Security Solutions

2-9
Customer Needs Assessment
Types of Connections
Types of Connections
After you identify the users who need access to the network, you should
determine the types of connections each group of users needs. There are three
basic types of network access:
■ Wired
■ Wireless
■ Remote
Wired Connections
Most regular and temporary employees will have a wired connection. For each
user, you should list any special considerations. For example, are part-time
employees or multiple temporary employees sharing a wired connection or
switch port?
Do employees want to log in from multiple switch ports? For example, do they
want to take their laptop to a conference room and use a wired connection in
that room to access the network? If so, what types of resources should they
be able to access from each location?
Wireless Connections
Which users are accessing or would like to access the network through a
wireless connection? For example, guests typically want wireless access
because it is more convenient. Employees also want wireless access so that
they can access the network from any location on-site. They want to be mobile
as well, maintaining network access while they roam.
What types of resources should users be allowed to access from a wireless
connection? For example, guests might be restricted to Internet access only.
Employees might be allowed to access the same resources that are available
to them through a wired connection. Or—particularly, if your wireless net-
work does not provide strong encryption—you may want to limit employees’
access to certain resources when they log in to the network from a wireless
connection.