Network Security and Optimization

Overview

Class Central Tips

This course equips you with the advanced skills needed to secure and optimize modern networks. Starting with EtherChannel, you'll learn how to improve bandwidth efficiency through load balancing and multi-path connections. The course also covers important protocols like StackWise and Layer 3 EtherChannel, which ensure high performance and network redundancy. You’ll get hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting these technologies, giving you the practical skills to manage complex network environments. Moving into network security, the course delves into key topics such as Access Control Lists (ACLs), DHCP snooping, and Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI). You’ll learn how to secure your switches, prevent unauthorized devices from accessing your network, and lock ports to specific hosts. This section provides critical insights into identity-based networking (802.1X) and the best practices for implementing SSH for secure remote management. Lab demos ensure you can apply these methods in real-world environments. Finally, the course explores network optimization techniques like Network Address Translation (NAT) and Port Address Translation (PAT), enabling you to manage IPv4 address exhaustion and optimize routing for large-scale networks. IPv6 routing is also covered to future-proof your skills. Through a combination of security best practices and network optimization strategies, you will leave this course equipped to handle any networking challenge with confidence. This course is ideal for network administrators and IT professionals looking to improve their security and optimization skills. A basic understanding of Cisco networking is recommended, but no advanced security knowledge is required.

Syllabus

EtherChannel

In this module, we will introduce EtherChannel, a technique for link aggregation, teaching you how to configure it for increased bandwidth and redundancy in Cisco environments.

Switch Security

In this module, we will focus on securing Cisco switches, introducing features like port security, DHCP snooping, and other techniques to prevent unauthorized access to your network.

ACLs - Access Control Lists

In this module, we will dive into Access Control Lists (ACLs), covering how to configure and apply them to filter traffic and improve the overall security of your network.

NAT - Network Address Translation

In this module, we will cover Network Address Translation (NAT), its role in managing IP addresses, and how to configure both static and dynamic NAT to optimize network efficiency.

IPv6 Addressing and Routing

In this module, we will introduce IPv6, explaining its advantages over IPv4, how to configure IPv6 addresses on Cisco devices, and set up static routing for IPv6.

WAN - Wide Area Networks

In this module, we will explore WAN technologies, including leased lines, MPLS, and VPNs, and how to choose the appropriate WAN topology for large and distributed networks.

The Security Threat Landscape

In this module, we will dive into the security threat landscape, focusing on how firewalls, IDS/IPS, and cryptography can be used to protect your network from external threats.

Cisco Device Security

In this module, we will cover Cisco device security, focusing on features like privileged exec, SSH, and AAA, to ensure the security of your Cisco network devices.