--- title: "Plan IS for marketing company" subject: "Information System" chapter: 5 key: "semester_8/information_system:marketing-company-is-plan" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/information_system/marketing-company-is-plan site: BCT Engineering --- # Plan IS for marketing company Information System · Chapter 5: Planning for IS - Asked in: 2069 Bhadra (old course), 12 marks - Video: [Marketing Information System - Components, Advantages, Limitations, Examples (Marketing Video 11)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h0lO46ACfA) — Marketing91 - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/information_system/marketing-company-is-plan - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/information_system/chapter-5 ## Question Plan an information system for a marketing company that has one head office and ten branches. Discuss different information system components required for the setup (hardware, system software, communication network, outsourced services and any third party software). Provide the detail specification for each of the Information System components required for the setup. Also make a top level diagram of the entire setup. ## Short answer Central server‑based architecture with head‑office servers (2× 16‑core, 64 GB RAM, 4 TB RAID‑10) and branch WAN (10 Mbps leased lines, IPsec VPN, 4G backup). Branches get 10 desktops (Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) plus printer/UPS. Software includes CRM, accounting, and office suite; outsourced services cover ISP, cloud backup and hardware AMC. ## Answer **Assumptions:** the company has one head office (HO) in Kathmandu and ten branches across Nepal; about 200 staff in total (HO 60, 14 per branch); main activities are sales, customer management, inventory, accounts, HR and reporting. Sales staff also work in the field. The budget is moderate, so cloud services are used where sensible. #### Information system plan - **Architecture:** central, server-based. The HO hosts the main database and applications; branches connect through a WAN/VPN. Branches can also work offline for short periods and synchronise later. - **Applications:** CRM, sales and order management, inventory, accounting, HR/payroll, a management dashboard and e-mail. #### Components and specifications | Component | Specification (suggested) | |---|---| | **Servers (HO)** | 2 rack servers (application and database), 16 cores, 64 GB RAM, 4 TB RAID-10 SSD/HDD, redundant power; 1 backup server/NAS with 20 TB | | **Client computers** | HO 60 desktops, branches 10 desktops/laptops each: Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, 21-inch monitor | | **Field staff devices** | Tablets/smartphones with Android and the CRM app | | **Peripherals** | Network laser printers, barcode scanners, UPS (1 kVA per PC, 10 kVA at server room), scanners | | **System software** | Server: Linux or Windows Server; Database: PostgreSQL/MySQL or SQL Server; Clients: Windows 10/11 with licensed antivirus; virtualization optional | | **Communication network** | HO: 1 Gbps LAN, managed switches, Wi-Fi, firewall/UTM; WAN: 10 Mbps leased line or VPN over ISP broadband from each branch with 4G backup; dual ISP at HO | | **Third-party software** | Accounting package (e.g. Tally/ERP), CRM (e.g. open-source or SaaS), office suite, e-mail (cloud), antivirus | | **Outsourced services** | ISP and VPN links, cloud backup/disaster-recovery storage, annual maintenance contract (AMC) for hardware, web hosting, IT support and security audit | | **Security** | Firewall, role-based access, daily backup, encrypted VPN, offsite backup | #### Top-level diagram ```text +-----------------------+ | HEAD OFFICE | | App + DB servers | | Backup, Firewall, LAN | +----------+------------+ | VPN / WAN (ISP + 4G backup) +-------+-------+-------+-------+ | | | | | Branch1 Branch2 ... Branch9 Branch10 (LAN,PCs,printer,router/VPN each) | +----------+------------+ | Cloud backup / DR site| +-----------------------+ Field staff: mobile devices via internet ``` #### Notes Each branch has a router, a switch, a firewall and a UPS. The WAN is secured with an IPsec VPN. Servers are placed in a locked, air-conditioned room. Data are backed up daily and copied offsite weekly. Users have roles (sales, manager, accountant, admin), so each sees only the data they need. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What architecture is proposed for the marketing company? A. Fully peer-to-peer without servers B. Central server-based, with HO hosting the main database and branches connecting through WAN/VPN C. Ten independent databases with no sharing D. Paper-based branches Answer: B. HO hosts the main database and applications; branches connect through a WAN/VPN. (Key point: Architecture) 2. Which WAN specification is given for branches? A. 10 Mbps leased line or VPN over ISP broadband with 4G backup, and dual ISP at HO B. Dial-up modem only C. Single ISP with no backup D. No connectivity, only USB transfer Answer: A. Each branch uses a 10 Mbps leased line or VPN over broadband with 4G backup; HO has dual ISP. (Key point: WAN design) 3. Which is listed among outsourced services? A. Writing the company mission B. Cloud backup/DR storage, hardware AMC, ISP and VPN links, IT support and security audit C. Hiring all sales staff D. Designing the office furniture Answer: B. Outsourced services include ISP/VPN, cloud backup/DR, AMC, hosting, IT support and security audit. (Key point: Outsourced services) 4. Which security/backup measures are included? A. Daily backup, offsite copy, firewall, role-based access and an IPsec VPN B. No backups C. Shared single password D. Open unencrypted WAN Answer: A. Data are backed up daily and copied offsite weekly, secured by firewall, roles and IPsec VPN. (Key point: Security and backup) ## Related in Information System - [Strategic information system and benefits](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Astrategic-is-benefits) — Information System, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Geographic Information System](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Agis-characteristics-uses) — Information System, chapter 1 - [Short note: HR information system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Ashort-note-hris) — Information System, chapter 6 - [Hardware selection for IS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Ahardware-selection-factors) — Information System, chapter 6 - [Process of developing IS security plan](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Ais-security-plan) — Information System, chapter 2 - [One-class vs multi-class CF](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Acollaborative-filtering-one-vs-multi-class) — Information System, chapter 7 ## Related in other subjects - [Audio hardware and audio software](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fmultimedia_system%3Aaudio-hardware-software) — Multimedia System, chapter 2 - [Typical power system network and components](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fpower_system_analysis_i%3Atypical-power-system-network-components) — Power System Analysis I, chapter 1 - [Function of basic components of a digital communication system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fcommunication_systems%3Adcs-basic-components) — Communication Systems, chapter 1 - [Proposal to start a software company](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Aproposal-software-company-ministry) — Communication English, chapter 6