Course: ITN 298 Seminar and Project: Networking Capstone

Semester: Fall 2024

Artifact Type: Networking Capstone Project

Project Overview

In this course, I worked a spart of a team to develop a proposed network infrastructure upgrade for a medical office with three locations. The existing network needed improvements to its hardware, software, connectivity, backup capabilities, and security. Our proposed solution focused on creating a more reliable network infrastructure capable of supporting the organization’s growing technology needs while also considering the security and compliance requirements associated with health information.

Network Topology

Final Packet Tracer network topology will be displayed here.

My Contribution

My contributions to the project included helping organize the team’s work, participating in the early planning of the proposed network solution, contributing to the scope documentation, and assisting with the final presentation. During the planning process, I identified several areas that the proposed solution needed to address, including physical security, automated data backup and recovery, redundant connectivity, recovery of applications, and HIPAA compliance. I also contributed ideas related to maintaining access to replicated patient information if the central cite became unavailable.

Within the scope documentation, I contributed to sections covering the project context, disaster recovery, and the closing statement. I also contributed to the Scope of Specifications, which outlined several key components of the proposed solution. The network topology and infrastructure, redundancy and data security, security and compliance training, administrator mobility, and employee training and documentation. Developing this portion of the project required me to consider both the technical requirements of the network and how the organization would successfully implement and maintain the new systems.

I also contributed to identifying challenges and risks that could affect the proposed network upgrade, including installation delays, team coordination, equipment or technical failures, external disruptions, and staff readiness. Considering these risks helped me understand the importance of planning for problems that can arise during the implementation and continued operation of an IT infrastructure. Finally, I helped develop and deliver the team’s presentation, where we presented out proposed solution as a network upgrade for the medical office.

Skills Demonstrated

This project strengthened my understanding of network and systems administration by requiring me to consider how different components of an IT environment work together to support an organization. Planning for areas such as network connectivity, redundancy, data backup, disaster recovery, physical security, and access to critical information helped me understand that a reliable network must be designed for both everyday operations and unexpected system failures.

The project also showed me that network administration involves more than configuring equipment. Technical decisions must support the organization’s operational needs, security requirements, users, and continuity plans. Working through these considerations helped me develop a broader understanding of how network infrastructure can be planned to support an organization’s operational and security needs.