You’ve learned the threats; now learn how to stop them. This intermediate, hands-on course is designed for IT professionals and security enthusiasts ready to move from theory to practice. You will gain the practical skills to monitor, analyze, and defend organizational networks against real-world attacks. This course is your direct pathway to a job as a Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst or Network Defender and is aligned with global certification standards.

Course Format: Online with Live, Interactive Lab Sessions
Total Duration: 60 Hours (6 Hours per Week for 10 Weeks)
Pre-requisite: Cybersecurity Foundation Certificate or equivalent basic knowledge.
Certification: Cybersecurity Analyst Certificate from Gulf Skill Education System. Course content maps to CompTIA Security+ exam objectives.

Who Is This Course For?

• Graduates of our Cybersecurity Foundation course ready for the next level.

• IT Support Specialists & Network Administrators looking to specialize in security.

• Professionals in Industrial Sectors (Oil & Gas, Manufacturing) who need to understand how to secure critical operational networks (IT/OT convergence).

• Career Changers with some IT background aiming for a first role in cybersecurity.

What You Will Learn (Course Objectives)

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Configure and manage enterprise-grade firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS).

• Harden Windows and Linux servers against attacks by applying security baselines.

• Monitor network traffic using tools like Wireshark to identify malicious activity and anomalies.

• Perform basic vulnerability assessments to find and report security weaknesses in systems.

• Understand the core concepts of Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and incident response workflows.

Detailed Course Syllabus

Module 1: Advanced Network Security Architecture (Week 1-2)

• Topic 1.1: Designing Secure Network Segments (DMZ, LAN, WLAN)

• Topic 1.2: Deep Dive: Configuring pfSense/OPNsense Firewall Rules (NAT, Port Forwarding, Traffic Shaping)

• Topic 1.3: Implementing Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (Snort IDS Practical Lab)

• Topic 1.4: Secure Network Protocols and Cryptography in Action (TLS, SSH, IPsec)

Module 2: System Hardening & Access Control (Week 3-4)

• Topic 2.1: Securing Windows Server: Group Policy for Security, User Rights, and Audit Policies

• Topic 2.2: Securing Linux Servers: SELinux/AppArmor, SSH Key Authentication, and Service Hardening

• Topic 2.3: Patch Management Strategies and Automated Deployment

• Topic 2.4: Implementing Identity and Access Management (IAM): Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Module 3: Threat Detection & Analysis (Week 5-7)

• Topic 3.1: Packet Analysis Masterclass with Wireshark: Filtering, Following Streams, Identifying Malware Signatures

• Topic 3.2: Introduction to SIEM: Log Aggregation, Correlation, and Creating Basic Alert Rules

• Topic 3.3: Threat Intelligence: Utilizing Open-Source Feeds (OSINT) to Understand Adversary Tactics

• Topic 3.4: Malware Behavior Analysis in a Sandboxed Environment

Module 4: Vulnerability Management & Response (Week 8-10)

• Topic 4.1: Vulnerability Assessment Methodology: Scanning with OpenVAS and Nessus Essentials

• Topic 4.2: Risk Assessment: Prioritizing Vulnerabilities (CVSS Scoring) and Writing Professional Reports

• Topic 4.3: Digital Forensics Fundamentals: Disk Imaging, Live System Analysis, and Evidence Handling

• Topic 4.4: Incident Response Team (IRT) Simulation: A Capstone Incident Response Exercise

• Final Assessment: A comprehensive practical exam: “Secure and Monitor a Simulated Corporate Network Under Attack.”

How You Will Learn

• Interactive Video Demos: Step-by-step configuration of security tools.

• Hands-On Virtual Labs: Each student gets access to a dedicated, safe virtual lab environment with pre-configured vulnerable machines and security tools.

• Weekly Live Hack & Defend Sessions: Instructor-led sessions where attack techniques are demonstrated and then mitigated by students.

• Case Study Analysis: Review of real-world breach reports from companies in Pakistan and abroad.

• Mentorship: Direct feedback on lab reports and vulnerability assessments.