Risk Assessment

Logical Design vs. Physical Design, Similarities and Differences
The combination of a well implemented logical and physical design should create an effective architecture and therefore a network that meets the needs of an organization.   While both logical and physical designs are highly important in the implementation of a network, the physical is totally dependent of the logical.   In order for a physical design to exist there has be a logical design in place.  
After the organization’s requirements have been established it is time to create the logical design.   “Logical modeling deals with gathering business requirements and converting those requirements into a model” (Developer.com, 2008).   The logical aspect of the design is comprised by a model where all organization’s requirements are met.  
On the other hand, the physical design engages the mission of ensuring that the logical model is implemented with the hardware available to the organization.   Bryce (2006) simply defines it as “the physical components describe ‘how’ it will be implemented”. The physical aspect encompasses the actual layout of the physical part of the network, a physical representation of all the hardware.  
Understanding the differences between logical and physical design becomes an easier task once the order is understood.   Once it is understood that one is the precursor of the other, the differences are much more manageable.   It is important to mention the ways these designs differ, for instance, once you have a logical design this one logical entity can actually serve for more than one physical design. For example, a company that has different offices in several states, can in effect, utilize the same logical design but ensure that the physical design meets the needs of the individual offices.   As a result, you end up with one logical design and several physical designs depending on where it is for.   Another difference is the physical design representing the ‘real’ connection or... [continues]

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