Secure Network Infrastructure for E-Commerce - Research Proposal Example

This company owns a number of hotels. With the high technology growth rate and globalization, external systems and corporate application links are necessary because they will facilitate growing business demands of reaching external or global markets. This will enable the company to reach out to many tourists worldwide. Through internet marketing, the company will be able to market online and the target consumers will be able to purchase online through the use of the Secure Network Infrastructure for eCommerce.

The aims of this project are mainly to design and implement server protocols that will satisfy the company’s needs as well as maintain the security and integrity of the organization's critical and confidential data. This project will meet the QCF guidelines for Masters Projects by evaluating the existing system, and designing and implementing system software through high-level programming.

1. Objectives:

This project mainly aims at implementing host internet-based service with support from FMD Unix consultants to assist in the network infrastructure construction. This will enable the company to easily conduct eCommerce transactions from not only within but also from external links through the internet.

Among the areas that will require the new system includes;

• Meeting and Accommodation Services and rooms bookings Management  – This will include modules enabling prospective customers to book meeting or accommodation rooms online via the web.
• Accounting and Payment Services – this will include a system that will enable secure payments, auditing, and booking deposit payments. An example is an e-Receipting system which will enable tourists or potential customers and the general public to pay for services online.
• Hotel Website – This will play a major role in marketing the Hotels as well as enabling the link into the internal system. Through this website potential customers will view the services being offered and will also be able to pay online.

The major objective is satisfying these high demands while at the same time retaining the integrity and security of the hotel's critical business data. This project’s primary goal is to complete the implementation of the secure network infrastructure and establish a platform for the secure conduct of eCommerce.

1. These Objectives will be achieved through:

• In cases where credit cards will be required, their data will be stored on the Company's system.
• The system architecture will include application servers which will provide a link between the software and data for security purposes.
• This will physically separate Mufraq’s internal services from the global access services via the internet.
• This service will be protected through the implementation of sub-networks which will be controlled through firewalls and subnet masks.
• Special software will be incorporated to control the logging of access.
• A security audit will be compulsory.
• Connection Authority will be maintained for all systems.
•  A comprehensive register will be incorporated for all connected systems detailing software, hardware, and data assets.

1. Benefit Statement

With tourism being the center point for the Hotel industry, eCommerce and the use of the Internet offers better marketing basis and opportunities due to an expanded target market. However, proper safeguards are put in place to maximize these whilst protecting the Company’s software, hardware, and data assets from unauthorized access and exploitation. This project will deliver a secure, more efficient, and scalable basis that will enable the hotels to obtain maximum benefit from the Corporate Application portfolio.

1. Constraints and Assumptions

Among the major constraints in undertaking this project will be purchasing the IT infrastructure that will be required to facilitate the project. For example, the proposed Internal Payment Gateway which will include related systems like receipting will require to be procured. The high demand for eCommerce solutions increases significantly and so will the cost.

The major assumption will be that the SSL implementation will use Mufraq’s root certificate established by EUCS. Also, the removal of direct access via PC is dependent on web enablement of remaining client/server and character-based Corporate Applications.

1. Resources:

The resources required for the execution of this project will include;

Consultancy: EUCS FMD Unix, commissioned external consultants IS Integration Ltd to assist in the creation of a skeleton network infrastructure to permit various organizational departments to securely host internet-enabled service provision and conduct e-commerce transactions from the internet.

Hardware:  Database and Application Servers.

Software: Application Server Software.

6. Costs

Staff

MIS DSG  -Dev Pool 10 Resource Days

MIS DSG - TS  50 Resource Days

MIS BSG – 10 Resource Days

MIS CSG - 5 Resource Days

EU FMD Unix – 50 Resource Days

Business Partners – 10 Resources Days (For Testing)

Hardware and Software

The database and Application servers will cost £30,000.

Application Server Software will cost £5000.

7. Schedule

Task 

Responsibility 

Estimated Days

Introduction of Web service to Database Servers

MIS DSG - TS
FMD Unix

7 days

Implementation of SSL

MIS DSG - TS
FMD Unix

14 days

Hardware Specification

MIS DSG - TS
FMD Unix

5 days

Procure and Configure Hardware

MIS DSG - TS
FMD Unix

14 days

Vulnerability Testing Service Established

MIS DSG - TS

FMD Unix

3 days

Implementation Of Initial eCommerce Systems 

MIS DSG – Dev Pool

FMD Unix

5 days

Removal Of Direct PC Access To Database Servers

FMD Unix

3 days