TN-963: Windows Security Automation with PowerShell

Course Overview:

PowerShell is made for Security Operations (SecOps) automation on Windows. SecOps requires automation in order to scale out security changes and monitoring beyond a handful of hosts. For example, when a vulnerability must be remediated but there is no patch for it yet, automation is needed to quickly and consistently enact the changes necessary. PowerShell “remoting” is encrypted remote command execution of PowerShell scripts in a way that can scale to thousands of endpoints and servers.

Imagine being able to hunt for indicators of compromise across thousands of machines with just a few lines of PowerShell code. Or imagine having the local Administrator account password reset every night on thousands of endpoints in a secure way, and being able to retrieve that password securely too.

We will show you to do these tasks and more. Transcription logging for forensics, strong encryption code signing, application whitelisting of scripts, IPSec port control, and Just Enough Admin (JEA).

As more and more of our systems are moved up to the cloud, PowerShell will become even more important. Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Office 365, Hyper-V and VMware already support PowerShell administration for many tasks.

Attendees to TN-963: Windows Security Automation with PowerShell will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Date/Locations:

No Events

Duration: 3 days

Course Objectives:

Day One
PowerShell Overview and Tips

- Getting started running commands
- Using and updating the built-in help
- Execution policies
- Fun tricks with the ISE graphical editor
- Piping .NET and COM objects, not text
- Using properties and methods of objects
- Helping Linux admins feel more at home
- Aliases, cmdlets, functions, modules, etc.
- Customizing your profile script

What Can We Do With PowerShell

- PowerShell remote command execution
- Fan-out remoting and security
- File copy via PowerShell remoting
- Capturing the output of commands
- Parsing text files and logs with regex patterns
- Searching remote event logs faster with XPath
- Mounting the registry as a drive
- Exporting data to CSV, HTML and JSON files
- Parsing and mining nmap port scanner XML output
- Running scripts as scheduled jobs
- Pushing out scripts through Group Policy
- Importing modules and dot-sourcing functions
- http://www.PowerShellGallery.com

Write your own scripts

- Writing your own functions
- Passing arguments into your scripts
- Function parameters and returning output
- Flow control: if-then, do-while, foreach, switch
- The .NET Framework class library: a playground
- How to pipe data in/out of your scripts

Day Two
Continuous Secure Configuration Enforcement

- How to use Group Policy and PowerShell together
- Automate with INF security templates
- How to customize INF templates
- Microsoft Security Compliance Manager (SCM)
- SECEDIT.EXE scripting
- Building an in-house security repository for SecOps/DevOps
- NSA’s Secure Host Baseline GPOs

Group Policy Precision Targeting

- Managing Group Policy Objects (GPOs) with PowerShell
- LSDOU, Block Inheritance, Enforced GPOs
- Group Policy permissions for targeting changes
- ADMX templates for mass registry editing
- Deploying PowerShell startup and logon scripts
- WMI item-level targeting of GPO preferences
- GPO scheduled tasks to run PowerShell scripts
- Remote command execution via GPO (not remoting)
- Empowering the Hunt Team to fight back!

Server Hardening for SecOps/DevOps

- Server Manager scripting with PowerShell
- Adding and removing roles and feature
- Remotely inventory roles, features, and apps
- Why Server Nano or Server Core
- Running PowerShell automatically after service failure
- Service account identities, passwords, and risks
- Tools to reset service account passwords securely

Day Three
PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC)

- DSC is Configuration Management built in for free
- Using DSC for continuous reinforcement of settings
- Writing your own DSC configuration scripts
- Free DSC resource modules: www.PowerShellGallery.com
- How to push DSC configurations to many targets
- DSC background job processing in push mode
- Examples: sync files, install roles, manage groups
- Auditing a remote target against a DSC MOF template
- “ApplyAndAutoCorrect” mode for continuous enforcement

PowerShell Just Enough Admin (JEA)

- JEA is Windows sudo, like on Linux
- JEA is Windows setuid root, like on Linux
- Restricting commands and arguments
- Verbose transcription logging
- How to set up and configure JEA
- Privilege Access Workstations (PAWs)

PowerShell and WMI

- Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) service
- What is WMI and why do hackers abuse it so much?
- Using PowerShell to query WMI CIM classes
- WMI authentication and traffic encryption
- Inventory operating system versions and installed software
- WMI remote command execution versus PowerShell remoting
- PowerShell security best practices
- PowerShell transcription logging to catch hackers

Prerequisites:

GSEC or equivalent experience
UNIX, Windows, Networking, and Security Experience
This is a hands-on skill course requiring comfort with command line interaction and network communications

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TN-822: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Seminar

Course Overview:

The mark of excellence for a professional certification program is the value and recognition it bestows on the individual who achieves it. The technical skills & practices the CISA promotes and evaluates are the building blocks of success in the field. Possessing the CISA designation demonstrates proficiency and is the basis for measurement in the profession. With a growing demand for professionals possessing IS audit, control and security skills, CISA has become a preferred certification program by individuals and organizations around the world. CISA certification signifies commitment to serving an organization and the IS audit, control and security industry with distinction. This course will help the student prepare to obtain this credential.

