Individual: LAN/WAN Paper

LAN/WAN Paper
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The organization chosen for this research is Whole Foods Market. The organization is potent for research into the type of networks that would be feasible for the implementation of a safe, secure, and reliable internet connected network. The paper delves into the hardware and software needed to secure the network selected as implemented within the organization. The paper also delves into a comparison between LANs, WANs, and wireless networks. This can be achieved by also explaining the concepts of modern day data communication networks. This will involve explaining switches, routers, and cabling used in such networks in the context of the network selected for the aforementioned organization.
Securing a given network from electronic threats requires strategic implementation of hardware that is specific in the identification and prevention of the said threats. One of the most common hardware implemented for this is the router. The hardware does not function alone; it is paired up with the appropriate software that would serve the technical aspect of detection and prevention (Mir, 2014). CISCO has also been found to implement its own intrusion prevention hardware that may incorporate smart switches that are only allowed to let certain types of information through them. Hardware is also segmented by implementing certain topologies that only provide access to certain sections of a network thus acting as preventative measures.

The software used to provide the system with protection against electronic threats includes antivirus, antimalware, firewalls, virtual private network systems, and web security applications. Antivirus and antimalware are used to provide the system with a capability of detecting programs that would penetrate the system and render natural programs unusable. Antivirus will work with firewalls in detecting programs that are considered harmful to the system (McNamara, 2014). However, while firewalls are mostly installed in local servers and routers, an antivirus will be located in the actual nodes within the network. Antiviruses are used to prevent entry of programs through ports such as the USB port. However, firewalls focus on preventing illegal electronic threats via network connections.
A local area network (LAN) is considered to be a subset of a wide area network. As a result of this realization, it would be prudent to determine the functionality of a LAN before comparing it to Wide Area Network (WAN). A LAN consists of a series of nodes connected within a limited location. In the case of Whole Foods Market, the connection lies in the connection between the different computers within a single premise (Wang & Lu, 2013). The Computers could have a single switch that manages communication ad data transfer between the computers in question. The LAN will occasionally have a server such as an email server or a data server.
A WAN will include a connection between different LANs over a wider area. In the instance of Whole Foods Market, the WAN would constitute individual LANs connected over a larger geographical area. The connection over a land mass could be over wireless means or via fiber. Modern WANs have been found to employ fiber technology which provides less latency and increased performance with regards to the speed (Comer, 2015). The network connection over a WAN could also include different types of networks. For instance, one LAN could be a wireless network while the other could be a cable network. The main difference between the two networks is geographical coverage, with WAN covering a larger geographical area in comparison to a LAN.
The building blocks of a data communication network in the modern business environment will incorporate elements such as switches, routers, and cabling. A switch refers to a device that allows for the connection of more than two nodes within a network. The switch is designed such individual nodes can be connected to the device and allow for the transfer of data from one node to another (Wang & Lu, 2013). Routers offer the same services as a switch. However, they also provide routing tables and firewalls against unwanted software and access. A router serves to direct different packets in the wider scheme of an internet connection, as is the case in a WAN.
Networking cables are the wiring that connects the different devices that make up a WAN and LAN. There are different types of cables; these include the twisted pair, fiber optic cable, and coaxial cable. The twisted pair is often used in Ethernet networks, often twisted with the aim of ensuring that there is a cancellation of electromagnetic interference. These are the most common types of network connections that are employed in the connection of the different nodes within a network. A fiber optic cable will transfer data in the form of light rather than electrons as is the case with Ethernet (McNamara, 2014). The coaxial cable, which is not common in modern networks, provide an enclosure for the actual cabling, thus enclosing the EMI. A wireless network will include a sending and receiving station operating within a given standard, for instance, the 802.11b standard which is the most common for wireless networks.
In conclusion, it is clear to see that implementing a hybrid network for Whole Foods Market is the most feasible solution. A hybrid network would include both LANs and WANs. The reasoning for this solution is that Whole Foods Market operates in a wide are but still operates on a smaller basis such as is the case with individual outlets. Incorporating the different networks into a single hybrid will provide all those participating within the overall network with a means to access the network resources as well as the security needed to ensure the resources are not lost or availed to malicious individuals.
References
Comer, D. E. (2015). Computer networks and internets. Prentice Hall.
McNamara, J. E. (2014). Technical aspects of data communication. Digital Press.
Mir, N. F. (2014). Computer and communication networks. Pearson Education.
Wang, W., & Lu, Z. (2013). Cyber security in the Smart Grid: Survey and challenges. Computer Networks, 57(5), 1344-1371.