Assessment Proforma 2024-25

Key Information

The Assessment Calendar can be found under ‘Assessment & Feedback’ in the COMSC-ORG-SCHOOL organisation on Learning Central. This is the single point of  truth for (a) the handout date and time, (b) the hand in date and time, and (c) the feedback return date for all assessments.

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes for this assessment are as follows:

1.  Evaluate issues involved in deploying communication networks and their potential security, performance, and dependability implications and trade- offs.

2.  Describe the fundamental principles and protocols of wired and wireless communication networks.

3.  Demonstrate an understanding of performance and dependability evaluation approaches for secure communication networks.

4.  Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of secure communication, including network vulnerabilities and security controls.

5.  Use software tools used to analyse network traffic.

Submission Instructions

The coversheet can be found under ‘Assessment & Feedback’ in the COMSC-ORG- SCHOOL organisation on Learning Central.

All files should be submitted via Learning Central.  The submission page can be found under ‘Assessment & Feedback’ in the CM2108 module on Learning Central.  Your submission should consist of multiple files:

Evidence for Task 2, Network simulation, must be submitted as a link to a video or a video showing screen recording / video. Video must not exceed four minutes and must convey authenticity, e.g. voiceover. No marks will be awarded if the simulation itself is uploaded.

If you are unable to submit your work due to technical difficulties, please submit your work via e-mail tocomsc-submissions@cardiff.ac.uk and notify the module leader Elaine Haigh on HaighE1@cardiff.ac.uk before the deadline.

Assessment Description

Scenario: You are part of the IT team at a medium-sized company, "Teclyn", which specialises in providing technology solutions to various clients. The company has recently expanded, and with this growth comes the need to overhaul and upgrade its existing network infrastructure to support the increased demand and to ensure high availability, security, and performance. The company has an Office split over two floors and its 150 employees benefit from flexible, remote working. You are tasked with designing a scalable and secure networking solution for the company that meets their business needs.

Based on this scenario, complete the following tasks:

1)  Network   Design (20%) Produce a network  design/prototype  for the  Teclyn Network. You will be expected to include your IP addressing scheme and justify your design choices.

a)  Produce a network diagram outlining your network solution including services and facilities  (e.g., printing services, data storage, servers). Include a short justification of your network design choices, showing how your design meets the requirements of the business. [10 marks].

b)  Provide a subnetting scheme based on the network address 172.64.0.0/16. You should include at least one subnet.  Include a short justification of your network addressing decisions, including subnetting or VLAN configuration. [10 marks]

2)  Network Simulation (20%)

a)  Implement a simulation of your network and test connectivity between devices. Your network does not have to include all devices   but should demonstrate the main components and functions of the  network.   You  will need to submit a screencast or video of a running networking simulation tool such as Packet Tracer, or a small network using Raspberry Pis or similar (not provided). [20 marks].

3)  Networking Services and Protocols (15%)

a)  Explain, using worked through examples, how protocols are used to transfer data across the above  network to  perform tasks  such as sending an email; printing a document; uploading files to a server; accessing the network remotely. Outline common protocols used at all seven layers of the OSI 7-layer model.   Explain encapsulation, referring to protocol header information, and how this is used to control protocol behaviour, giving worked through examples of common networking protocols.  You may use a packet capture tool such as

Wireshark to generate data packets to use as illustrative examples.  All discussion should be related to the scenario, and while you do not have to implement features in your simulation in order to include them in the discussion, you should make it clear if you have done so and show screenshots as evidence.  Indicative length - 500 words. [15 marks].

4) Network Security (15%)

a)  Discuss your network in relation to Access Control and other security issues. Explain how your network upholds the principles of information security, justifying your choices and evaluating the effectiveness of security controls, using examples.  You should include any additional control measures not covered in your network design that could mitigate common vulnerabilities as recommendations but ensure that you highlight any that you have implemented.  Indicative length - 500 words [15 marks].

5)  Network Performance (20%)

a)  Explain  how  your   network  upholds  high  performance,  using  examples  of potential performance issues and showing how your network mitigates this. Describe how performance can be measured. You do not have to include these measures in your simulation but ensure that you highlight any that you have implemented.  Indicative length - 250 words [10 marks].

b)  Explain how your network upholds dependability, using examples of potential service issues and showing  how your  network mitigates this.  Describe  how network dependability can be measured. You do not have to  include these measures in your simulation but ensure that you mention any that you have implemented.  Indicative length - 250 words [10 marks].

Report writing and referencing: 5 marks will be awarded for clarity and structure of your report, and 5 marks for accurate and consistent referencing.