Designing a Secure Local Area Network

In order to design and build a well-secured network, many factors must be taken into consideration, such as the topology and placement of hosts within the network, the selection of hardware and software technologies, and the careful configuration of each component. My paper will be an examination of some of the issues in designing a secure Local Area Network (LAN) and some of the best practices suggested by security experts. I will discuss securing a LAN from the viewpoint of the network architect considering three main areas: the network topology which comprises the physical and logical design of the network; securing the routers and switches which connect segments and hosts to form the network; and, finally, some of the emerging and advanced techniques in network security will be examined. My goal is to examine some of the security issues commonly found in the small to medium sized LAN set up for a business or other institution, and to identify some of the best practices from the perspective of the network designer.