Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Sources: Nortel Staff, “IT: A Critical Component of Cutting-Edge Healthcare,”
Nortel Case Study, www.nortel.com/corporate/success/ss_stories/collateral/
nn120660.pdf, accessed April 26, 2008; Cambridge Health Alliance Web site,
www.cha.harvard.edu, accessed April 26, 2008.
collaborate more effectively over one integrated network for
voice, video, and data. The system saves Del Monte money by
allowing the company to remove expensive T1 lines from
remote offices and replace them with high-speed Internet
connections. The system is also easy to manage and expand.
Del Monte could easily add new security features as they are
needed.
Network engineers at Del Monte are currently working on
using the service for disaster recovery. If Del Monte's corpo-
rate offices were to experience a fire, earthquake, or another
natural disaster, the company could continue operations by
using the extranet to allow all employees to access network
resources from home.
Case Two
Del Monte Provides Secure Connections for
Telecommuters
San Francisco-based Del Monte Foods is one of America's
largest and most well-known food companies and the second
largest pet foods company. It generated approximately $3.4
billion in net sales in 2007 through its numerous brands,
which include Del Monte, StarKist, Contadina, Milkbone,
9Lives, Meow Mix, and Nature's Recipe.
Del Monte depends on telecommunications networks
to supply its 7,800 full-time employees with access to infor-
mation systems such as the corporate enterprise resource
planning (ERP), data warehouse, and customer relationship
management (CRM) applications. An increasing number of
Del Monte employees work from home offices or remote sales
offices. Del Monte needed a system that employees could use
to access the corporate network so that they could work as
effectively as employees in the corporate offices.
The challenge with providing access to corporate net-
works to people outside the network is security. By opening
connections over the Internet, a company makes its network
more vulnerable to hackers. Del Monte wanted to provide
access to its corporate data and services to employees out-
side the office and to select business partners and other third
parties without putting its network at risk. Del Monte needed
a secure intranet and extranet.
Del Monte worked with telecommunications profession-
als to set up a secure Web site that employees and partners
could access from any Internet connection. The Web site uses
VPN authentication and Cisco's Secure Access Control Server
to keep hackers out and allow authorized users in. Once
logged on, the user can access only the portions of the net-
work and data that they have been authorized to access. For
example, a sales representative may need access to Del
Monte's data warehouse to track an order, while an accoun-
tant may be provided with access to the ERP.
Del Monte supplies an even more secure connection for
employees that work from home. These employees are given
a Cisco ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliance, a net-
work device that provides a firewall and intrusion prevention
system (IPS) to keep hackers out, and virtual private network-
ing (VPN) to encrypt and safeguard data flowing over the
network. Telecommuters connect their PCs and telephones
to the device to enjoy the same quality of network service as
those in corporate headquarters.
The Cisco device allows professionals to receive business
phone calls at home, while referencing data acquired from
the corporate information systems. Del Monte calls it an
“office in a box.” Telecommuters can even use the system to
attend meetings through videoconferencing software.
Using Del Monte's secure extranet and secure home
office system, employees at home offices and remote
locations can communicate with employees anywhere to
Discussion Questions
1.
What is a primary concern of making a private network
available to employees who are outside the office? Why?
2.
What technologies did Del Monte employ to address this
primary concern?
Critical Thinking Questions
1.
What benefits do Del Monte and its employees enjoy by
providing extranet access to the Del Monte network?
2.
If you could choose whether to work at home or in a cor-
porate office, which would you choose and why?
Sources: Cisco Staff, “Food Manufacturer Extends its Workplace with Secure
Remote Access,” Cisco Success Story, www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/
vpndevc/ps6032/ps6094/ps6120/case_study_c36-464676_v1.pdf, accessed
April 28, 2008; Del Monte Web site, www.delmonte.com, accessed April 28,
2008.
Questions for Web Case
See the Web site for this topic to read about the Whitmann
Price Consulting case for this chapter. Following are ques-
tions concerning this Web case.
Whitmann Price Consulting: Telecommunications
and Networks
Discussion Questions
1.
What role does bandwidth play in the successful delivery
of the Advanced Mobile Communications and Information
System?
2.
When does functionality transform the standard Black-
Berry device into an Advanced Mobile Communications
and Information System?
Critical Thinking Questions
1.
Describe three telecommunications and network technol-
ogies used to connect the BlackBerry with other devices.
2.
At this stage in the process, what actions might Sandra
and Josh take to reduce the overall costs of the Advanced
Mobile Communications and Information System?
 
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