The major operating system and network you are using on a daily basis - Essay Example

Briefly describe the major operating system and network that you are using on a daily basis. Based on the information covered in this seminar do you believe that they adequately perform the tasks they need to perform on a regular basis? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the operating system and network you have chosen to describe? Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? What are the security procedures in place, could they be better? If you could modify just one element in the whole system, what would it be? Explain. The major operating system most used on a daily basis on our desktop computers is the Microsoft Windows 8.1 operating system (OS), the latest generation of the Microsoft Windows NT OS series. Microsoft Windows NT OS, would be classed as a major transformational OS running desktop computers. • Based on data from netmarketshare Windows OS has as of March 2014: 90.94% global desktop OS market share. (NetMarketShare - Net Applications, 2014) These desktop computers are connected to Ethernet local area network (LAN) Hybrid Star and Bus topology via two types of connect. First a cable based on CAT6a ( Able Infrastructure Solutions, n.d.) 1 Gbps switched network. The Second is an 802.11n wireless (Wi-Fi) network. Both networks are configured with Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP) (TCP/IP), Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPV4). (Brookshear, et al., 2011) The operating system and network are adequately designed and developed to perform their tasks in our environment. • Windows OS allows for quick develop of wide and varied multithread applications. Ability to support a wide variety of hardware devices through device drivers is important in a hospital setting as is an interactive user experience through use of a GUI interface. • Combining a star and bus network topology creates a scalable network, with the ability to maintain a requirement for low amounts of down time encase of failure of devices. (Brookshear, et al., 2011) The advantages outweigh and disadvantages the Windows OS bring can be summarised as: • The advantages are outweigh such as quicker support for newer hardware, vendors availability of readymade applications and varied devices available that work with Windows vs. other OS’s (MNS Group, 2012) • Ability to be adapted and access to a wide support knowledge base to fix problems or issues A few highlighted disadvantages to the Windows OS are: • Vulnerability to frequent virus or security attacks. Microsoft does offer regular security updates to protect against vulnerabilities. • Closed source single source for procuring creates high acquisition cost for this OS. • Variable hardware implementation compatibilities can create high support workload (RJ Systems, 2010) (Stallings, 2005) The advantage and disadvantages the Star & Bus Hybrid Network brings can be summarised as: • Ability to expand the environment while maintaining availability encase of device failure • Performance of desktop access because client access switch and segregation / segments. • No device is connected to backbone switches, Point to point cabling from localised switches means short cables and requires less cabling back to centralised switches. Disadvantages for the Star & Bus Hybrid Network are: • The environment becomes expensive to install because of the extra backbone switches as well as device connectivity switches. • Configuration is required at the backbone and client access switches making it more expensive to maintain Security procedures are they ever good enough and is there such thing as secure in an IT world. • Our Multi-tiered approach to an IT security model is from perimeter to desktop, multiple vendors, firewalls, Intrusion Protection and Detection (IPD), Antivirus, rigorous patch management and alerting. Simple though don’t trust anything or anyone is implemented. (University of Cambridge, n.d.) • Security in any world can always be better, the weakest link in IT security is humans. IT can implement as much security in environment as possible but it becomes unusable for people. Implementing all this doesn’t stop a human factor, someone clicking on a link or doing something they shouldn’t. (Savitz, 2011). In the whole system we have today the one thing that would be good to change would be the way people interact and understand the use OS and Network, improving this via the correct training would have an effect. • Training everyone in the business on IT OS usage and understanding would make the use of IT more efficiently, effectively and create less resistance to change. (Willen, 2014) • Training people on how to use IT can mean new technologies and methods can be deployed thus keeping the environment more up to date allow for better risk mitigation, minimise security issues and create a more supportable environment. (Stackpole, 2008) References Able Infrastructure Solutions, n.d. Category 6a. [Online] Available at: http://www.ableis.co.uk/services/structured-cabling/cable-categories-explained/category-6a.html [Accessed 19 04 2014]. Brookshear, J. G., Smith, D. T. & Brylow, D., 2011. Chapter 4: Networking and the Internet. In: Computer Science An Overview. 11 ed. s.l.:Prentice Hall, pp. 141-149. Microsoft Corporation, 2014. David Cutler - 2007 Career Achievement. [Online] Available at: http://www.microsoft.com/about/technicalrecognition/david-cutler.aspx [Accessed 19 04 2014]. MNS Group, 2012. Mac, Windows, and Linux: The Pros and Cons of Each Operating System. [Online] Available at: http://www.mnsgroup.com/blog/mac-windows-and-linux-the-pros-and-cons-of-each-operating-system/ [Accessed 04 19 2014]. NetMarketShare - Net Applications, 2014. Desktop Operating System Market Share. [Online] Available at: http://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8&qpcustomd=0 [Accessed 19 04 2014 ]. RJ Systems, 2010. Advantages of using Windows:. [Online] Available at: http://www.rjsystems.nl/en/3200.php [Accessed 19 04 2014]. Rouse, M., 2012. Security information and event management (SIEM). [Online] Available at: http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/security-information-and-event-management-SIEM [Accessed 19 04 2014]. Savitz, E., 2011. Humans: The Weakest Link In Information Security. [Online] Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2011/11/03/humans-the-weakest-link-in-information-security/ [Accessed 19 04 2014]. Stackpole, B., 2008. Five Mistakes IT Groups Make When Training End-Users. [Online] Available at: http://www.cio.com/article/196451/Five_Mistakes_IT_Groups_Make_When_Training_End_Users?page=2&taxonomyId=3186 [Accessed 19 04 2014]. Stallings, W., 2005. THE WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM. In: Operating Systems: Internals and Design Principles, Fifth Edition. 5th ed. s.l.:Prentice Hall. University of Cambridge, n.d. Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systems. [Online] Available at: http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~rja14/Papers/SE-07.pdf [Accessed 09 04 2014]. Willen, L., 2014. What do teachers want even more than new technology? Training on how to use. [Online] Available at: http://hechingerreport.org/content/teachers-want-even-new-technology-training-use_15154/ [Accessed 19 04 2014]. Read More