Network Engineer

Your task for the first week is to design a hypothetical network infrastructure for a mid-sized company. The company has 5 departments, each with 20 employees. The company wants a secure network with efficient data flow. You will need to determine the best network devices (routers, switches, servers, etc.) and topology to use. Write a comprehensive plan outlining your design. Include diagrams to illustrate the network's structure. Explain your choices considering factors such as security, cost, scalability, and performance. This report should be submitted as a DOC file.

This week, you will focus on network security. Your task is to create a detailed security plan for the network infrastructure you designed in Week 1. Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities. Describe the security measures you would implement to protect the network. These could include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, encryption, and more. Ensure to explain why you chose these measures and how they would be implemented. Your report should be detailed, illustrating your understanding of network security principles. Submit your report as a DOC file.

In the third week, you will conduct a performance analysis of your network design from Week 1. Assume that the network has been implemented. Use network simulation tools (like Cisco Packet Tracer) to analyze the network's performance under different traffic loads. Identify any performance issues and suggest improvements. Your report should include screenshots from your simulation as proof of your analysis. Clearly explain your findings and recommendations. Submit your report as a DOC file.

The focus for Week 4 is disaster recovery planning. Assume a disaster (natural or man-made) has severely disrupted the network you designed in Week 1. Create a comprehensive disaster recovery plan. This should include strategies for data backup and recovery, hardware and software recovery, and network infrastructure recovery. Discuss how you would ensure minimal downtime and business continuity during the recovery process. Your report should show a deep understanding of disaster recovery principles. Submit your report as a DOC file.

In the final week, your task is to plan for the scalability of the network designed in Week 1. Assume the company will expand its workforce by 50% over the next three years. Plan how the network infrastructure should grow to accommodate this expansion. Consider factors like additional hardware requirements, bandwidth considerations, and potential changes in network topology. Explain your plan in detail and justify your decisions based on the expected growth. Submit your final report as a DOC file.