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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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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TN-939: Hacker Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling Course

Course Overview:

A skills focus enables the student to better absorb the subject matter and perform successfully on the exam. 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 the attacks and the effectiveness. Students then gain network experience and use sniffing to help exemplify the benefit of learning wired and wireless security configurations. The course concludes with exercising real attack strategies to demonstrate the techniques acquired throughout the course.

Attendees to TN-939: Hacker Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Date/Locations:

No Events

Duration: 9 days

Course Objectives:

Backdoors & Trojan Horses
Buffer Overflows
Covering Tracks: Networks
Covering Tracks: Systems
Denial of Service Attacks
Exploiting Systems Using Netcat
Format String Attacks
Incident Handling Overview and Preparation
Incident Handling Phase 2: Identification
Incident Handling Phase 3: Containment
Incident Handling: Recovering and Improving Capabilities
IP Address Spoofing
Network Sniffing
Password Attacks
Reconnaissance
Rootkits
Scanning: Host Discovery
Scanning: Network and Application Vulnerability scanning and tools
Scanning: Network Devices (Firewall rules determination, fragmentation, and IDS/IPS evasion)
Scanning: Service Discovery
Session Hijacking, Tools and Defenses
Types of Incidents
Virtual Machine Attacks
Web Application Attacks
Worms, Bots & Bot-Nets

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

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User: m_jurrens

Instructor comments: Both instructors Mr. Askey and Mr. Hackney, were very good. the open learning environment was extremely productive and I felt we all learned far more that we ever would out of a structured rote memorization course.

User: natebonds

Instructor comments: Both Mr. Askey and Hackney were extremely knowledgeable. They were also extremely interested in helping each student learn. I was particularly impressed with the way they tailored the course to optimize our time since we weren't testing. I feel like I know much much more than I did when the class started.

Facilities comments: The facilities were fine. I would have preferred it be closer to Lackland.

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CL-218: Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure and Operations Bootcamp

Course Overview:

This bootcamp is a customized course for Cloud Essentials+ and Cloud+ that leverages 8 days to provide greater value than just the delivery of two separate courses. The 8 days of instruction prepare the student for the CCSP course.

TechNow has Identified overlap and uses time saved to:

Introduce hands-on skills (Open Source and AWS)
Go more in-depth on theory using hands-on to reinforce concepts
Do exam prep with practice questions

This course covers the knowledge and skills required to understand standard Cloud terminologies/methodologies, to implement, maintain, and deliver cloud technologies and infrastructures (e.g. server, network, storage, and virtualization technologies), and to understand aspects of IT security and use of industry best practices related to cloud implementations and the application of virtualization.

This bootcamp helps prepare students for 2 certifications, CompTIA Clouds Essentials+ and CompTIA Cloud+. After this course students will also be prepared to continue their education by taking CL-315: CCSP – Certified Cloud Security Professional Preparation Seminar .

TechNow has worked worldwide enterprise infrastructures for over 20 years and has developed demos and labs to exemplify the techniques required to demonstrate cloud technologies and to effectively manage security in the cloud environment.

TechNow is a CompTIA partner and uses official CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ and CompTIA Cloud+ curriculum.

Attendees to CL-218: Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure and Operations Bootcamp will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Date/Locations:

No Events

Course Duration: 8 days

Course Objectives:

Learn the fundamental concepts of cloud computing
Learn the business aspects and impacts of cloud computing
Differentiate the types of cloud solutions and the adoptions measures for each
Identify the technical challenges and the mitigation measures involved in cloud computing
Identify the technical challenges and the mitigation measures involved in cloud computing
Identify the steps to successfully adopt cloud services
Identify the basic concepts of ITIL and describe how the ITIL framework is useful in the implementation of cloud computing in an organization
Identify the possible risks involved in cloud computing and the risk mitigation measures, and you will also identify the potential cost considerations for the implementation of cloud and its strategic benefits
Prepare to deploy cloud solutions
Deploy a pilot project
Test a pilot project deployment
Design a secure network for cloud deployment
Determine CPU and memory sizing for cloud deployments
Plan Identity and Access Management for cloud deployments
Analyze workload characteristics to ensure successful migration to the cloud
Secure systems to meet access requirements
Maintain cloud systems
Implement backup, restore, and business continuity measures
Analyze cloud systems for required performance
Analyze cloud systems for anomalies and growth forecasting
Troubleshoot deployment, capacity, automation, and orchestration issues
Troubleshoot connectivity issues
Troubleshoot security issues

Course Prerequisites:

Security+, Network+ or equivalent experience
Managing or administering at least one of UNIX, Windows, Databases, networking, or security

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AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals

Course Overview:

This three-day course will provide foundational level knowledge on cloud concepts; core Azure services; security, privacy, compliance, and trust; and Azure pricing and support.

NOTE: This course provides an Azure pass and time for you to participate in hands-on labs. The content for this course aligns to AZ-900 exam objective domain

Attendees to AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Date/Locations:

Date/Time	Event
02/18/2025 - 02/19/2025 08:00 -16:00	AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals TechNow, Inc, San Antonio TX
05/28/2025 - 05/29/2025 08:00 -16:00	AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals TechNow, Inc, San Antonio TX
09/03/2025 - 09/05/2025 08:00 -16:00	AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals TechNow, Inc, San Antonio TX

Course Duration: 3 days

Course Outline:

Cloud Concepts
Core Azure Services
Security, Privacy, Compliance, And Trust
Azure Pricing and Support

Lab Objectives:

- Create a virtual machine
- Deploy Azure container instances
- Create a virtual network
- Create blob storage
- Create a SQL database
- Implement an Azure IoT Hub
- Implement Azure Functions
- Create a web app
- Create a VM with a Template
- Create a VM with PowerShell
- Create a VM with CLI
- Secure network traffic
- Implement Azure key vault
- Create an Azure Policy
- Manage access with RBAC
- Manage resource locks
- Implement resource tagging
- Exploring the Trust Center
- Use the Azure Pricing Calculator
- Use the Azure TCO Calculator
- Open a Support request
- Calculate composite SLAs
- Access Azure Preview features

Prerequisites :

- - There are no prerequisites for taking this course. Technical IT experience is not required however some general IT knowledge or experience would be beneficial.
  - This course is suitable for IT personnel who are just beginning to work with Azure.
  - This course primarily uses the Azure portal to create services and does not require scripting skills.
  - Students in this course will gain confidence to take other role-based courses and certifications, such as Azure Administrator.
  - This course provides an Azure pass and optional lab environment.

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