Hardening the Hybrid Network: A project report in partial completion of the Master's in Information Networking and Telecommunications
an excerpt

In hardening a heterogeneous communications network that enables people to share information and resources by way of both wired (Ethernet) and wireless (IEEE 802.11x) technologies, a critical issue is the implementation of optimal security solutions. This paper proposes a comprehensive and synergistic approach to hardening hybrid networks and models portions of it using both the Cisco SNMP Tools and OPNET. It also highlights the shortcomings of existing modeling and simulation tools, particularly their inability to adequately prototype hardening scenarios which include increased network security measures applied to not only routers, switches, and wireless access points, but also to the simulated physical environment as well as to client and server nodes. Finally, it discusses the importance of realistic network modeling and simulation to both the academic and research communities and makes suggestions for further intellectual investigation.