Network Defenses

Course Number: 95-884

Department: Heinz College

Location: Pittsburgh

Units: 6

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Network Defenses will cover the basics of network security through lecture and hands-on interaction with live virtual systems. Topics and labs include network traffic analysis, firewalls, networking, intrusion detection systems, logging and system event management, and network flow. The course will culminate in a group exercise where teams will identify and detect live attacks occurring on a virtual environment. Network Defenses is geared towards students who may be non-technical by nature, but who want to gain hands-on insight into the tools and techniques used in network security and computer security in general. However, no prior hands-on skills are required in order to succeed in this course. Course concepts will be tested via weekly quizzes and a final exam.

Syllabus

https://api.heinz.cmu.edu/courses_api/course_detail/95-884/

Class format

Lecture and project-based

Home department

Heinz, INI

Target audience

MS / Ph.D. students who want to gain hands-on insight into the tools and techniques used in network security and computer security in general.

Background required

Students will be required have a basic understanding of networking concepts (TCP/IP, OSI Model, etc.) and know common Windows and Linux commands and functionality. This is a graduate level course and students will be expected to put in the additional time and to research solutions on their own and learn any prerequisites skills that they do not currently possess.

Learning objectives

  • Understand the basics of network security and the strategy of defense in depth
  • Apply hands-on skills and analysis techniques to situation-based scenarios
  • Analyze and identify common attack techniques and traffic patterns

Faculty and instructors who have taught this course in the past

Christopher Herr, Toby Meyer