Information Tech help

IT 202 Project One Organizational Needs

This document explains some of the organizational needs that can help you leverage the components and features of common operating systems so that you recommend and select the OSes that would serve as a best fit. It is time to change the OSes that the company is currently using.

Some specific examples of components and features are:

· File handling and sharing

· Commonly used operating system, services, and utilities o Services that start at system log-on

o Utilities like system restore, disk manager, registry editor, task scheduler

· Application compatibility

· Availability of drivers

Desktops with an operating system that is considered end of life are obsolete; they create a challenge and risk to the system’s ability to remain secure and supported. Systems using an outdated operating system are subject to support difficulties and problems in many areas. Some of these issues may include:

· Increased likelihood of system failures

· Frequent downtimes

· Longer duration of downtime

· Difficulty finding replacement parts and supported drivers

· Incompatibility with newer software and drivers. For example, many older applications are not compatible with Windows 10 because they utilize older drivers that are not available using Windows 10.

· Danger of vulnerabilities and security risk when OS updates are no longer available and the system can no longer receive security updates. Examples of vulnerabilities: o Windows 7 Fax Services Cover Page Editor Vulnerability

CVE - 2010 - 4701 —If fax services are being used, here’s another reason to leave that remnant of the 80s behind: a heap-based buffer overflow in the CDrawPoly::Serialize function in fxscover.exe in Microsoft Windows Fax Services Cover Page Editor 5.2 r2 could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long record in a Fax Cover Page (.cov) file.

o Windows 7 OLE Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CVE - 2014 - 4114 —In 2014, the so-called Sandworm made security headlines with its use of malicious PowerPoint files to install malware. Vulnerable Windows 7 installations could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with a specially crafted OLE object in an Office document.

It is important to develop a phased OS upgrade approach that involves the following key components:

· Planning an OS migration that has future growth and driver updates in mind

· Upgrading unsupported software to new supported and more secure versions

· Modernizing existing hardware to expand existing capabilities

The enterprise organization poses as a complex Windows environment. Most computers in this organization are still running Windows 7 and need to be upgraded to Windows 10; some computers may be running other non-Windows OSes. This diagram shows what OSes are currently being used among various departments within the organization:

Note: You are free to invent additional details; however, make sure to document them in your Project One Site Survey Template. For example, out of 40 desktops, 30 are running Windows 7 (10 are cloudbased), three are running Windows Server 2012 R2, and seven are running LinuxRedHat.

As the organization updates and/or changes its OSes, the following should be considered:

· User readiness—In the past, when the enterprise deployed Windows 7, users had multiple options for joining different domains and organizational units or for setting up additional accounts. Those options were great for developers, but were complex and challenging for other users, which is an age-old problem. It is crucial to make future upgrades easy for the enterprise to deploy. All users must have the same hardware and standardized applications for each department (e.g., Finance, HR, IT, Training, and Marketing).

· Empowering users and maintaining productivity—Rapid deployment processes also require creating a strong user experience that enables users to be productive, with rollback scenarios, self-service capabilities, and streamlined infrastructure that supports easy adoption.

· Remote users—In most environments this size, about a third of full-time employees are remote users all of the time, and roughly another third are remote at any time that the enterprise plans to do a deployment. These users may have either good internet connections or metered connections.

Departmental Applications

Software applications that employees from each department need to have access to:

IT

· SolarWinds Server and Application Monitor—Network tool for server monitoring and maintenance

· SolarWinds Storage Resource Monitor—Network tool to monitor all storage resources and infrastructure

· SolarWinds Virtualization Manager—Virtual machine monitoring and management

· Windows Office 365—Cloud-based Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

· Adobe Acrobat Pro—PDF creator and converter, document management

· ServiceNow ITSM—Cloud-based IT ticketing system

Finance

· SAP—ERP software for accounting and finance

· Windows Office 365—Cloud-based Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Training

· Windows Office 365—Cloud-based Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

· Adobe Captivate Prime LMS—Create virtual training experiences for employees

· Adobe Acrobat Pro— PDF creator and converter, document management

· TalentLMS—Corporate learning management system

Operations

· Windows Office 365—Cloud-based Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Security

· Windows Office 365—Cloud-based Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

· LogRhythm—Enterprise security SIEM that detects, responds to, and neutralizes cyber threats

· Splunk—Enterprise security tool that searches, examines, and provides reporting in real time on big data

Executive Administration

· Windows Office 365—Cloud-based Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

· PeopleSoft HR—Suite of Human Resources tools used to manage employee and HR functions

· Adobe Acrobat Pro—PDF creator and converter, document management

Marketing

· Adobe PhotoShop—Creates and edits photos and images

· Adobe Illustrator—Creates graphics and rendering software

· Adobe Acrobat Pro—PDF creator and converter, document management

· Windows Office 365—Cloud-based Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

HR

· ServiceNow—Cloud-based IT ticketing system used to process onboarding/offboarding of employees

· PeopleSoft HR—Suite of Human Resources tools used to manage employee and HR functions

· Ultipro—Time keeping application, employee evaluations

· ICIMs Hiring Suite—Hiring application, conducts virtual interviews

· Office365—Cloud-based Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

1

1

1