VLAN
LAN Technology
IT/242
February, 2015
The benefits of creating a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) are many which include decreased bandwidth consumption, increased security, and less need for a physical relocation or configuration of exiting office space; this certainly give plenty of reason for VLAN to be a viable option. Segmenting of existing departments on this network is quite robust. VLAN allows for a plan to segment the network and split it into broadcast domains. The domains will curtail network congestion and improve network security. So, because of the different segments of the network marketing will have its own dedicated segment, the engineering group on the second floor will have its own segment also, the operations team on the third floor will have their own, and the call center will also have their own. So, if the marketing segment is under some form of cyber attack the other department would not be affected (at least not initially).
The first line of security is to prevent access, and by controlling the access to sensitive documents by segmenting the groups is sure way of limiting any attack. The network could be setup under a port assignment basis using the VLAN membership used to facilitate the ease of future changes in location or physical layout of the network. This will allow for the administration of the network and those who have use of the network. As for the physical relocation of the business, or of one segment this can be accomplished via MAC addresses.
To create a VLAN one will need to have a layer 2 switch. Virtual Local Area Network special types of hardware that are built with switches so there can be segments created. This is all a matter of the infrastructure of the network and the policies (security policies). So, for the implementation of the VLAN, it would require different methods:
The main purpose of VLAN trunk protocol (VTP) is to provide a means to manage switches as...