Foundations of Information Security

• Introduction to Information Security
  • Importance of information security in today’s digital landscape
  • Overview of the CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability)
  • Key security principles: least privilege, defense in depth, risk management
• Understanding Threats and Vulnerabilities
  • Types of security threats (malware, phishing, insider threats)
  • Common vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and applications
  • Case studies on major security breaches and attacks
• Security Policies and Standards
  • Overview of security policies, procedures, and standards (ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR)
  • Developing and implementing effective security policies
  • Introduction to compliance and regulatory requirements
• Hands-on Practice:
  • Designing a basic security policy for a small organization
  • Identifying potential security vulnerabilities in a case scenario

Network Security & Defense Mechanisms

• Network Security Basics
  • Key concepts: firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), VPNs
  • Network segmentation and security zones
  • Securing wireless networks and remote access
• Security Protocols and Encryption
  • Understanding security protocols (SSL/TLS, HTTPS, IPSec)
  • Introduction to encryption: symmetric vs asymmetric, key management
  • Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and certificate-based authentication
• Defending Against Network Attacks
  • Common network attacks (DDoS, man-in-the-middle, port scanning)
  • Best practices for mitigating network attacks and securing network traffic
  • Using network monitoring and logging tools (Wireshark, Snort)
• Hands-on Practice:
  • Configuring a firewall and VPN in a simulated environment
  • Analyzing network traffic using monitoring tools to detect potential threats

Application Security and Secure Development Practices

• Introduction to Application Security
  • Key application vulnerabilities (SQL injection, cross-site scripting, buffer overflows)
  • Secure coding practices and OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities
  • Principles of secure software development lifecycle (SDLC)
• Web Application Security
  • Securing web applications from common attacks
  • Understanding authentication and authorization mechanisms
  • Implementing secure APIs and protecting against API vulnerabilities
• Static and Dynamic Application Security Testing
  • Overview of security testing techniques: static analysis, dynamic analysis, penetration testing
  • Introduction to automated security testing tools (e.g., Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP)
  • Secure code review practices
• Hands-on Practice:
  • Performing basic penetration testing on a web application
  • Running static analysis tools to identify security weaknesses in code

Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Incident Response

• Identity and Access Management (IAM)
  • Importance of IAM in security infrastructure
  • Implementing authentication and access control mechanisms (multi-factor authentication, role-based access control)
  • Best practices for managing user accounts and permissions
• Incident Response and Handling
  • Understanding the incident response lifecycle (detection, containment, eradication, recovery)
  • Developing an incident response plan
  • Forensics and investigation of security incidents
• Incident Response Teams and Procedures
  • Setting up an incident response team (IRT)
  • Best practices for responding to security breaches
  • Communication during and after incidents (internal and external)
• Hands-on Practice:
  • Simulating a security incident and developing an appropriate response plan
  • Conducting a post-incident analysis and creating a report

Advanced Topics and Emerging Threats

• Advanced Threats and Emerging Security Technologies
  • Introduction to advanced persistent threats (APTs) and nation-state attacks
  • Ransomware, zero-day vulnerabilities, and AI-driven attacks
  • Emerging security technologies: Zero Trust architecture, security automation, and AI in security
• Cloud Security
  • Key concepts in cloud security (shared responsibility model, data encryption, access management)
  • Securing cloud infrastructure and applications (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Managing security risks in hybrid and multi-cloud environments
• Data Security and Privacy
  • Protecting sensitive data at rest, in transit, and in use
  • Implementing data loss prevention (DLP) solutions
  • Compliance with data privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA)
• Final Project and Course Wrap-Up
  • Participants develop a comprehensive security strategy for an organization, incorporating network, application, and cloud security
  • Presentation of security strategies and discussion
  • Review of key concepts and future learning resources