Outlan · Resources
These are the courses I point people to when they ask where to start. Most are free. A few cost money, and those are marked.
Network security sits on top of three things: the operating system (mostly Linux), the network itself, and the controls that sit between them (firewalls, IDS/IPS and so on). Learn them in that order. Each one depends on the one before it.
Almost every firewall, proxy, sensor and cloud workload you will touch runs on Linux, or something that looks a lot like it.
A step-by-step introduction to the command line. Short enough to finish in a weekend.
Video-based and self-paced. The certificate is optional and costs extra.
Seven short chapters. A good refresher if you have touched Linux before.
Bash scripting from the first line. Scripting is where the command line starts saving you time.
System administration basics (files, permissions, users, grep and root access), with practice labs.
The next step after Unhatched. Prepares you for the LPI Linux Essentials exam.
A broad working knowledge of Linux, both the desktop and the command line. The same course is also on edX.
You can't secure a network you don't understand. Get comfortable with IP addressing, subnets and the OSI model before you move on.
A beginner course on how networks operate, with hands-on labs. It's also the first step on Cisco's networking and cybersecurity tracks.
Five modules of short video classes, each with an exercise. The certificate is free too.
Self-paced video lessons. You get 90 days of access, so set aside the time before you enroll.
The deep end. Take it once the basics feel easy.
This is where the operating system and the network come together: threats, controls, and how a security operations center (SOC) runs.
Introduction to Cybersecurity, Network Security, Cloud Security and SOC. All you need is a free Beacon account (Palo Alto's training site).
Six modules with hands-on labs. It also works as a free preview of Evolve's bootcamp.
A structured program. It includes a networks and network security course, a Linux and SQL course, and SIEM (security information and event management) work in Chronicle and Splunk. There is a 7-day free trial.
Learn how firewalls and intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) actually inspect traffic, and how attackers try to get around them.
Packet filtering, stateful inspection, application firewalls, IDS/IPS and web content filtering. It's one of the four courses in section 03.
A short, focused course. It's covered by Infosec Skills' 7-day free trial.
Optional, but performance and security problems often turn out to be hardware problems. It helps to know what is inside the box.
The components of a system, and how hardware and software fit together.
Lecture notes and problem sets only, with no video. This is a stretch goal, not a starting point.
Real system administration on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, through a Red Hat Learning Subscription. Take it if you will run Linux systems yourself.