Global Advertising, Inc. (referred to as "GAI") has hired you as an IT consultant for their Windows network services infrastructure. GAI is a new advertising firm, and they have hired staff, are established in two locations, and have a need to get their internal IT services configured. They have an IT staff, but they do not have the in-house expertise to address their current infrastructure needs.
You are required to supply GAI with a solution which addresses the integration and configuration of their Active Directory updates. Cost is not a significant concern - GAI wishes to implement the "right" solution to address their acquisition of a new company and its Active Directory forest which is comprised of a single domain. More specifically, GAI is based out of Houston, TX and they have a Windows Server 2012 domain that is operating at the Windows Server 2012 functional level. They recently acquired Media Guru Group which is based out of Louisville, KY, which has a domain (running Windows Server 2008 domain controllers) operating at the Windows Server 2003 functional level.
There are several details about GAI which will have an impact on your proposal:
GAI has restructured their organization they have a total of 110 employees in their Houston and Louisville sites. Each location the following departments:
GAI will have two sites, one in Houston, TX, and one in Louisville, KY.
Executives (9 total with 5 in Houston, 4 in Louisville) - manage and run the company
Accounts and Sales Department (30 employees with 15 in Houston and 15 in Louisville) - perform market research and maintain accounts
Creative, Media and Production Department (49 employees in Houston) - advertising
Human Resources and Finances (12 employees in Houston) - perform HR and financial duties
IT (10 employees with 5 in Houston and 5 in Louisville) - manage IT for the company
Networking equipment is already in place for both sites, which are separate Active Directory Domains.
Security mechanisms (e.g., firewalls, intrusion detection) will be handled separately, and there is no need to describe them.
Some departments will want their data to remain private from other departments (e.g., Finances personnel will not want Production staff to see the company's financial details). Your team may make assumptions about how data should be shared or kept private.
Assumptions can be made regarding any information not included here; all assumptions should be identified, however.