A major part of the work involved in moving a large office is the networking design. Within the network layout are all the computers, cables, routers, servers, and switches that connect the system together to provide internet service.
Due to the complexity of the structure, this work is normally performed by an IT team consisting of engineers and trained IT designers.
Planning a Secure Network Design
A great deal of planning is involved to ensure a secure network design installation. Akin to the blueprint designs created to erect a home or building, all the details are sketched out to indicate where computer, routers and servers will be placed to map the network of cables and wires to connect them. Equally important is the plan to ensure security of the system. Determining a realistic amount of speed needed for the moment and future growth will keep costs in check.
Redundancy
In the event one line fails, a backup can relay the data. Large file uploads and downloads often cause data transfers to come to a standstill. Many of us have experienced this problem with our home internet connections. Setting up redundancy to alleviate the data backup will ensure everyone in the network can work without data transfers coming to a halt. Redundancy can be accomplished with dual optic fibers connecting from the wire closets to the switches. Default gateway redundancy is important to integrate into any secure network design to prevent failures.
Local Area Network (LAN)
Creating a local area network requires the IT specialist understand what the customer’s networking requirements are and configure a networking hierarchy to fit. Get too complex for the customer to handle and the customer will be overwhelmed. If the customer has an IT team to handle maintenance, the IT designer’s plan will be better maintained by the business. Designing a secure local area network involves a balance of the customer’s needs and ability to properly manage the system.
Wireless Networking Design Considerations
Today, most installations integrate wireless solutions into their network. When PoE is available, it is easier to set up local area network access points to achieve this. Today’s phone systems are increasingly using IP PBX systems which offer data storage in the cloud, a modern solution to protecting systems from data loss, equipment breakages and maintenance costs. These systems require the installation of special, PoE switches to deliver the high-power cable data transfer. Even when customers are not ready to make the switch to IP telephony, it is wise to install the switches to ease installation of these systems down the line.
Using standard switches will allow the customer to retain extras if repairs are needed later. Another consideration is regular backups of data. Although you will have redundancies in place to cover power failures, if both lines fail, you want to prevent data loss. Regular backups will protect a customer from losing all information. Installing tools to monitor for failures will keep you up to date when a device goes down to prevent the loss of all methods of relaying data.
