Palo Alto Networks Firewall Training Course Lab

Working with the TechNow lab for the PA-215: Palo Alto Networks Firewall Essentials FastTrack course has been nothing less than a techie's idea of fun.  When students come in we are immediatly configuring the Cisco 3750 switches for access ports, VLANS, and trunks.  We then cable the switch to the Palo Alto Networks Firewall.  Each student gets their own Palo Alto Firewall Pod of hardware and software.  What we find as fun is the VLAN environment, with an array of virtual machines hosted on an ESXi server that can really exercise the abilities of the Palo Alto Firewall.  The DMZ VLAN hosts virtual machines that support enterprise services and also potentialy vulnerable web services.  The Trust VLAN has Windows and Linux clients.  The UnTrust VLAN has Web services and a VM of Kali. The hardware Firewall is additionally connected to a Management VLAN.  All those VLANs are trunked into an ESXi server where the student also has a VM-Series Palo Alto Networks Firewall for High Availability.  

After configuring all the trunking, VLANs, and network interfaces we learn about the firewall and configure it for the lab environment.  Using Metasploitable and Kali/Metasploit nefarious penetration attempts are executed.  Using packet captures, custom APP-ID's  and custom signatures are generated.  Custom logging and reporting are created to similate and enterprise and assist the desired Incident Response.  It is always fun in a training environment to learn all about the controls available in a product, even though specific controls may not be used in the operational environment.  In the end we have a good understanding of the Palo Alto Networks Firewall.

TN-913: Cloud Security Fundamentals

 

Course Overview:

TechNow Cloud Security Fundamentals addresses the loss of hands-on control of system, application, and data security in the Cloud computing environment.  Security teams wrestle with the impact and liability of Cloud computing on an organization.  This course enables the security team to assist in contract language and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) when utilizing Cloud Service Providers (CSPs).

Compliance and auditing are introduced with strategies for control verification and audit analysis in the CSP environment.  Software as a Service (SaaS) to Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and everything in between require a compliance strategy.  Students will go in-depth into the architecture and infrastructure fundamentals for private, public, and hybrid clouds.   Topics covered include: patch and configuration management, virtualization security, application security, and change management. Policy, risk assessment, and governance within cloud environments will be covered with recommendations for both internal policies and contract provisions to consider.

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

Attendees to TN-913: Cloud Security Fundamentals will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Date/Locations:

Date/Time Event
09/09/2026 - 09/11/2026
08:00 -16:00 		TN-913: Cloud Security Fundamentals
TechNow, Inc, San Antonio TX
12/07/2026 - 12/09/2026
08:00 -16:00 		TN-913: Cloud Security Fundamentals
TechNow, Inc, San Antonio TX

Course Duration: 3 days

Course Objectives:

  • Cloud computing introduction
  • Security challenges in the cloud
  • Infrastructure security in the cloud
  • Policy, risk, and governance for cloud computing
  • Compliance and legal considerations
  • Audit and assessment for the cloud
  • Data security in the cloud
  • Identity and Access Management (IAM)
  • Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning (DR/BCP) in the cloud
  • Intrusion detection and incident response

Course Prerequisites:

  • GSEC, CISSP, CASP or equivalent experience in managing enterprise infrastructures
  • Managing or administering at least one of UNIX, Windows, Databases, networking, or security

Comments

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User: reedrobt

Instructor comments: Dave is like an encyclopedia of technical topics...what "doesn't" he have expertise in?

Facilities comments: Home2 location was well-kept and convenient to other services.

 

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TN-412: Artificial Intelligence Essentials (AI|E)

Course Description:

Artificial Intelligence Essentials (AIE) is a foundational AI literacy certification that builds practical understanding of AI and responsible use

The Artificial Intelligence Essentials (AIE) Course is designed to prepare learners for the newly Artificial Intelligence Essentials (AIE) exam. This hands-on program introduces professionals to core AI concepts, practical tools, and safe real-world applications. It equips learners to understand AI systems, use AI responsibly, and boost productivity across roles and industries

Participants will gain knowledge in understanding how AI systems work, where they are used, how they influence decision-making, and how they should be applied responsibly in everyday, professional, and organizational contexts. The course covers what AI is and what it is not, how data and models drive AI behavior, and how modern AI systems differ from traditional software. Learners develop the ability to interact effectively with AI tools, evaluate AI outputs with informed judgment, and apply responsible practices aligned with privacy, security, and global regulatory expectations.

By the end of the course, learners will be prepared to use AI confidently, safely, and productively while recognizing limitations, ethical risks, and broader societal impacts. It serves as a universal entry point before any technical, managerial, security, or governance specialization in AI.

