WAN Technology - Research Paper Example

WAN Technologies Replace with NETW206: Introduction to WAN Technologies w/Lab Submitted Dr. 09/09 WAN Technologies Thispaper will look into the preferred option for a wide area network (WAN) selection for ABC Inc’s branch offices located in Cleveland, Ohio. The first issue to consider in this regard is whether the WAN should be private or public. A public WAN would cost the company lower to install and maintain but would also entail lower reliability and security during use. In contrast, a private WAN would cost the company more to install and maintain but would provide greater reliability and security (Groth & Skandler, 2009).

Given the fact that ABC Inc’s online communication carries sensitive information such as banking records, employee personal information and trade secrets so it would be advisable to install a private WAN. Moreover, like any business ABC Inc cannot afford problems with the network connectivity due to low reliability since it would affect the customers and the business directly. Given the constraints on security and reliability there is little doubt that the solution for ABC Inc is a private WAN connection.

A dedicated private WAN would cost ABC Inc far more than using packet switched connectivity. It is common for multiple businesses to be using the same private WAN with packed switched connectivity since it affords the amount of reliability and security needed by businesses without entailing the extra cost of a dedicated private WAN (O’Brien & Marakas, 2009). Moreover, it is highly likely that the private WAN used by ABC Inc would utilize the frame relay protocol since it is more widely implemented than the X2.

5 protocol (Cisco, 2012). Using frame relay protocol would provide ABC Inc the required amount of reliability and security for its private WAN connection.ReferencesCisco. (2012, February 13). Frame Relay. Retrieved September 11, 2012, from Cisco: http://docwiki.cisco.com/wiki/Frame_RelayGroth, D., & Skandler, T. (2009). Network+ Study Guide, Fourth Edition. Sybex, Inc.O’Brien, J. A., & Marakas, G. M. (2009). Management Information Systems. New York: McGraw-Hill / Irwin.