Starting Module 3 Network Security...

Starting Module 3 Network Security

The other day, I FINALLY made it to "Module 3: Network Security" in the Network Support and Security online course from Cisco Networking Academy.

Boy, it was a long SLOG to get through "Module 2: Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilites, and Attacks".

I will have more to write about this later.

Module 3: Network Security

Module Objective: Configure secure user access on a network.

Here are the objectives for Module 3:

Topic Title	Topic Objective
Security Foundations	Explain foundational security concepts.
Access Control	Configure access control.
Defending Systems and Devices	Explain cybersecurity processes and procedures that protect systems.
Antimalware Protection	Explain methods of mitigating malware.
Firewalls and Host-Based Intrusion Prevention	Explain how firewalls operate to filter traffic and recommend endpoint security measures.
Secure Wireless Access	Configure basic wireless security on a home router (WPAx).

Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks, Part 2...

Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks, Part 2

I haven't been posting a whole lot here on my blog.

I had completed two rather lengthy posts on my blog. It took a lot of effort to complete those two posts. There are additional lengthy posts in the pipeline.

Recently, I have been busy doing everything else except for posting to my blog.

One thing that I have been spending A LOT of time on is the Network Support and Security online class from Cisco Networking Academy.

For the past couple of weeks, I have been working my way through "Module 2: Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks". In fact, I wrote a post right here on my blog about beginning the second module of the Network Support and Security online class. You can read that post right here.

To say that my progress through the course has been slow is an understatement.

As I mentioned in a short post that I published on LinkedIn, I have already been exposed to a significant portion of the information about cybersecurity threats due to security briefings I had been given while in was in the Army, worked as a DoD contractor, and as an IT help desk employee at the Social Security Administration. However, it is a lot of information to absorb, so it is a good idea to review the nature of cyber attacks from time to time.

Module 2.0 Introduction

Module 2.1 Common Threats

Module 2.2 Deception

Module 2.3 Cyber Attacks

Module 2.4 Wireless and Mobile Device Attacks

I just started working on "Module 2.5 Application Attacks". It is the last section for Module 2:  Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks. 

Module 2.5 Application Attacks

Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks

Module 2: Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks

OK. I F-I-N-A-L-L-Y made it through "Module 1: Network Support" to "Module 2: Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks" in the Network Support and Security online class available from the Cisco Networking Academy.

Boy, was it a LONG slog. However, "Module 1: Network Support" is complete. I scored a 93% on the 15 question end-of-module exam. I am now moving on to the next module in the class.

Module 2: Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks

Here are the Topic Titles and Topic Objectives for Module 2. 

Topic Title	Topic Objective
Common Threats	Explain the threats, vulnerabilities, and attacks that occur in the various domains.
Deception	Describe the different deception methods used by attackers to deceive their victims.
Cyber Attacks	Describe common types of network attacks.
Wireless and Mobile Device Attacks	Describe common types of wireless and mobile device attacks.
Application Attacks	Describe types of application attacks.

Cisco CyberOps Associate

After "Module 2: Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks", Module 3 covers the topic of network security. As a result, the last two modules of the Network Support and Security online class will have a cybersecurity emphasis.

I recently bought a copy of official study guide for the Cisco CyberOps Associate (CBROPS 200-201) book published by Cisco Press over on Amazon.com. Thus, it will be interesting to see how much of an overlap there is between the online course and Cisco's entry-level cybersecurity certification.

Textbook for Cisco CyberOps Associate

Recently, I have considered putting aside studying for CCNA and focusing on the Cisco CyberOps Associate certification instead. After all, the Cisco CyberOps Associate certification only has one textbook compared to the two volumes needed to study for CCNA. Furthermore, I have a lot of regret about not earning my Security+ certification from CompTIA. After I earned my A+ certification, I should have just started studying for the Security+ certification in order to get me out of working at the Tier 1 IT help desk at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Earning that Security+ certification would have allowed me to work in the Security Operations Center (SOC) for SSA as a cybersecurity analyst. Instead of doing that, I got bogged down studying for the Network+ certification, which is CompTIA's version of CCNA. Why did I start studying for Network+ after A+? Well, the conventional wisdom is to study for Network+ after earning the A+ certification. After earning the Network+ certification, people will then typically study for Security+. The certification model is computer (A+) then network (Network+) then security (Security+). After figuratively banging my head against a brick wall while studying for Network+, I gave up and then started to study for CCNA instead. In hindsight, I should have skipped over networking altogether and focused exclusively on cybersecurity. That said, in order to defend networks from cyberattacks, it does kind of help to know how networks operate and do what they do.

Do I have regrets?

You better believe it.

Possible Change of Mission

Once I finish the Network Support and Security online course, I just MIGHT put aside studying for CCNA and focus on studying for the CyberOps Associate certification instead.The reason? The main reason is that I NEED an IT certification to put on my resume AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

On the other hand, I just might be able to land an entry-level data center technician job somewhere in the Phoenix area with these badges I have earned from completing the online courses in networking from the Cisco Networking Academy.

We will just have to see what happens next.