Attendees to TN-822: Certified Information Systmes Auditor (CISA) Seminar will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Dates/Locations:

Date/Time	Event
01/06/2025 - 01/10/2025 08:00 -16:00	TN-822: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Seminar TechNow, Inc, San Antonio TX
02/10/2025 - 02/14/2025 08:00 -16:00	TN-822: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Seminar TechNow, Inc, San Antonio TX
05/05/2025 - 05/09/2025 08:00 -16:00	TN-822: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Seminar TechNow, Inc, San Antonio TX
10/06/2025 - 10/10/2025 08:00 -16:00	TN-822: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Seminar TechNow, Inc, San Antonio TX

Duration: 5 Days

Course Objectives:

The IS Audit Process (10%)
- Provide IS audit services in accordance with IS audit standards, guidelines, and best practices to assist the organization in ensuring that its information technology and business systems are protected & controlled.
IT Governance (15%)
- Provide assurance that the organization has the structure, policies, accountability, mechanisms and monitoring practices in place to achieve the requirements of corporate governance of IT.
System and Infrastructure Life Cycle Management (16%)
- Provide assurance that the management practices for the development/acquisition, testing, implementation, maintenance and disposal of systems and infrastructure will meet the organization's objectives.
IT Service Delivery and Support (14%)
- Provide assurance that the IT service management practices will ensure the delivery of the level of services required to meet the organization's objectives.
Protection of Information Assets (31%)
- Provide assurance that the security architecture (policies, standards, procedures and controls) ensures the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information assets.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (14%)
- Provide assurance that, in the event of a disruption, the business continuity and disaster recovery processes will ensure the timely resumption of IT services, while minimizing the business impact.

Prerequisites:

A minimum of five years of professional information systems auditing, control & security work experienced is required. Experience must have been gained within the 10-year period preceding the application date for certification, or within five years from the date of initially passing the examination.

Comments

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User: fsarisen

Instructor comments: Thank you Tim for all the great information! I am confident that I'll do well on the ICND exam.

User: storoy30

Instructor comments: The instructor, Tim Burkard, was very knowledgeable on the course material and skilled at explain more complex ideas.

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N-595: VoIP Security Analysis and Design

Course Overview:

As VoIP (Voice-over IP) is integrated into the operations of many missions, it is imperative to understand its security ramifications. In the N-595: VoIP Security Analysis and Design class the objectives are designed for those who are chartered with the responsibility of securing networks and application environments that incorporate VoIP. Topics include how VoIP works, its interactions with the network, its vulnerabilities and mitigations. Focus is on leading open source and proprietary technologies utilizing Asterisk and Cisco and the protocols SIP, H.323, RTP, MGCP, and Skinny. Other protocols such as Nortel's UNIStim will be addressed. As for Cisco, security pieces in the VoIP CallManager servers, Catalyst switches, IOS-based routers, and ASA firewalls, amounts to several different platforms, each with its own management interface and lockdown procedures. Various open source tools including those in BackTrack are used for VoIP attacks. A task list of actions for securing enterprise VoIP is carried out in hands-on labs, performed on Cisco phones, routers, switches, and ASA firewalls.

Attendees to N-595: VoIP Security Analysis and Design will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Dates/Locations:

No Events

Duration: 5 Days

Course Objectives:

VoIP Architecture
VoIP Signaling and media protocols
Common VoIP authentication mechanisms
Common VoIP encryption techniques
VoIP protocol analysis with Wireshark
Maintaining QoS while mitigating DoS
VoXML, XML, and application integration security
Converged network security design and implementation
Impact of NAT and firewalls
SIP, H.323, and MGCP vulnerabilities
VPN, IPsec and SRTP to secure VoIP services
Penetration testing with open source tools
Attacks for Eavesdropping, call redirection, and DoS
Design of hacked firmware virtualization layer
Concise lockdown steps for network hardware and VoIP

Prerequisites:

This is an advanced Information Security Course which requires basic Windows & UNIX competency
Certification or 2 years of experience in these operating systems is highly recommended
As well as an understanding of TCP/IP

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TN-979: Intrusion Analyst Course

Course Overview:

Intrusion Analyst is a hands-on course that covers intrusion detection in-depth. This includes concepts such as the use of Snort, network traffic analysis, and IDS signatures.

