Course outline

Module 1: Introduction to Networks
• First Things First: What’s a Network?
• Physical Network Topologies
• Topology Selection, Backbones, and Segments

Module 2: The Open Systems Interconnection Specifications
• Internetworking Models
• The OSI Reference Model
• Introduction to Encapsulation
• Modulation Techniques

Module 3: Networking Connectors, and Wiring Standards
• Physical Media
• Cable Properties
• Wiring Standards
• Installing Wiring Distributions

Module 4: The Current Ethernet Specifications
• Network Basics
• Ethernet Basics
• Ethernet at the Data Link Layer
• Ethernet at the Physical Layer
• Ethernet over Other Standards (IEEE 1905.1-2013)

Module 5: Networking Devices
• Common Network Connectivity Devices
• Other Specialized Devices
• Networked Devices
• Planning and Implementing a Basic SOHO Network Using Network Segmentation

Module 6: Introduction to the Internet Protocol
• Introducing TCP/IP
• Data Encapsulation

Module 7: IP Addressing
• IP Terminology
• The Hierarchical IP Addressing Scheme
• IPv4 Address Types
• Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)

Module 8: IP Subnetting, Troubleshooting IP, and Introduction to NAT
• Subnetting Basics
• Troubleshooting IP Addressing
• Introduction to Network Address Translation (NAT)

Module 9: Introduction to IP Routing
• Routing Basics
• The IP Routing Process
• Testing Your IP Routing Understanding
• Static and Dynamic Routing

Module 10: Routing Protocols
• Routing Protocol Basics
• Distance-Vector Routing Protocols
• Link-State Routing Protocols
• High Availability
• Advanced IPv6 Concepts
• IPv6 Routing Protocols

Module 11: Switching and Virtual LANs
• Networking Before Layer 2 Switching
• Switching Services
• Spanning Tree Protocol
• Virtual LANs
• VLAN Trunking Protocol
• Two Additional Advanced Features of Switches

Module 12: Wireless Networking
• Introduction to Wireless Technology
• Cellular Technologies
• The 802.11 Standards (Regulatory Impacts)
• Comparing 802.11 Standards
• Wireless Network Components
• Installing a Wireless Network
• Site Survey
• Wireless Security

Module 13: Using Statistics and Sensors to Ensure Network Availability
• Performance Metrics/Sensors
• SNMP
• Network Device Logs
• Interface Statistics/Status
• Interface Errors or Alerts
• Environmental Factors and Sensors
• Baselines
• NetFlow Data
• Uptime/Downtime

Module 14: Organizational Documents and Policies
• Plans and Procedures
• Hardening and Security Policies
• Common Documentation
• Common Agreements

Module 15: High Availability and Disaster Recovery
• Load Balancing
• Multipathing
• Network Interface Card (NIC) Teaming
• Redundant Hardware/Clusters
• Facilities and Infrastructure Support
• Redundancy and High Availability (HA) Concepts
• Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)
• Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)
• Recovery Time Objective (RTO)
• Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
• Network Device Backup/Restore

Module 16: Common Security Concepts
• Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) Threats
• Vulnerabilities
• Least Privilege
• Role-Based Access
• Zero Trust
• Defense in Depth
• Authentication Methods
• Security Risk Assessments

Module 17: Common Types of Attacks
• Technology-Based Attacks
• Human and Environmental

Module 18: Network Hardening Techniques
• Best Practices
• Wireless Security
• IoT Access Considerations

Module 19: Remote Access Security
• Site-to-Site VPN
• Client-to-Site VPN
• Remote Desktop Connection
• Remote Desktop Gateway
• SSH
• Virtual Network Computing (VNC)
• Virtual Desktop
• Authentication and Authorization Considerations
• In-Band vs. Out-of-Band Management

Module 20: Physical Security
• Detection Methods
• Prevention Methods
• Asset Disposal

Module 21: Data Center Architecture and Cloud Concepts
• Data Center Network Architectures
• Software-Defined Networking
• Traffic Flows
• Branch Office vs. On-premises Data Center vs. Colocation
• Cloud Computing and Its Effect on the Enterprise Network
• Overview of Network Programmability in Enterprise Network
• Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
• Managing Network Documentation
• Network Monitoring
• Network Optimization

Module 22: Ensuring Network Availability
• Performance Metrics/Sensors
• Network Metrics
• Network Device Logs
• Interface Statistics/Status
• Interface Errors
• Baseline
• NetFlow
• Uptime
• Downtime

Module 23: Cable Connectivity Issues and Tools
• Identifying Hardware Tools

Module 24: Network Troubleshooting Methodology
• Narrowing Down the Problem
• Troubleshooting Steps
• Troubleshooting Tips

Module 25: Network Software Tools and Commands
• Software Tools
• Using traceroute
• Using ipconfig, ifconfig, and ip
• Using the ifconfig Utility
• Using the ip Utility
• Using the iptables Utility
• Using the ping Utility
• Using the Address Resolution Protocol
• Using the arp Utility
• Using the nslookup Utility
• Resolving Names with the Hosts File
• Using the Mtr Command (pathping)
• Using the Nmap Utility
• Using the route Command
• Using the nbtstat Utility
• Using the netstat Utility
• Using tcpdump
• Using the File Transfer Protocol
• Using the Telnet Utility