The Internet continues to grow exponentially. As personal and business-critical applications become more prevalent on the Internet, there are many immediate benefits. However, these network-based applications and services can pose security risks to individuals as well as to the information resources of companies. In many cases, the rush to get connected comes at the expense of adequate network security. Information is an asset that must be protected. Without adequate protection or network security, many individuals, businesses, and governments are at risk of losing that asset.

Network security is the process by which digital information assets are protected. The goals of security are to protect confidentiality, maintain integrity, and assure availability. With this in mind, it is imperative that all networks be protected from threats and vulnerabilities in order for a business to achieve its fullest potential.

Introduction to Network Security course uses an online curriculum and focuses on the overall security processes with particular emphasis on hands-on skills in the following areas:

• Security policy design and management
• Security technologies, products and solutions
• Firewall and secure router design, installation, configuration, maintenance and management
• AAA implementation using routers and firewalls
• Intrusion Detection (IDS) implementation using routers and firewalls
• VPN implementation using routers and firewalls

Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Security policy design and management
• Select appropriate security hardware, software, and configurations based on organizational requirements to protect a network against vulnerabilities and threats.
• Develop and manage a security policy.
• Demonstrate advanced installation, configuration, monitoring, troubleshooting, and maintenance on IOS and PIX Firewalls.
• Understand and configure basic switch security.
• Demonstrate advanced ACL configuration and troubleshooting on IOS and PIX Firewalls
• Configure static and dynamic network address translation on IOS and PIX Firewalls.
• Configure site-to-site VPNs on Cisco routers and PIX Firewalls.
• Configure remote access VPNs between Cisco VPN clients, IOS and PIX Firewalls.
• Configure intrusion detection and monitoring on the IOS and PIX Firewalls.
• Understand and configure failover for PIX Firewalls and advanced protocol handling.

• Unix/Linux operation and configuration
• Web server installation and configuration.
• Advanced routing and switching technologies.
• Advanced remote access technologies (ISDN, dial, xDSL, Broadband Cable) Programming techniques.
• E-commerce
• Large-scale web site development and deployment.
• Business management.

Students should be prepared to take the 642-502 (SNRS), or 642-551 (SND) and 642-522 (SNPA) exams in preparation for the Cisco Firewall Specialist. These exams will also count towards the Cisco Qualified Specialist Security Firewall certification. Students will also be prepared to take the CompTIA Security+ exam.