A skills focus enables the student to better absorb the subject matter and perform successfully on the job. This is not death by power point. The course is aligned with information assurance operators and executing hands-on labs. Lecture and labs walk the student through the knowledge required to truly understand the mechanics of packet and intrusion analysis.

Attendees to TN-979: Intrusion Analyst will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Date/Locations:

No Events

Duration: 5 days

Course Objectives:

Advanced Snort Concepts
Analyst Toolkit
Domain Name System (DNS)
Examining Packet Crafting
Examining Packet Header Fields
Fragmentation
ICMP Theory
IDS Interoperability
IDS Patterns
IDS/IPS Management & Architecture Issues
Indications, Warnings & Traffic Correlation
IPv6
Microsoft Protocols
Network Traffic Analysis
NIDS Evasion, Instertion & Checksums
Snort Fundamentals & Configuration
Snort GUIs & Sensor Management
Snort Performance, Active Response & Tagging
Snort Rules
Stimulus Response
TCPdump Fundamentals
TCP/IP Fundamentals
Wireshark Fundamentals
Writing TCPdump Filters

Course Prerequisites:

GSEC or equivalent experience
UNIX, Windows, Networking, and Security Experience
This is a hands-on skill course requiring comfort with command line interaction and network communications

Comments

Latest comments from students

User: Tosha

Instructor comments: Dave was an excellent instructor. He is very informative and knowledgeable in the course and the material. I have enjoyed the class and I would take another course with him as the instructor.

Facilities comments: Very nice and clean hotel.

User: buckey26

Instructor comments: Dave was one of the best instructors I have ever had for a tech course. He broke down everything to the point where you can understand it internally.

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VM-335: VMware Cloud Essentials and vCloud – Architecting the VMware Cloud FastTrack

Course Overview:

This FastTrack course combines combines two VMware courses (VMware Cloud Essentials and vCloud Architecting the VMware Cloud) into a single week course that adds extra exercises and labs to exemplify the techniques presented. The course begins with how to adopt, operate, and govern the cloud. The course enables participants to successfully complete the associated CompTIA Cloud Essentials™ Exam to become a Cloud Essentials™ Professional(CEP). This course also covers the subject matter specified by the VCP-Cloud certification.

This course is designed to guide students through the decision points and policy choices available for designing and implementing a VMware vCloud environment. Detailed labs and exercises for VMware vSphere™, VMware vCloud Director, VMware vCenter™ Chargeback, and the VMware® vShield Edge capability that is included with vCloud Director. A comprehensive VMware cloud design is demonstrated and discussed.

Attendees to VM-335: VMware Cloud Essentials and vCloud – Architecting the VMware Cloud FastTrack will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Date/Locations:

No Events

Course Duration: 5 days

Course Objectives:

Understand the common terms and definitions of cloud computing.
Understand the business benefits and business considerations of cloud computing.
Understand cloud computing from a technical perspective and recognize the various techniques, methods, challenges, and types of clouds.
Understand the impact and changes of cloud computing on IT service management.
Explain typical steps that lead to the successful adoption of cloud computing and understand the implications for organizations.
Recognize the compliance, risk, and regulatory consequences of cloud computing and its financial and strategic impact on an organization.
Evaluate and design a multitenant environment to address both private cloud and public cloud customer needs.
Configure vCloud providers that can accommodate heterogeneous server, storage, and network resources
Design a network infrastructure optimized for vCloud.
Integrate vCloud Director security with existing LDAP systems and design appropriate security hierarchies with security rolesnderstand the common terms and definitions of cloud computing.
Understand the business benefits and business considerations of cloud computing.
Understand cloud computing from a technical perspective and recognize the various techniques, methods, challenges, and types of clouds.
Understand the impact and changes of cloud computing on IT service management.
Explain typical steps that lead to the successful adoption of cloud computing and understand the implications for organizations.
Recognize the compliance, risk, and regulatory consequences of cloud computing and its financial and strategic impact on an organization.
Evaluate and design a multitenant environment to address both private cloud and public cloud customer needs.
Configure vCloud providers that can accommodate heterogeneous server, storage, and network resources.
Design a network infrastructure optimized for vCloud.
Integrate vCloud Director security with existing LDAP systems and design appropriate security hierarchies with security roles.
Design a vCenter Chargeback implementation.

Course Prerequisites:

VM-315 or equivalent experience.
Managing or administering at least one of UNIX, Windows, databases, networking, or security.

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