Cyber Security Course

This outline ensures that students develop a robust understanding of both defensive and offensive cybersecurity techniques, preparing them for roles in cybersecurity and IT security management

Module 1: Introduction to Cybersecurity
– Objective: To establish a foundational understanding of cybersecurity concepts, its importance, and key principles.

1. Overview of Cybersecurity
– Definition and goals of cybersecurity
– Importance of cybersecurity in the modern world
– Key cybersecurity threats and challenges (e.g., malware, hacking, social engineering)
– History and evolution of cybersecurity

2. Cybersecurity Principles
– Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability (CIA Triad)
– Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA)
– Risk management and risk assessment

3. Types of Cyber Threats
– Malware (viruses, worms, ransomware, Trojans)
– Phishing, spear-phishing, and social engineering
– Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks
– Insider threats

4. Cybersecurity Standards and Frameworks
– Overview of global cybersecurity standards (ISO/IEC 27001, NIST, CIS)
– Compliance and regulatory requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS)

5. Basic Cryptography Concepts
– Symmetric vs Asymmetric encryption
– Cryptographic algorithms (AES, RSA, SHA-2, etc.)
– Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

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Module 2: Network Security
– Objective: To understand the security challenges in networking and the tools and techniques for securing networks.

1. Network Basics and Vulnerabilities
– OSI and TCP/IP models
– Common network vulnerabilities (open ports, misconfigurations)
– Network sniffing and packet analysis

2. Network Security Protocols
– Firewalls (types: packet-filtering, stateful, next-generation firewalls)
– Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
– Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
– Secure Socket Layer (SSL) / Transport Layer Security (TLS)

3. Attack Techniques
– Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks
– DNS Spoofing, ARP Spoofing
– Packet sniffing and session hijacking
– Wireless network security (WEP, WPA, WPA2 vulnerabilities)

4. Defense Mechanisms
– Network segmentation and subnetting
– Secure routing protocols
– Virtual LANs (VLANs)
– Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems

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Module 3: Operating System and Application Security
– Objective: To explore the security aspects of operating systems and applications, focusing on vulnerabilities and countermeasures.

1. Operating System Security
– Security features in major operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS)
– User authentication and access control (ACLs, RBAC)
– File system security and encryption (NTFS, Linux file permissions)
– Patch management and system updates

2. Application Security
– Common application vulnerabilities (SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting, Cross-Site Request Forgery)
– Secure software development life cycle (SDLC)
– Web Application Firewalls (WAF)
– Secure coding practices

3. Privilege Escalation and Rootkits
– Techniques of privilege escalation (exploiting misconfigurations, buffer overflows)
– Understanding and detecting rootkits
– Anti-virus and anti-malware tools

4. Secure Configuration and Hardening
– System hardening practices
– Role of system administrators in security
– Security baselines for systems and applications

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Module 4: Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing
– Objective: To provide hands-on experience in ethical hacking techniques, tools, and penetration testing methodologies.

1. Ethical Hacking Introduction
– Ethical hacking vs malicious hacking
– Legal and ethical considerations (permission, responsible disclosure)
– Penetration testing methodologies (OWASP, PTES, NIST)

2. Reconnaissance and Information Gathering
– Passive and active reconnaissance techniques
– OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) tools
– Scanning and enumeration (port scanning, banner grabbing)

3. Exploitation and Post-Exploitation
– Exploit development (buffer overflow, privilege escalation)
– Web application exploitation techniques
– Pivoting and maintaining access

4. Penetration Testing Tools
– Kali Linux and its tools (Nmap, Metasploit, Burp Suite)
– Vulnerability scanners (Nessus, OpenVAS)
– Exploit frameworks and automation tools

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Module 5: Cybersecurity Defense and Incident Response
– Objective: To understand how to detect, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks and breaches.

1. Incident Response and Management
– Phases of incident response (preparation, detection, containment, eradication, recovery)
– Incident handling tools and techniques
– Forensics and evidence collection

2. Intrusion Detection and Prevention
– IDS/IPS systems overview
– Signature-based vs anomaly-based detection
– SIEM tools (Splunk, ELK stack)

3. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
– Creating and maintaining disaster recovery plans (DRP) and business continuity plans (BCP)
– Backup strategies (full, incremental, differential)
– Cloud security and backup solutions

4. Advanced Threat Detection
– Behavioral analysis and anomaly detection
– Machine learning and AI in threat detection
– Threat hunting and proactive defense

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Module 6: Cloud Security and Emerging Technologies
– Objective: To understand the security considerations for cloud environments and emerging technologies.

1. Cloud Security Fundamentals
– Types of clouds (public, private, hybrid)
– Shared responsibility model in cloud computing
– Security risks and challenges in the cloud

2. Cloud Security Best Practices
– Cloud access security brokers (CASBs)
– Identity and access management (IAM) in the cloud
– Encryption and key management in the cloud
– Cloud incident response strategies

3. Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Security
– Basics of blockchain technology
– Security risks in cryptocurrency transactions
– Blockchain vulnerabilities and attack vectors

4. IoT (Internet of Things) Security
– IoT devices and their security vulnerabilities
– IoT botnets and DDoS attacks
– IoT security best practices

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Module 7: Advanced Topics and Real-World Applications
– Objective: To explore advanced topics in cybersecurity and apply knowledge to real-world scenarios.

1. Advanced Malware Analysis
– Static and dynamic analysis techniques
– Reverse engineering malware
– Sandbox environments and tools (Cuckoo Sandbox, VirusTotal)

2. Zero Trust Security Model
– Principles of Zero Trust
– Implementing Zero Trust in modern networks
– Access control strategies for Zero Trust

3. Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence
– Collection and analysis of threat intelligence
– Threat intelligence sharing and collaboration
– Cyber threat intelligence tools (MISP, OpenDXL)

4. Security Auditing and Governance
– Conducting security audits
– Compliance frameworks and audits (SOC2, ISO 27001)
– Continuous monitoring and improvement in cybersecurity

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Project and Certification
– Capstone Project: Students will implement a real-world cybersecurity solution such as setting up a secure network, performing penetration testing, or conducting a threat intelligence analysis.
– Certification Exam: Students will have the option to take industry-recognized certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), or other relevant certifications.

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Assessment and Evaluation
– Assignments and Quizzes: Periodic assignments and quizzes to evaluate understanding.
– Midterm Exam: Assessing knowledge on basic and intermediate cybersecurity topics.
– Final Exam: A comprehensive exam covering all course content.
– Capstone Project: Evaluating practical application of cybersecurity skills.

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Course Duration
– Total Duration: 16-20 weeks (based on class schedule)
– Class Frequency: 2-3 sessions per week (depending on institution’s schedule)

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Recommended Books and Resources
– Books:
1. “The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook” by Dafydd Stuttard and Marcus Pinto
2. “Hacking: The Art of Exploitation” by Jon Erickson
3. “Cybersecurity Essentials” by Charles J. Brooks

– Online Resources:
1. OWASP Top 10
2. SANS Institute Resources
3. Cybrary (for hands-on practice)