COM7013 Network Security Portfolio Assignment Brief 2026 | Arden University

Assignment Brief

As part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a
Network Security assignment. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments.

Learning Outcomes:

After completing the module, you should be able to:

1. Select and deploy appropriate network defence tools, mechanisms, protocols and methodologies against adaptive attack vectors in existing and emerging network architectures.
2. Critically evaluate security technology components that can address security issues in the context of creating resilient network architecture solutions.
3. Evaluate own network security engineering skills in relation to industry requirements
   Graduate Attributes:
   Contextually Innovative
4. Identify and solve novel and complex problems related to aims and desired outcomes. Critically evaluate and reflect on the approaches and solutions identifying and embedding possibilities for originality or creativity.

All learning outcomes must be met to pass the module.

Guidance

Your assignment should include: a title page containing your student number, the module name, the submission deadline and the exact word count of your submitted document; the appendices if relevant; and a reference list in (see referencing section for more information). You should address all the elements of the assignment task listed below. Please note that tutors will use the assessment criteria set out below in assessing your work.

You must not include your name in your submission because Arden University operates anonymous marking, which means that markers should not be aware of the identity of the student. However, please do not forget to include your STU number.

Maximum word count: 3000 words

Please refer to the full word count policy which can be found in the Student Policies section here: Arden University | Regulatory Framework

The word count includes everything in the main body of the assessment (including in text citations and references). The word count excludes numerical data in tables, figures, diagrams, footnotes, reference list and appendices. All other printed words ARE included in the word count.

Students who exceed the wordcount up to a 10% margin will not be penalised. Students should note that no marks will be assigned to work exceeding the specified limit once the maximum assessment size limit has been reached.

Assignment Task

Your manager has just returned from a conference on network security and has asked youto investigate the organisational network security posture. The current network consists of a flat network design over 2 sites consisting of a Head Office(HQ) and a separate site (S1). The locations are currently interconnected via point to pointleased lines. HQ has a single-homed connection to the Internet that contains internal clientand server devices as well as the external facing webserver. 

HQ has recently suffered from a recent security breach that led to unauthorised changes toconfiguration settings on HQR1 which is causing communication issues across the locations. There is also evidence that some of the LAN device may have been accessed. It is uncertainhow this occurred, but it is imperative that the configuration is corrected and appropriatemitigations put in place to protect from further breaches as well as reduce the attack surfaceif another breach does occurs. 

Due to this, there has been a decision to use a DMZ for internal and external access to the Corp Web Server and access needs to be configured appropriately to allow this to occur. Configuration for this has already started on HQR1 which you are to complete as part of the project.

You have been tasked to build a PoC network design to minimise vulnerabilities taking into consideration current guidance and best practices. You are to run appropriate tests to validate this has been achieved.

Below are the security requirements:
S1 LAN

• All department traffic should be isolated from each other.
• Security best practices applied at Layer 2.
• Marketing should not be allowed to access the Finance network.
• Secure network for management of switches, only accessible by the IT devices in HQ.
• All network devices should be secured following best practices.
• Access to the Internet for Marketing only
• Finance cannot access the Internal Application Server on the HQ network
• Resilient links where appropriate
  HQ LAN and Inter-site
• Reduce the attack surface by preventing lateral movement.
• All traffic entering the Corporate network should be secured.
• Public traffic should only be able to access the CorpWeb Server. All Internet traffic is via HQR1
• Implement appropriate security controls at Layer 3.

Part 1: Project

Within the given packet tracer file, create a secure network design to demonstrate a solution in the selection and configuration of network security controls and measures for the above scenario.
Create appropriate network design documentation that records the security controls implemented, including models of secure configuration for the components and devices. This should also include screenshots of the tests undertaken to validate security controls. Include this as Appendix A in the Part 2 Technical report.

(1800 Words Equivalent)
(60 Marks)
(LOS: LO1, LO4)

Part 2: Technical Report

Write a report containing a critical appraisal of the solution given in Part 1 evaluated against both current and emerging network attack vectors and the changing threat landscape. 

The report should:

• defend the security controls, protocols, countermeasures and design technique recommendations and implications for development within these areas.
• examine 3 critical security design issues that are still prevalent within the design and give recommendations on how these could be mitigated.
• acknowledge any financial implications for each of the above but it is not expected that detailed financial information is provided.
• Give a reflective evaluation of the implications of conducting this investigation and development for your leaming on this programme.

(1200 Words)
(40 Marks)
(LOs: LO2, LO3)

COM7013 Assessment Criteria (Learning objectives covered – all.