What you will learn
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of network security and common threats
- Differentiate between types of firewalls and their architectures
- Configure and manage packet filtering, stateful inspection, and proxy firewalls
- Implement application-layer firewalls for deep packet inspection
- Explore advanced features and considerations in next-generation firewalls
- Design and optimize effective firewall rule sets
- Integrate virtual private networks (VPNs) with firewalls
- Manage and monitor firewalls for optimal security
Beneficial for
This course is suitable for:
- Network Administrators
- System Administrators
- IT Managers
- Security Analysts
Course Pre-requisite
Participants should have a basic understanding of:
- Basic understanding of networking concepts
- Familiarity with general IT and cybersecurity principles
- Enthusiasm for learning and implementing firewall solutions is key
Course Outline
Understanding the importance of network security
Overview of common network security threats
Role of firewalls in mitigating security risks
Definition and purpose of firewalls
Types of firewalls: stateful, stateless, proxy, and application-layer
Firewall architectures and deployment scenarios
Basics of packet filtering and access control lists (ACLs)
Configuring packet filtering rules on routers and firewalls
Strengths and limitations of packet filtering firewalls
Understanding stateful inspection and dynamic packet filtering
Maintaining state tables for improved security
Configuring stateful inspection rules and policies
Introduction to proxy-based firewalls
Types of proxy services: HTTP, FTP, SOCKS, etc.
Benefits and considerations when using proxy firewalls
Role of application-layer firewalls in deep packet inspection
Content filtering and URL blocking
Intrusion prevention and detection with application-layer firewalls
Overview of next-generation firewalls
Advanced features: threat intelligence, antivirus, sandboxing
Application identification and control in NGFWs
Best practices for designing effective firewall rules
Rule organization and rule sets
Performance optimization and rule consolidation
Integrating VPNs with firewalls for secure remote access
Site-to-site VPNs for secure interconnection of networks
Configuring and managing VPNs on firewalls
Best practices for firewall management
Monitoring firewall logs and alerts
Incident response and troubleshooting in firewall environments
