Reference no: EM133818993

Assignment: Evaluation of CyberGuard Firewall Control Dashboard

Background Story

You are the Chief Network Administration Officer for SecureLink Pty Ltd, a small but growing firm in Australia with 50 employees across multiple locations. Your company specializes in providing consulting services, and with the recent expansion, network security has become a top priority. The management has identified the need for enhanced firewall monitoring and control to protect sensitive client data and ensure compliance with industry regulations.

You have been tasked with evaluating a new firewall control and monitoring software called CyberGuard Dashboard V1.5 -2024, developed by SecureNet Solutions. They have never made this type of software before, but have provided your company with a prototype. Your goal is to assess whether this network security prototype software may meet the company's security needs, or they should look at obtaining other suppliers. Your evaluation team will provide recommendations to senior management. Your evaluation team consists of non-information technology personnel.

As part of this assignment, you will work in groups to thoroughly evaluate the CyberGuard Dashboard, analyze the importance of firewalls and network security for your organization, and present your findings.

Assignment Instructions

Part A: Program Evaluation and Comparison (15 points)
Scenario: As the Chief Network Administration Officer, you need to evaluate the CyberGuard Dashboard to determine if it fits the security requirements of SecureLink Pty Ltd.
Instructions:
Feature Evaluation:
Review the CyberGuard Dashboard Brochure and User Guide provided.
Run the CyberGuard Dashboard software in a Chrome Browser.
Evaluate each feature mentioned in the brochure and user guide:
System Health Monitoring
Network Traffic Analysis
Firewall Rule Management
User and Location Monitoring / Audit Logs etc.
Note any discrepancies between the advertised features and the actual functionality of the software. Pay special attention to any technical errors or overstatements in the brochure. Why must this information be correct both from a technical point but also from a company's branding and worthiness.
Strengths and Limitations:
Identify and discuss the strengths of the software. Consider usability, interface design, functionality, and any features that worked exceptionally well.
Identify and discuss the limitations or shortcomings. Highlight features that did not work as expected, were missing, or any technical issues encountered during testing.
Discuss about the user having access to employee's complete profile etc.
What about the licensing agreement? Is it fair. Briefly discuss.
Comparison with Industry Standards:
Research current industry standards and best practices for firewall control and network security tools.
Compare the CyberGuard Dashboard with at least two other industry-leading firewall solutions.
Discuss how CyberGuard measures up in terms of features, security capabilities, user interface, and overall effectiveness.
Deliverable:
A written report (1000-1250 words) that includes:
An introduction to the purpose of your evaluation.
Detailed findings from your feature evaluation.
Analysis of strengths and limitations.
Comparison with industry standards and other firewall solutions.
A conclusion with your recommendation on whether SecureLink Pty Ltd should adopt the CyberGuard Dashboard.

Part B: Critical Analysis of Firewalls and Network Security Importance

Scenario: Given the nature of SecureLink Pty Ltd's business, ensuring robust network security is crucial.

Instructions:
Role of Firewalls:
Explain the fundamental functions of firewalls in network security. Hire Writer Now!
Discuss different types of firewall configurations and rules essential for protecting an organization's network.
Importance of Network Security:
Analyze why network security is vital for organizations like SecureLink Pty Ltd.
Discuss the potential risks and threats, such as cyber-attacks, data breaches, and unauthorized access.
Provide real-world examples of security incidents affecting similar organizations.
Impact of Weak Security Measures:
Examine the consequences of inadequate firewall management and weak network security.
Discuss legal, financial, and reputational impacts on organizations.
CyberGuard's Role:
Reflect on how tools like the CyberGuard Dashboard can aid in enhancing network security.
Discuss any features of CyberGuard that particularly align with the security needs of SecureLink Pty Ltd.
Group / Team Work Reflection:
Reflect on any positive or negative issues, your team faced while completing this assignment. For example, was there any problems such as: communication and allocation for assignment work and tasks?

Deliverable:
A critical analysis essay (1000-1250 words) that covers the above points.
Use credible sources to support your analysis and include proper citations.

Part C: Group Presentation Video
Scenario: To present your findings to the executive team, create a group video presentation demonstrating the CyberGuard Dashboard and discussing its suitability for SecureLink Pty Ltd. The presentation should be a maximum of 10 minutes and must display both the software interface and all team members on screen simultaneously. We recommend using Zoom for recording. Upload the video to Google Drive or YouTube, and provide the link in your report as well as in the notes section when submitting to Blackboard. Ensure that the video is accessible and has clear audio; if not, your team will receive ZERO marks for this part of the assessment. Also, if you upload the video directly to Blackboard, you will also receive ZERO marks for this part of the assessment.

Note*: Your group maybe able to present in a face-to-face classroom presentation. You would need to speak to your lecturer to seek approval and a time for the presentation. Your group would still need to submit a cover-sheet and a PPTX file, outlining your in-class presentation. You would not need to record a video, in this case.

Instructions:
Video Presentation:
Use Zoom to record a group presentation lasting 10-15 minutes.
Each group member must actively participate.
Software Demonstration:
Provide a live demonstration of the CyberGuard Dashboard.
Show how key features work, highlighting both functional aspects and any issues encountered.
Ensure that each member presents at least one feature.
Discussion of Findings:
Discuss the strengths and limitations identified in your evaluation.
Each member should share their perspective on the software's effectiveness.
Importance of IT Security:
Conclude with a discussion on the importance of firewalls and network security in your organization.
Reflect on how tools like CyberGuard contribute to overall security posture.