Elements and Performance Criteria
- Evaluate current physical network infrastructure
- Analyse scalability, functionality, cost, security and energy consumption of existing physical network infrastructure
- Report on shortfalls and risks of existing physical infrastructure in accommodating network growth and increased functionality
- Investigate capacity and functionality shortfalls of existing physical infrastructure to highlight limitations of the existing switching network
- Document estimated costs and issues associated with meeting capacity and functionality shortfalls using existing physical infrastructure
- Investigate the application of cloud networks
- Analyse trends in cloud networks (infrastructure-as-a-service), technologies and multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) architectures against rapid changes in the landscape
- Determine applicability of cloud networks (infrastructure- as-a-service) to meet capacity and functionality requirements of the network
- Assess risks in using cloud networks to meet capacity and functionality requirements of the network
- Evaluate a range of cloud network solutions and justify selection of an optimum network switching solution
- Develop solution elements using a series of small project elements
- Produce a cloud network alternative solution to emulate the existing core network of a service provider
- Analyse the impact of the cloud network solution for system integration and across business domains
- Prepare a plan for organisational change control processes and integration of cloud network solutions within a complete network infrastructure
- Prepare a test scenario and produce a test management schedule for the testing process of system elements and interfaces using simulation
- Use integration document software to replicate issues exhibited in test environment
- Certify cloud network solution compatibility and compliance to requirements using the web-based test management tool (quality centre) to conduct performance evaluation tests
- Analyse test reports to evaluate load balancing and network security issues in test environment
- Document and resolve conflicts detected in simulation testing
- Develop a business case for implementation of a cloud network
- Prepare a cost-benefit analysis of the cloud network solution as a business case to evaluate the return on investment (RoI)
- Investigate staging of the solution and timing implementation of project elements as a scenario for real life implementation
- Research and report on key features of cloud network implementation in a business case study