Cyber Technology

For network engineers and architects, understanding the difference between a Layer 3 and Layer 2 network can greatly enhance the overall security and speed of your network infrastructure. Generally speaking, Layer 2 is a broadcast Media Access Control (MAC) MAC level network, while Layer 3 is a segmented routing over internet protocol (IP) network. To better understand both layers, let’s dig a little deeper into the OSI model. Understanding the OSI 7 layer model OSI stands for Open Systems Interconnection. It is a model used to standardise the functions of telecommunication and computing systems around the world. OSI 7 is conceptual, as the layers are abstractions that don’t define the actual technology used; however, the network topology and interoperability can be designed. But what does that actually mean? In Information Technology, standardisation is abstract so that providers, manufacturers, programmers and everyone involved has a model to work with that provides a unifo...

A broadcast domain is a logical division of a computer network, in which all nodes can reach each other by broadcast at the data link layer. Let’s say you have several computers connected to a Layer 2 switch. The reason the device is called a Layer 2 switch is that the hardware learns and stores the MAC address (also known as the physical address) of a device’s network cards. By storing those hexadecimal numbers, the switch can make intelligent decisions about how to route packets to and from a specific device. Layer 2 switches can also be configured with VLANs to service multiple networks. Since the switch has learned about the devices that are connected, it also knows (from the switch configuration) what network those devices are connected to. What exactly a broadcast domain does From our definition of a broadcast domain, we can also state that a broadcast describes a process that forwards packets to all machines on the network. Only devices communicating within a given netwo...

Computers in the enterprise world require being up-to-date. This means IT teams need to be able to have a solid OS deployment plan for all the employees. With so many scenarios, it’s important that the plan be flexible as well as functional. Luckily, Microsoft offers many options of deployment to help cater for the wide range of scenarios. This post will briefly discuss the comparison between some of traditional deployment methods: WDS, MDT, SCCM. WDS Windows Deployment Services is a feature installed on Windows Server OS that gives the capability to push a Windows OS image to a computer. It’s a good foundation to have set up to start your deployment methods. This option has the quickest initial setup to get up and running but does require more manual configuration when it comes to building the OS image to your liking. MDT Microsoft Deployment Toolkit takes WDS take it to one big step further from WDS. It actually requires WDS to work but implements Lite Touch Installation. This...

Your network is probably the least visible piece of your infrastructure, but network outages can cause highly visible problems for your business. In one study, 90 percent of businesses had at least one network outage during the past year, with many experiencing two or more. The costs of those outages are high. It’s hard to pin them down exactly, but some estimates have them running over $9,000 every minute the systems are down. With more than half of outages lasting over an hour, that’s a significant cost. And the cost of the outage can linger even after systems are back up, due to overtime needed to catch up on the work delayed during the outage, the need to pay for expedited shipping to fulfill orders, damage to your company’s reputation, and loss of customer trust and future business. Address the Causes of Downtime Most of that downtime is due to equipment failures, followed by human errors. Reducing downtime and its associated costs requires addressing both the technical and ...

Technology continues to change and improve, evolving faster and faster as it advances. Along with it, careers in the information technology industry also continue to grow. As a network engineer, you will be in the heart of the technological realm. You will have a wide range of duties that include designing, building, and maintaining computer networks for the organization you work for. These networks also vary widely – from a simple system that you can handle alone to a complicated system of LANs, WANs, intranets, and extranets that it takes a whole IT team to manage. There are a variety of fantastic reasons to become a network engineer including great pay, reputable companies to work for, and working with some of the most advanced technology available. While being a network engineer can be demanding work, you’ll find that the work is satisfying and that the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks. Responsibilities of a Network Engineer Network engineers are responsible for an organiz...