The Network Research Project (NRP) expectations are to explain the concepts you are learning as part of this Networking Fundamentals course. This is not an extensive review of the topic areas, but instead a cursory exploration of any approved topic you find most interesting.
You should consider the additional details below to guide you through completion of the NRP.
Quality is valued over quantity, but quantity is necessary for a quality project submission. It is estimated that 4 – 6 pages (not including the title page) would be necessary to address each Network Research Project (NRP) topic.
Each Network Research Project (NRP) must have an Introduction. The introduction should address the purpose of your project, and an overview of what you will convey to the reader. It should summarize your research project in such a way that readers can rapidly become acquainted with the material. Each NRP must also have a Conclusion. The conclusion should summarize your findings in a succinct manner. The conclusion will regurgitate key points of the research project for the reader. The remaining format will be at your discretion. It is suggested that you review the NRP details under each approved topic below, and outline the project accordingly. You should maintain a consistent format throughout the entirety of the document.
You should use proper grammar, terminology, and expand acronyms in each paragraph they are used. For example, the first time in a paragraph an acronym is used it should be expanded (e.g., University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC)). Thereafter, and as long as you are in the same paragraph, the acronym (e.g., UMGC) can be used. When starting a new paragraph, the rule begins anew. Student should leverage Grammar Essentials to aid in their research submission.
All sources must be cited using the APA 7th Edition. You will need to use multiple sources of information within the NRP. TestOut LabSim may be one of those sources. UMGC offers a Citing and Writing Portal that you should take advantage of. Do not plagiarize any material or content. The use of figures and diagrams is encouraged where appropriate.
You will be allowed to submit the NRP for review by your Professor up to three times under the Assignments tab of our class. The first two draft submissions are not graded, but will receive feedback if you choose to submit during the proposed submission period. If you choose not to submit during the proposed submission period, you will not receive feedback. The proposed submission period for feedback is as follows:
Upon receiving feedback, please make the necessary modifications or updates to your NRP and resubmit to the correct Assignment folder. The final draft is graded and should be submitted by Tuesday of Week 8. You will not receive feedback or have an opportunity to resubmit a draft in Week 8. A submission in Week 8 will be your final, graded version of the NRP. If you are satisfied with your feedback prior to Week 8, you have the ability to submit you final draft early to the Week 8 Assignment folder.
Review the Network Research Project (NRP) grading rubric to understand the expectations, and how the final draft will be graded.
NRP Topic Details
Details on each topic area are provided below to provide further understanding of expectations for the Network Research Project (NRP). You will select one topic area to conduct the NRP. At a minimum, you should address the details provided for each topic area. However, you are not limited by these details. You are encouraged to research and discuss additional aspects under any of these approved topic areas.
Compare and contrast the characteristics of network topologies, types and technologies.
Wired Topologies (logical vs physical, star, ring, mesh, and bus)
Define and give an example of each topology.
Is one topology used more today than others?
Wireless Topologies (mesh, ad hoc, other infrastructure)
Define and give an example of each topology.
Is one topology used more today than others?
Types (LAN, WLAN, MAN, WAN, CAN, SAN, and PAN)
Define and give an example of each type of network.
Technologies that facilitate the Internet of Things (Z-Wave, Ant+ Bluetooth, NFC, IR, RFID, and 802.11)
Define and give an example of each technology.
Describe how these technologies are related.
Summarize cloud concepts and their purposes.
Types of services (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS)
Define and describe each type of service.
Compare and contrast these cloud services are related?
Cloud delivery models (Private, Public, and Hybrid)
Compare and contrast the cloud delivery models.
Connectivity methods
Provide further details on cloud connectivity methods.
Security implications / considerations
Describe security implications and considerations for organizations moving to the cloud.
Describe the relationships between local and cloud resources
Explain devices, applications, protocols and services at their appropriate OSI layers.
Layer 1 (Physical)
Define, describe, and give an example of devices that operate at this level.
Describe how this layer interacts with the layer above.
Layer 2 (Data Link)
Define, describe, and give an example of devices that operate at this level.
Describe how this layer interacts with the layer above.
Layer 3 (Network)
Define, describe, and give an example of devices that operate at this level.
Describe how this layer interacts with the layer above.
Layer 4 (Transport)
Define, describe, and give an example of devices that operate at this level.
Describe how this layer interacts with the layer above.
Layer 5 (Session)
Define, describe, and give an example of devices that operate at this level.
Describe how this layer interacts with the layer above.
Layer 6 (Presentation)
Define, describe, and give an example of devices that operate at this level.
Describe how this layer interacts with the layer above.
Layer 7 (Application)
Define, describe, and give an example of devices that operate at this level.
Describe how this layer interacts with the user.
Explain the functions of network services. Describe why multiple services are needed to a network to function properly.
DNS service (record types, internal vs external DNS, third-party/cloud hosted DNS, hierarchy, forward vs reverse zone)
Define, describe, and give an example of how organizations use DNS.
DHCP service (MAC reservations, pools, IP exclusions, scope options, lease time, TTL, DHCP relay)
Define, describe, and give an example of how organizations use DHCP.
NTP
Define, describe, and give an example of how organizations use NTP.
IPAM
Define, describe, and give an example of how organizations use IPAM.
VoIP
Define, describe, and give an example of how organizations use VoIP.
Simple Network Management Protocol
Define, describe, and give an example of how organizations use SNMP.
File sharing
Define, describe, and give an example of how organizations use File sharing.
WWW
Define, describe, and give an example of how organizations use the WWW.
Printing
Define, describe, and give an example of how organizations use Printing functionality.
Explain the purposes of virtualization and network storage technologies. Define, describe, and highlight the implications of each.
Explain authentication and access controls. Define, describe, and highlight the network security implications of each.
Authorization, authentication, and accounting (RADIUS, TACACS+, Kerberos, Single sign-on, Local authentication, LDAP, Certificates, Auditing and logging)
Multi-factor authentication (something you know, have, are, do, or somewhere you are)
Access Control (802.1x, NAC, port security, MAC filtering, captive portal, access control lists)
Summarize common networking attacks.
DoS (Reflective, amplified, distributed)
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
Social engineering
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
Insider threat
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
Logic bomb
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
Rogue access point
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
Evil twin
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
War-driving
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
Phishing
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
Ransomware
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
DNS poisoning
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
Brute force
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
Exploits vs. Vulnerabilities
Define, describe, and give a recent example.
Compare and Contrast network policies and best practices. Define, describe, and highlight the implications of each.
