Network Security
Network Security Essentials
See the traffic, segment the network, and catch what shouldn't be there.
- 8 modules
- 12 labs
- ~14 hours
- Beginner
- Hands-on Labs
- Certificate
- Beginner Friendly
Course overview
A practical grounding in network defence: how packets move, where to place controls, and how to prove a control is doing its job.
You build a segmented lab network, configure firewall rules and an IDS, capture traffic, and analyse a simulated intrusion at the packet level.
What you will be able to do
- Read packet captures and identify suspicious flows
- Design and implement network segmentation
- Write and validate firewall rules
- Deploy and tune an IDS/IPS
- Secure remote access with VPN best practice
Curriculum
- 1
Networking Refresher for Defenders
The layers that matter in an investigation.
- TCP/IP essentials
- DNS and HTTP behaviour
- Common protocol abuse
- 2
Build a Segmented Lab Network
Your own testbed.
- Virtual network design
- VLANs and subnets
- Routing between zones
- 3
Firewalls & Access Control
Default deny, in practice.
- Rule design
- Egress filtering
- Rule review and cleanup
- 4
IDS / IPS
Detect what the firewall lets through.
- Signature-based detection
- Rule tuning
- Alert triage
- 5
Traffic Analysis
Evidence at the packet level.
- Capture strategy
- Wireshark workflows
- Beaconing and exfiltration patterns
- 6
Secure Remote Access
VPNs and Zero Trust network access.
- VPN configuration
- Split tunnelling risk
- ZTNA concepts
Labs you will build
PrimeSec does not hand you a pre-built machine. You get professional lab guides and build the environment yourself — that is where the skill comes from.
- Build a multi-zone virtual network
- Configure a firewall with default-deny egress
- Deploy an IDS and tune noisy signatures
- Capture and analyse a port scan
- Identify C2 beaconing in a capture
- Configure and test a site-to-site VPN
Portfolio projects
- A segmented network design document with diagram
- A firewall rule set with justification per rule
- A traffic analysis report for a simulated intrusion
Frequently asked questions
Do you provide the lab environment?
No — and that is intentional. PrimeSec gives you professional lab guides that teach you to build and configure the environment yourself using your own machine, Hyper-V, VMware, VirtualBox, Docker, or a cloud free tier. Building and troubleshooting the environment is part of the skill.
Is this course self-paced?
Network Security Essentials is self-paced. Lessons, knowledge checks, labs and projects unlock in order so you always know what to do next.
Do I get a certificate?
You receive a PrimeSec course completion certificate once every module, lab and project requirement is met. It demonstrates completion and practical work — not an accredited industry certification.
Will cloud labs cost me money?
Labs are designed around free tiers and local virtualisation wherever possible, and every cloud lab includes cleanup steps so you do not leave billable resources running.
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