This course covers network defense and incident response methods, tactics, and procedures that are in alignment with industry frameworks such as NIST 800-61r2 (Computer Security Incident Handling Guide), US-CERT’s National Cyber Incident Response Plan (NCIRP), and Presidential Policy Directive (PPD)-41 on Cyber Incident Coordination, NIST 800.171r2 (Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations).

It is ideal for candidates who have been tasked with the responsibility of monitoring and detecting security incidents in information systems and networks, and for executing standardized responses to such incidents. The course introduces tools, tactics, and procedures to manage cybersecurity risks, defend cybersecurity assets, identify various types of common threats, evaluate the organization’s security, collect and analyze cybersecurity intelligence, and remediate and report incidents as they occur.

This course provides a comprehensive methodology for individuals responsible for defending the cybersecurity of their organization.

This course is designed to assist students in preparing for the CertNexus CyberSec First Responder (Exam CFR-410) certification examination. What you learn and practice in this course can be a significant part of your preparation.

In addition, this course and subsequent certification (CFR-410) meet all requirements for personnel requiring DoD directive 8570.01-M position certification baselines:

• CSSP Analyst
• CSSP Infrastructure Support
• CSSP Incident Responder
• CSSP Auditor

In this course, you will identify, assess, respond to, and protect against security threats and operate a system and network security analysis platform. You will:

• Assess cybersecurity risks to the organization.
• Analyze the threat landscape.
• Analyze various reconnaissance threats to computing and network environments.
• Analyze various attacks on computing and network environments.
• Analyze various post-attack techniques.
• Assess the organization’s security posture through auditing, vulnerability management, and penetration testing.
• Collect cybersecurity intelligence from various network-based and host-based sources.
• Analyze log data to reveal evidence of threats and incidents.
• Perform active asset and network analysis to detect incidents.
• Respond to cybersecurity incidents using containment, mitigation, and recovery tactics.
• Investigate cybersecurity incidents using forensic analysis techniques.

Lesson 1: Assessing Cybersecurity Risk

Topic A: Identify the Importance of Risk Management

Topic B: Assess Risk

Topic C: Mitigate Risk

Topic D: Integrate Documentation into Risk Management

Lesson 2: Analyzing the Threat Landscape

Topic A: Classify Threats

Topic B: Analyze Trends Affecting Security Posture

Lesson 3: Analyzing Reconnaissance Threats to Computing and Network Environments

Topic A: Implement Threat Modeling

Topic B: Assess the Impact of Reconnaissance

Topic C: Assess the Impact of Social Engineering

Lesson 4: Analyzing Attacks on Computing and Network Environments

Topic A: Assess the Impact of System Hacking Attacks

Topic B: Assess the Impact of Web-Based Attacks

Topic C: Assess the Impact of Malware

Topic D: Assess the Impact of Hijacking and Impersonation Attacks

Topic E: Assess the Impact of DoS Incidents

Topic F: Assess the Impact of Threats to Mobile Security

Topic G: Assess the Impact of Threats to Cloud Security

Lesson 5: Analyzing Post-Attack Techniques

Topic A: Assess Command and Control Techniques

Topic B: Assess Persistence Techniques

Topic C: Assess Lateral Movement and Pivoting Techniques

Topic D: Assess Data Exfiltration Techniques

Topic E: Assess Anti-Forensics Techniques

Lesson 6: Assessing the Organization’s Security Posture

Topic A: Implement Cybersecurity Auditing

Topic B: Implement a Vulnerability Management Plan

Topic C: Assess Vulnerabilities

Topic D: Conduct Penetration Testing

Lesson 7: Collecting Cybersecurity Intelligence

Topic A: Deploy a Security Intelligence Collection and Analysis Platform

Topic B: Collect Data from Network-Based Intelligence Sources

Topic C: Collect Data from Host-Based Intelligence Sources

Lesson 8: Analyzing Log Data

Topic A: Use Common Tools to Analyze Logs

Topic B: Use SIEM Tools for Analysis

Lesson 9: Performing Active Asset and Network Analysis

Topic A: Analyze Incidents with Windows-Based Tools

Topic B: Analyze Incidents with Linux-Based Tools

Topic C: Analyze Indicators of Compromise

Lesson 10: Responding to Cybersecurity Incidents

Topic A: Deploy an Incident Handling and Response Architecture

Topic B: Mitigate Incidents

Topic C: Hand Over Incident Information to a Forensic Investigation

Lesson 11: Investigating Cybersecurity Incidents

Topic A: Apply a Forensic Investigation Plan

Topic B: Securely Collect and Analyze Electronic Evidence

Topic C: Follow Up on the Results of an Investigation

Appendix A: Mapping Course Content to CyberSec First Responder® (Exam CFR-410)

Appendix B: Regular Expressions

This course is designed primarily for cybersecurity practitioners preparing for or who currently perform job functions related to protecting information systems by ensuring their availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation. It is ideal for those roles within federal contracting companies and private sector firms whose mission or strategic objectives require the execution of Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO) or DoD Information Network (DoDIN) operation and incident handling. This course focuses on the knowledge, ability, and skills necessary to provide for the defense of those information systems in a cybersecurity context, including protection, detection, analysis, investigation, and response processes.

In addition, the course ensures that all members of an IT team—regardless of size, rank, or budget— understand their role in the cyber defense, incident response, and incident handling process.

To ensure your success in this course, you should meet the following requirements:

• At least two years (recommended) of experience or education in computer network security technology or a related field.
• The ability or curiosity to recognize information security vulnerabilities and threats in the context of risk management.
• Foundational knowledge of the concepts and operational framework of common assurance safeguards in network environments. Safeguards include, but are not limited to, firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and VPNs.
• General knowledge of the concepts and operational framework of common assurance safeguards in computing environments. Safeguards include, but are not limited to, basic authentication and authorization, resource permissions, and anti-malware mechanisms.
• Foundation-level skills with some of the common operating systems for computing environments.
• Entry-level understanding of some of the common concepts for network environments, such as routing and switching.
• General or practical knowledge of major TCP/IP networking protocols, including, but not limited to, TCP, IP, UDP, DNS, HTTP, ARP, ICMP, and DHCP.