintenance of the current infrastructure because it is experiencing various issues. As such, the proposed project will aim to modernise this infrastructure to address the problems of speed, reliability, efficiency, and security among others.

The proposed project seeks to install a new network infrastructure which still provides high-speed communication in both the endpoints as well as the midpoints especially due to the contemporary applications being used in the institution. Additionally, the new network design will ensure that spikes in loads are well handled and alternative routes are installed to enable communication to continue irrespective of whether one of the links has failed. Moreover, with the new infrastructure, the security of the network will be improved. In specific it will contain encryption which will help protect traffic. Other tools will be deployed to provide comprehensive solutions to the current problem and ensure high monitoring and management of the infrastructure. The rules in the firewalls will be kept up-to-date as the current system of manually applying policies has resulted in massive errors and inconsistencies. With the increase in the number of devices which are attached to the network, the new infrastructure will reduce the possibility of potential points of failure.

Figure 2: Proposed network infrastructure for Smalltown High School.

Some of the challenges which will be encountered in the implementation of the proposed change of network infrastructure will be the costs to be incurred. Notably, the institution is a public school and thus a not for profit organisation.  However, through grants from well-wishers as well as the monies to be contributed by the patents of the students, then the costs of the infrastructure will be addressed.  Ensuring the efficient learning of the students will be a key outcome after the modernization of the network. Additionally, high speeds would be witnessed coupled with better security which will protect users from external unauthorized attacks. The school’s confidential information will be protected and the costs of maintenance of the network infrastructure will be lowered from the current high amounts.   The server environment will adopt new topologies in modern IT and thus ensure ease in communications.

Time plan