Enterprise IT Proposal for a 50-Employee Publishing Company
This paper presents an enterprise-wide IT proposal for a small publishing company with 50 employees operating out of a single-story, open-plan building with glass cubicles. The proposal evaluates and recommends specific hardware and software solutions across four domains: personal computer selection (Lenovo C40 All-In-One), peripheral devices (Lexmark CX310dn multifunction printers), networking infrastructure (D-Link DAP-2695 AirPremier AC1750 access point), and network security measures. Cost estimates and vendor justifications are provided for each component, and the paper concludes with a summary of basic security best practices necessary to protect the company's digital assets.
- Overview and Requirements: Context and scope of the IT proposal
- PC Selection: Lenovo C40 specs, cost, and justification
- Peripherals: Lexmark multifunction printer recommendation
- Networking Infrastructure: D-Link DAP-2695 access point features and pricing
- Security Measures: WPA2, best practices, and layered security steps
- Conclusion: Cost summary and scalability assessment
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper follows a clear, logical structure that mirrors a real-world vendor proposal — moving from hardware selection through networking to security — making it easy for a non-technical audience to follow.
- Each recommendation is grounded in specific product specifications and pricing, lending credibility and practical utility to the proposal.
- The security section goes beyond product features by incorporating academic and professional sources to contextualize the threat environment for small businesses, strengthening the argument for layered security practices.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper effectively blends vendor documentation with peer-reviewed and professional journal sources (e.g., Hutchings & Smith, 2013; Tysiac, 2015) to support its recommendations. This mixed-source approach demonstrates how technical proposals can anchor product choices in broader research contexts, adding authority beyond marketing materials alone.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a framing overview of the company's needs, then dedicates one section each to PCs, peripherals, and networking before addressing security in depth. A summary table of security best practices consolidates actionable steps, and the conclusion ties cost estimates together. Each section is self-contained yet builds logically on the previous one.
Overview and Requirements
Small businesses of all types and sizes require viable enterprise-wide solutions to their information technology (IT) needs. This need is especially pronounced in small businesses competing in the publishing industry, where all publications are digitized and security needs are paramount. This proposal responds to a request from one such publishing firm — a company with 50 employees — that requires an enterprise-wide solution covering computers, peripherals, networking, and security. The company's office is situated in a single-story, free-standing building without walls; only pillars support the roof, and the company has installed glass cubicles for all of its employees. A detailed analysis of these requirements, including associated costs, is provided below, followed by a summary of key findings in the conclusion.
PC Selection
Getting the new computer network up and running efficiently as quickly as possible will be vitally important, and the Lenovo C40 All-In-One personal computer satisfies this publishing company's IT requirements. This personal computer features the following:
Additional specifications for the Lenovo C40 All-In-One include:
This personal computer has all of the features needed by the publishing company as outlined in the specifications. The cost of a single unit is $459.99, for a total of $9,199.80 for 20 personal computers; however, a quantity discount may be available from the vendor, and shipping for any size order is free. Lenovo enjoys a solid reputation in the personal computer industry and is committed to providing its customers with world-class products and customer service (Jing, 2012).
Peripherals
Because the proposed Lenovo C40 All-In-One comes equipped with an optical monitor, keyboard, and mouse, as well as Bluetooth Version 4.0 and a network card, the peripheral needs of the publishing firm will be limited to four shared Lexmark CX310dn Multifunction wireless color laser scanner/copier/fax machine combinations. The price of one Lexmark CX310dn Multifunction Color Photo Printer (Scanner, Copier, Fax) is $599.00, so four units would cost $2,396 — unless a quantity discount can be negotiated with Lenovo as part of a total package purchase. Note that customers are limited to a maximum of five of these units per single purchase (Lexmark CX310dn Multifunction Color Photo Printer, 2016).
Conclusion
Any small business with 50 employees that is poised to grow in the foreseeable future will require a flexible network solution that can scale with the company. The configuration of personal computers, peripherals, networking, and security features outlined above will provide this company with excellent computing support for its current needs and will allow the network to expand as the need arises. Although training and implementation costs are not included in the estimates, it is reasonable to conclude that the entire network envisioned here can be installed and made operational for approximately $15,000 — a significant value given this configuration's capacity for future expansion.
References
Hutchings, A. & Smith, R. G. (2013, May). Cloud computing for small business: Criminal and security threats and prevention measures. Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, 456, 1–4.
Jing, S. (2012, March 1). Analysis of Lenovo globalization strategy and enlightenment to Chinese enterprises. Canadian Social Science, 8(2), 86–89.
Lenovo C40 All-In-One. (2016). Lenovo. Retrieved from
Lexmark CX310dn Multifunction Color Photo Printer. (2016). Lenovo. Retrieved from
Tysiac, K. (2015, March). How small businesses can keep data secure. Journal of Accountancy, 219(3), 18.
Wireless AC1750 Simultaneous Dual-Band PoE Access Point. (2016). D-Link. Retrieved from
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