IT 212 Project Guidelines and Rubric
Competency
In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competencies:
Explain the func�ons between hardware and so�ware in a network
Design a simple network
Design and implement a secure interconnected network in support of an organiza�on
Scenario
Throughout this course, you have been wri�ng various reports as parts of Milestones One and Two for an adver�sing firm that is opening a new office in Faye�eville, NC.
This mid-size adver�sing firm already has offices in Albany, NY, and Springfield, MA. The Albany headquarters is home to the execu�ve team and 150 employees. The headquarters also
stores the corporate data and is the corporate internet backbone. It hosts the IT department that centrally manages all LAN services, including the wireless LAN. The IT department also
manages the wide area network (WAN) that connects the two offices via site-to-site virtual private network (VPN) tunnels. The Springfield office hosts about 50 employees. Approximately
50% of these employees are mobile, defined as traveling more than 80% of the �me.
To hire and retain the best talent, the firm allows employees to work from home. This removes the constraint that employees have to live within commu�ng distance from the firm’s offices.
Remote and mobile employees are provided access to the corporate network via a VPN client. The VPN client requires employees to have access to reliable internet services to allow for
effec�ve collabora�on across teams and for access to media content. The company provides all employees with a laptop with full disk encryp�on, data loss preven�on (DLP), and an�virus
so�ware. The IT department manages all corporate laptops and has the ability to log into all systems for support. This means that all laptops are centrally managed by the one IT department.
Due to an increase in opportuni�es for expansion to new markets, the firm has embarked on an ini�a�ve to hire and train new college graduates for the company’s Future Vision program.
Future Vision focuses on expansion beyond the regional northeast footprint. The ini�a�ve is to hire graduates into the marke�ng, finance, and IT departments. You were hired as part of the
Future Vision program and have been working at this for some �me now. You have spent a considerable por�on of your �me troubleshoo�ng and analyzing the organiza�on’s computer
network to keep it running smoothly. Your direct supervisor and lead network administrator have been very impressed with your skills and fast learning abili�es.
To determine whether you are ready to take on more responsibility, you have been asked for your input regarding the new Faye�eville, NC, office setup project. Your task is to conduct
research on this area and deliver a report to the team with key considera�ons and recommenda�ons for the setup of the network infrastructure. The Faye�eville office will be home to 50
employees, including the new execu�ve vice president of sales and marke�ng. All the possible sites have offices located in an office building with access to fiber, cable, and T1 internet
service providers. In addi�on to the standard network, the site must support live video teleconferencing calls with employees based at the other sites. It must also reliably send print jobs to
billboard printers located in the company headquarters in Albany.
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Directions
The primary goal of the project is to consolidate your findings from Milestones One and Two and compose a succinct and complete solu�on that you will present to the firm’s execu�ve
leadership team about the type of network they should design and implement at the new loca�on.
It is recommended that you incorporate the feedback you received from your instructor on Milestones One and Two. You can use this feedback to succinctly refine your recommenda�ons
into a polished report.
Specifically, the following areas must be addressed in the report for the project:
I. Key Considera�ons
A. Explain your key considera�ons for the project.
Explain the OSI stack in rela�on to a modern communica�ons network and how it influenced your network design.
Describe the important IP range considera�ons for a company of your size.
B. Summarize, in your own language, the strategic goals of the company, and detail how the network solu�on you are presen�ng aligns with these goals.
Remember that these key considera�ons were addressed in Milestone One:
Communica�ons media and mode of data transport for the new network
Common network hardware components for this new loca�on
C. In addi�on, you can make relevant changes to your report based on your instructor’s feedback from Milestone One.
II. LAN Topology
A. In Milestone One, you described the LAN topology possibili�es and the strengths and weaknesses.
B. Provide your final revised solu�on for op�mal support that may include any feedback from the instructor from previous milestones.
III. Internet Service Provider
A. In Milestone Two, you described the possible ISP solu�ons available to meet the needs of the company in its new loca�on. The sec�on was based on your research into actual
providers at the Faye�eville, NC, loca�on.
B. This sec�on should include an explana�on as to how the chosen internet provider meets the business goals and objec�ves of the firm.
C. Provide your solu�on, along with any feedback from the instructor.
IV. Hardware and So�ware, Printer, and Bandwidth: In this sec�on, you will include these addi�onal parts from Milestone Two in your report. You can use your diagram from Milestone
Two as a star�ng point for these three items.
A. Explain your proposed hardware and so�ware solu�ons to meet the needs of the new office loca�on.
B. Describe your printer configura�on solu�ons to meet the distance prin�ng needs of the new office loca�on.
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This could include considera�ons for tracking devices, automa�ng driver distribu�on, and controlling access.
C. Explain your bandwidth and device solu�ons to meet the teleconferencing needs of the new office loca�on.
V. Poten�al Errors: In this sec�on, you will discuss common network errors and how your proposed solu�on will minimize and address these issues.
