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Case Studies
UCF Dormitory 300+ user system
Local Company infrastructure upgrade
Broker with Realtor Web Access
Non Profit Custom CRM solution
Insurance Firm multi location WAN

UCF Dormitory 300+ user system

Business Description: UCF area dormitory with over 300 students. The current network consists of students being provided with a cable modem for internet access. This Cisco Powered network utilizes their CMTS(cable modem termination system) platform with the ability to share access through 3 internet service providers.

Project: Provide a more efficient network to allow all users internet access at anytime. Currently during high utilization the network runs poorly and prevents some students from accessing the internet.

Problems Found:

• No current firewall implementation.
• Extreme amount of Virus Traffic.
• 2-3 users hosting gaming and file sharing servers.
• No QOS (quality of service) implemented.
• ISP wanted the Client to add more Bandwidth.
  

Result: Next Horizon implanted their quality managed network services for this customer. We took their current network infrastructure and redesigned it. We implemented the following items:

• QOS
• NAT
• Policy based routing.
• IOS level Firewall (soon to be adding a state full packet firewall with gateway anti-virus and intrusion protection).
• 2 additional 3 meg DSL lines to provide a balanced oversubscription implementation.
• 1 Load balancing device to virtually bundle all ISP interfaces together with the use of Proxy ARP.

Maintenance: The network now is pretty much self-sufficient. The only maintenance is to monitor for any unusual virus/ P2P traffic and to manually remove these users from the network. The P2P issues will be solved after the implementation of the State full firewall with intrusion protection. Currently with P2P programs they have the ability just jump port numbers so without deeply inspecting the packets for this kind of traffic it is nearly impossible to prevent this traffic. Currently we control this traffic through QOS and Policy routing limiting the amount of traffic P2P programs take on this network.

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Local Company Infrastructure Upgrade

Business Description: Local Company would like to upgrade and implement extensive changes into their network. Their current infrastructure was the following:

• Server Side systems:
  • Currently the network is running on a Microsoft Windows 2003 AD Domain.
  • Both Servers are multi-homed. The 2nd network is connected via fiber for network area storage connectivity.
  • AV Scan is currently in use for virus protection.
  • No current backup solution is in place.
    
    
• Workstation Side Systems:
  • The Network consists of 20 PCs with 2/3rds of the PCs being mobile Laptops.
  • Most of these Laptops are connected via a 802.11b/g wireless access point(s).
  • Most of the network users are not joined to the domain at this time.
  • Stand alone Norton is being utilized at the workstation level.
    
    
• Topology and Network infrastructure:
  • The current topology is a flat network with wireless connectivity.
  • The wireless connectivity is secured via 64bit WEP encryption.
  • The network is Single Homed with 1 exit point via a T1 line.
  • The 1700 router is utilizing an external CSU/DSU to sync and provide clocking for the T1.
  • Freedom4Wireless is responsible for everything past the demarcation point.

Project: The project consisted of the following requirements:

The client presented the following main items that need to be accomplished:

• Customer wants to utilize ACT as a CRM interface for Sales Representatives.
• Customer needs Backup Solution, currently has none.
  • Customer needs open file backup
  • Customer needs to back up Exchange
  • Customer needs to backup 2 additional Servers
• Remote VPN connectivity required.
• No firewall currently in place.(customer chooses to stay with Cisco devices)
• Customer wants to host their own Exchange Bridgehead server.
• Customer wants to host their own Share point Server.

Presented implementation:
The following will be the order and steps for the design, completion and implementation of office Network.

• Step one (suggestions):
  Next Horizon Suggests the following changes to be implemented:
  • Corporate Antivirus Solution. This will eliminate using multiple products. Panda Software with their award winning TruPrevent scans and removes not only viruses but spyware as well.
  • Remove the unnecessary use of an External CSU/DSU
  • APC surge protection. Since client is responsible for everything after the Demark of their T1 surge protection for the local loop is suggested to protect infrastructure equipment.
  • Upgrade to a Robust Exchange Server. Even though a dual P3 450 may meet the minimum requirements to run Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2003 it is highly recommended by all of the IT industry to give Exchange as much resources as possible.
    
    
• Step two:
  This phase would include designing and documenting the current and future network infrastructure. Documentation should include the following:
  • Logical Layout
  • AD Layout
  • IP address Scheme
  • IP Static Host Address Scheme
  • Cabling Layout and Documentation
  • Security Diagram
    
    
• Step three:
  Install Cisco Pix into network. The Pix firewall will allow for PAT with state full inspection as well as the ability for remote office/VPN connectivity. Install and configure a Corporate Anti-Virus Solution.
  
  
• Step four:
  Convert each PC currently on the existing network over to the active directory domain. Backup profiles as needed. Restore profiles as needed. Map drives and install ACT software as needed.
  
  
• Step five:
  Implement and setup Share Point for hosting web content. This will require opening ports on the firewall for this specific server. At this time the Domain Transfer should be started and an external DNS source should have already been selected and setup.
  
  
• Step Six:
  Introduce the new Exchange Server into network. This will require updating the Active Directory Schema. This will require opening ports on the firewall for this specific server. At this time we would setup OWA and open up ports necessary to route mail traffic in and out of the Exchange store. For remote users VPN or OWA access would be available to send and receive employee email. Lastly plan for future deployments.

Result: Currently in process of step 4.

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Broker with Realtor Web Access

Business Description: Local Apartment Broker with mutli-Realtors that need access to a central site to maintain listing information. This will allow the Broker’s realtors to be able to access information about properties no matter where they are at. The Broker also wants the ability to utilize smart phones to update and lookup information on the web.

Project:

• CMS ability to add and update properties.
• Intranet and Extranet.
• User management with ability to assign user rights.
• Dynamic Reporting.
• User Tracking.
• Map Quest Functionality.

Languages and Technologies used: ASP, ASP.NET, C#, SQL 2000, Windows Server 2003

Result: Met all user requirements and currently adding to project on a constant basis. Currently we will be adding multiple CRM solutions to this client.

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Non Profit Custom CRM Solution

Business Description: Local Non Profit Company has the need for custom software development. Their current organization structure utilizes multiple Access Databases. These Access Databases contain a lot of double data and are directly accesses by the employees.

Project:

• CRM ability to manage Members, Contacts, and Education information.
• User management with the ability to assign user rights.
• Dynamic Reporting.
• Ability to map Contact information (emails, meeting scheduling, ect) back to the contact record.
• CMS for public web site with the ability to pull information from CRM information to display on the public web site.

Languages and Technologies used: ASP.NET, C#, SQL 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Crystal Reports

Result: Currently in development with database structure approved and GUI interface approved.

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Insurance Firm multi location WAN

Business Description: Local Insurance Firm with mutli-sites. Headquarters needs access to all remote sites as well as the remote sites need access to Headquarters for enterprise applications and management. Insurance agents need to be able to access information located at Headquarters securely. The Insurance Firm does not want to purchase expensive leased lines to provide this solution.

Project: Next Horizon’s Managed VPN solution helps you reduce communications costs, enhance productivity and increase business opportunities. This fully managed solution combines the industry's leading hardware and software designed to meet the needs of any enterprise.

Technologies used: Ipsec/Isakmp VPN, Sonicwall firewalls, partial T1’s, Windows 2000 Server.

Result: Utilizing VPN solutions reduce the over cost of this customer’s WAN services allowing for split tunneling to enable the ability to connect to remote offices while not flooding the VPN with unnecessary internet traffic.