You are the network administrator hired by a new organization that wants to have two main departments: the IT department and the Marketing department. Each department must have its own VLAN. You are tasked to implement a Zone-Based Policy Firewall to control traffic between these two departments according to the following requirements:

Both VLANs should be allowed to access the internet.

IT VLAN: This VLAN has servers and administrative workstations. They should be able to communicate with each other and access the internet, but they should be protected from direct access by the Marketing VLAN.

Marketing VLAN: This VLAN has computers that should only be able to access the internet but should not access the IT department VLAN or any server resources.

Based on the above scenario, using Cisco Packet Tracer, create a basic network topology and implement the above ACLs by showing clearly all the policies set. Perform the testing of the above scenario and take the screenshots of the test results.

To implement a Zone-Based Policy Firewall (ZBFW) using Cisco Packet Tracer for controlling traffic between the IT and Marketing departments, you will need to follow these steps:

Set Up VLANs:

Create two VLANs, one for the IT department and another for the Marketing department.
Assign different subnets to each VLAN to properly segment the network.


Configure the Network Topology:

Use Cisco Packet Tracer to design a basic network topology. This will include routers, switches, and end devices (computers and servers).
Connect the routers to the internet and assign the corresponding IPs to each interface.


Assign IP Addresses and VLANs:

Assign IP addresses for the IT VLAN (e.g., 192.168.10.0/24) and the Marketing VLAN (e.g., 192.168.20.0/24).
Ensure that computers and servers in the IT and Marketing departments have appropriate IP addresses within their respective subnets.


Create Zone Policies:

Define security zones. For instance, IT-Zone for IT VLAN, Marketing-Zone for Marketing VLAN, and Public-Zone for the Internet.
Assign router interfaces to the corresponding zones.


Configure Firewall Rules:

Allow both VLANs to access the internet via the Public-Zone.
Configure policies to allow intra-zone communication for the IT department (i.e., IT VLAN devices should communicate with each other).
Block any access from the Marketing VLAN to the IT VLAN to protect IT resources from direct access by the Marketing department.


Test the Configuration:

Using Packet Tracer, simulate traffic between the various zones to ensure the firewall rules are working. The IT department should communicate internally and access the internet, while the Marketing department should only access the internet.


Documentation and Screenshots:

After testing, document your configuration steps and take screenshots of successful connections from both the IT and Marketing VLANs to the internet, as well as failed attempts to connect from the Marketing VLAN to the IT VLAN.



By properly following these steps, you can ensure that each department meets its requirements for network communication and security.

Answered by IsabellaRoseDavis | 2025-07-08

In Cisco Packet Tracer, implement a Zone-Based Policy Firewall to manage traffic between IT and Marketing departments by creating separate VLANs, configuring security zones, and establishing firewall rules that allow internet access while restricting inter-department communication. Test the setup to confirm the policies are effective and document your configuration with screenshots. This approach ensures that both departments can meet their networking requirements securely.
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Answered by IsabellaRoseDavis | 2025-07-09