Course Outline: 

01. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

02. Everyday AI Tools and Use Cases

03. Building Blocks of AI

04. Prompt Crafting AI-Driven Interactions

05. AI Ethics and Responsible AI

Dates/Locations:

No Events

N-315: Cisco Secure Virtual Private Networks

Course Overview:

This course is designed for students who intend to work with virtual private networks (VPNs) using IPSec. The course includes detailed coverage of the VPN 3000 Concentrator, a scalable remote access platform that offers encryption, high availability, and superior performance. This class is an invaluable theory and configuration guide for the VPN 3000 series of products, with its thorough coverage of concentrators, hardware clients, and software clients.

Attendees to N-315: Cisco Secure Virtual Private Networks will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Dates/Locations:

No Events

Duration: 5 days

Course Objectives:

  • Network Security & Virtual Private Network Technologies Cisco VPN 3000 Concentrator Series Hardware Overview
  • Routing on the VPN 3000
  • Configuring the Cisco VPN 3000 for Remote Access Using Pre-shared Keys
  • Configuring the Cisco VPN 3000 for Remote Access Using Digital Certificates
  • The Cisco VPN Client Firewall Feature
  • Configuring the Cisco 3002 Hardware Client for Remote Access
  • Configuring the Cisco 3002 Hardware Client for User & Unit Authentication
  • Configuring Cisco VPN Clients for Backup Server, Load Balancing & Reverse Route Injection
  • Configuring the Cisco 3000 Concentrator for IPSec over TCP & UDP
  • Configuring LAN-to-LAN VPNs on the Cisco 3000
  • Network Monitoring & Administration Troubleshooting

Prerequisites:

  • Students who attend this advanced course must have experience in configuring Cisco IOS software
  • CCNA certification
  • Basic knowledge of the Windows operations system
  • Familiarity with the networking & security terms & concepts

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CT-415: CompTIA SecAI+

CompTIA SecAI+ is the first certification in CompTIA’s expansion series, designed to help you secure, govern and responsibly integrate artificial intelligence into your cybersecurity operations. You’ll build the skills to defend AI systems, meet global compliance expectations and use AI to enhance threat detection, automation and innovation—so you can strengthen your expertise and help keep your organization’s systems and data secure.

SecAI+ helps you build practical AI security and automation skills on top of your existing expertise, so you can secure AI deployments, use AI‑assisted security tools with confidence, and stay ready for the next step in your cybersecurity career.

Course Objectives:

  • Apply AI concepts to strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity posture
  • Secure AI systems using advanced controls and protections to safeguard data, models, and infrastructure
  • Leverage AI technologies to automate workflows, accelerate incident response, and scale security operations
  • Navigate global GRC frameworks to ensure ethical and compliant AI adoption across industries
  • Defend against AI-driven threats like adversarial attacks, automated malware, and malicious use of generative AI
  • Integrate AI securely into DevSecOps pipelines and enterprise security strategies.

Dates/Locations:

No Events

Prerequisites: Recommended experience: 3–4 years in IT and 2+ years hands-on cybersecurity; Security+, CySA+, PenTest+, or equivalent recommended

SecAI+ (V1) exam objectives summary

     Basic AI concepts related to cybersecurity (17%)

  • Explain core AI principles and terminology: Machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and automation.
  • Identify AI applications in security: Use cases for AI in threat detection, defense, and security operations. 
  • Recognize AI-driven threats: Automated phishing, polymorphic malware, adversarial machine learning, and malicious use of generative AI.

Securing AI systems (40%)

  • Implement security controls: Protect AI systems, data, and models using robust technical safeguards. 
  • Secure AI deployment environments: Apply best practices across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid infrastructures. 
  • Mitigate adversarial risks: Defend against attacks targeting AI models, data pipelines, and inference layers. 

AI-assisted security (24%)

  • Enhance detection and response: Use AI-driven tools to identify anomalies, detect threats, and accelerate incident remediation. 
  • Automate security workflows: Integrate AI for event triage, alert correlation, and response orchestration. 
  • Apply AI techniques in operations: Incorporate AI into threat modeling, behavior analysis, and continuous monitoring. 

AI governance, risk, and compliance (19%)

  • Understand regulatory frameworks: Identify global governance requirements and their implications for AI adoption. 
  • Integrate GRC into AI projects: Incorporate governance, risk management, and compliance practices throughout the AI lifecycle. 
  • Ensure responsible AI use: Apply ethical guidelines, legal standards, and industry frameworks such as GDPR and NIST AI RMF.