A. Based on your previous report, an�cipate common network errors that the new loca�on may encounter.
B. Describe effec�ve troubleshoo�ng approaches to the errors you iden�fied, such as problem isola�on, trace rou�ng, and pinging.
C. Explain how these approaches would ensure the resolu�on of the errors. Be sure your response is specific to the business loca�on.
VI. Addi�onal Considera�ons: In this sec�on, you will make recommenda�ons for industry standard documenta�on for ongoing network support.
A. Iden�fy op�ons for network monitoring that includes maintenance for network hardware and so�ware (for example, port scanning, interface monitoring, packet flow monitoring,
etc.).
B. Iden�fy patch management op�ons that will help acquire, test, and install mul�ple patches on exis�ng applica�ons.
C. Describe how you will control inventory, including how to discover and track assets on your network.
As you develop your work, con�nue to look back on and consider each of these key elements. Remember, wri�ng is a process that unfolds over �me, and it typically requires reconsidera�on
and revision of key elements.
What to Submit
To complete this project, you must submit the following:
Your report must be 3 to 5 pages in length. Use double-spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and APA forma�ng.
Project Rubric
Criteria Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Key Considera�ons Exceeds proficiency in an
excep�onally clear, insigh�ul,
sophis�cated, or crea�ve
manner
Summarizes the key
considera�ons of the new
network
Shows progress toward
proficiency, but with errors or
omissions; areas for
improvement may include
determining the appropriate
communica�ons media and
mode of data transport for the
new network
Does not a�empt criterion 10
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Criteria Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
IP Range Exceeds proficiency in an
excep�onally clear, insigh�ul,
sophis�cated, or crea�ve
manner
Designs common IP address
alloca�on techniques as part of
a network
Shows progress toward
proficiency, but with errors or
omissions; areas for
improvement may include
determining a plan to subnet or
further divide the IP network
Does not a�empt criterion 10
LAN Topology Exceeds proficiency in an
excep�onally clear, insigh�ul,
sophis�cated, or crea�ve
manner
Summarizes a solu�on for a
LAN topology that provides
op�mal support for the new
loca�on
Shows progress toward
proficiency, but with errors or
omissions; areas for
improvement may include
describing the LAN topology
possibili�es and the strengths
and weaknesses
Does not a�empt criterion 10
Internet Service Provider Exceeds proficiency in an
excep�onally clear, insigh�ul,
sophis�cated, or crea�ve
manner
Iden�fies the ISP solu�on best
available to meet the needs of
the company in its new
loca�on
Shows progress toward
proficiency, but with errors or
omissions; areas for
improvement may include
demonstra�ng how the chosen
internet provider meets the
business goals and objec�ves
Does not a�empt criterion 10
Hardware and So�ware,
Printer, and Bandwidth
Solu�ons
Exceeds proficiency in an
excep�onally clear, insigh�ul,
sophis�cated, or crea�ve
manner
Iden�fies hardware and
so�ware solu�ons to meet the
needs of the new office
loca�on
Shows progress toward
proficiency, but with errors or
omissions; areas for
improvement may include
iden�fying appropriate
solu�ons in regard to hardware
and so�ware, printers, and
bandwidth
Does not a�empt criterion 10
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Criteria Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Poten�al Errors Exceeds proficiency in an
excep�onally clear, insigh�ul,
sophis�cated, or crea�ve
manner
Describes common network
errors that the new loca�on
may encounter and how the
approaches ensure the
resolu�on of the errors
Shows progress toward
proficiency, but with errors or
omissions; areas for
improvement may include
specifically describing common
network errors, such as router
and firewall issues that the new
loca�on may encounter, and
how the approaches ensure
resolu�on of the errors
Does not a�empt criterion 20
Troubleshoo�ng Exceeds proficiency in an
excep�onally clear, insigh�ul,
sophis�cated, or crea�ve
manner
Describes effec�ve
troubleshoo�ng approaches to
the errors iden�fied
Shows progress toward
proficiency, but with errors or
omissions; areas for
improvement may include
describing specific approaches
to the iden�fica�on of errors
such as problem isola�on, trace
rou�ng, and pinging
Does not a�empt criterion 10
Addi�onal Considera�ons Exceeds proficiency in an
excep�onally clear, insigh�ul,
sophis�cated, or crea�ve
manner
Addresses considera�ons for
industry standard
documenta�on for ongoing
network support
Shows progress toward
proficiency, but with errors or
omissions; areas for
improvement may include
specific considera�ons for
networking concepts, such as
network monitoring, patch
management, and inventory
control
Does not a�empt criterion 10
Ar�cula�on of Response Exceeds proficiency in an
excep�onally clear, insigh�ul,
sophis�cated, or crea�ve
manner
Clearly conveys meaning with
correct grammar, sentence
structure, and spelling,
demonstra�ng an
understanding of audience and
purpose
Shows progress toward
proficiency, but with errors in
grammar, sentence structure,
and spelling, nega�vely
impac�ng readability
The submission has cri�cal
errors in grammar, sentence
structure, and spelling,
preven�ng understanding of
ideas
10
Total: 100%
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