IFSM 370 Project 3: Case Study Instructions
Introduction
This is an individual project. The target audience will be the organization’s senior leadership, the founders. The Case Study deliverable is an MS Word document. The completed Case Study deliverable is due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the due date shown in the Course Schedule. See the Additional Information section of the syllabus for the penalty for late or missed assignments and projects.
The Case Study is valued at 16% of the course grade.
Case Study
Company Overview
FractalApps is a software development start-up. It was founded by three friends who went to undergrad school together at the University of Maryland. They founded their startup recently and set up headquarters at the condo of the two founders in Washington, DC. They have focused their attention on mobile app development and have developed and successfully marketed a popular app for job seekers. Now they are expanding their company into a full-fledged software development house.
They have recently received a cash infusion from an angel investor in Silicon Valley and are ready to build out their business. Their plan is to have three locations: a small headquarters in DC where the founders and senior staff reside, a sales office based in NYC (Brooklyn), and a development house in San Francisco where the bulk of the developers live and work.
They are looking for you to develop a network design for their business. They are seeking a standardized LAN design (using consistent hardware/software) for the three offices, and a cost-effective WAN design that allows all of their staff to communicate and collaborate quickly, efficiently, without a lot of network delay. The network should support both their voice and data needs.
Further, they require a secure way for mobile workers to remote into the network and participate as if they were in the office. Many of the sales staff are in the field, as well as the development staff who want to be able to work practically anywhere. A VPN solution is what they are seeking but need guidance on what the hardware/software requirements are.
The Deliverable
Using this case study, you are to identify a minimum of five (5) requirements, analyze them, and offer a proposal that provides FractalApps with a converged network solution and explains how the components of the solution, and the solution as a whole, meet the identified requirements. The proposed solution must address each of the requirements identified. At least one network diagram must be incorporated to illustrate your proposed solution. You should do some research to address the cost issues and defend the proposed solution from a cost-benefit perspective. This is to be a general analysis of the benefits versus the cost of a converged network, not a full cost-benefit analysis with cost data.
Your plan and network diagram(s) includes three locations and how they interconnect: a small headquarters in DC where the founders and senior staff reside, a sales office based in NYC (Brooklyn), and a development house in San Francisco where the bulk of the developers live and work.
In your plan and diagram(s) you don’t need to specify the number of workers or workstations in each location, but you need to address the number of locations and type of network connections and support they need. The number of employees working at or through (remotely) for any location is not known and can be represented as a small office group in each location.
Note: At least one network diagram must be incorporated to illustrate your proposed solution in Project 3.
Please provide descriptive headings for each of the following four main topic criteria (not the items in the rubric). Designs should be constructed using fundamental network devices (devices, switches, routers, cables, servers, etc.) at each location. A design submitted that simply depicts a connection to and from a cloud-based a service provider will be graded as zero.
1. Identify five specific business requirements that relate to the design and implementation of the network.
2. Define the most appropriate cabling for the local area network(s); define the network components in the local area network and explain your reasoning for selecting each of these.
3. Define the wide area network infrastructure (technology); define the network components in the wide area network and explain your reasoning for selecting each of these.
4. Define the VPN components (hardware/software) for the organization. Explain what components go where, and what is required on the mobile devices. Justify your recommendation.
Your deliverable will be a 4 – 5-page Microsoft Word document. The page count includes the diagram(s) but does not count the cover page and references page. At IFSM 370 Project 3: Case Study Instructions least two (2) external sources (other than the assigned readings and other course materials) must be used, and citations and references must be in APA format.
Your paper will be scored according to the Scoring Rubric below. Be sure you have incorporated all required aspects of the assignment.
Scoring Rubric
Attribute Full points Partial points No points Possible Points
Business
Requirements
Analysis Analysis covers five requirements, defining them and providing explanations of each; and demonstrates understanding of course concepts, analysis, and critical thinking. Analysis covers one to four requirements, and/or lacks definitions and/or explanations for each; and may be
lacking in demonstration of understanding of course concepts, analysis, and/or critical thinking. Analysis is not included or does not
identify any requirements. 3
LAN Technology solution An appropriate technology solution is provided, including cabling and all network components in the local area network(s). Thorough explanation of the reasoning for selecting each of the LAN components and
all identified requirements are addressed. A technology solution is partially provided for the local area network(s). An explanation of the reasoning for selecting each of the LAN components and
all identified
requirements may be included. No technology solution is provided. 4
WAN Technology
solution An appropriate technology solution is provided, including infrastructure and all network components in the wide area network(s). Thorough explanation of the reasoning for
selecting each of the WAN components and all identified requirements are addressed. A technology solution is partially provided for the wide area network(s). An explanation of the reasoning for
selecting each of the WAN components
and all identified requirements may be included. No technology solution is provided. 4
Attribute Full points Partial points No points Possible Points
VPN Technology An appropriate technology solution, including VPN components
(hardware/software) is provided and thoroughly
explained/justified. It addresses all identified requirements. A technology solution is partially appropriate and/or partially explained. It may only partially address the requirements. No technology solution is provided. 3
External research More than two sources other than assigned course readings or materials are incorporated and used effectively. One or two sources other than the assigned readings and course materials may be used but are not properly incorporated or used and/or are not effective or appropriate. No external research is incorporated. 1
Document format The document
reflects effective organization and correct sentence structure, grammar, and spelling; it is presented in a professional format; it
incorporates illustrations or diagrams; and references are appropriately incorporated and cited, using APA style.
At least one network diagram is incorporated to illustrate the proposed solution. The document is not well-organized, and/or contains grammar and/or
spelling errors; it does not contain appropriate illustrations or diagrams; and/or it does not follow APA style for references and citations. At least one network diagram may be incorporated to illustrate the proposed solution. The document is extremely poorly written and does not convey the information.
No network diagram is incorporated to illustrate the proposed solution. 1
Total Points: 16
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Instructions for IFSM 370 Project 3: Case Study
Introduction
This is a one-of-a-kind project. The organization’s senior leadership, including the founders, will be the target audience. An MS Word document serves as the Case Study delivery. On the due date listed in the Course Schedule, the completed Case Study deliverable must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The penalty for late or missed assignments and projects is listed in the Additional Information section of the syllabus.
The Case Study accounts for 16% of the overall course grade.
Overview of the Case Study Company
FractalApps is a startup that specializes in software development. It was formed by three buddies who attended the University of Maryland as undergrads together. They recently launched their business and have set up shop at the two’s condo.
