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-959: UNIX Security Administrator Course

Course Overview:

The  UNIX Security Administrator Prep is a hands-on course that covers how to secure and audit UNIX and Linux operating systems. This includes concepts such as Rootkits, Buffer overflows, and monitoring UNIX/Linux systems.

Attendees to TN-959: Unix Security Administratorwill receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Date/Locations:

No Events

Duration: 5 days

Course Objectives:

  • AIDE
  • Apache
  • Best Practices for Kernel Tuning and Warning Banners
  • Boot Services
  • Chroot()
  • DNS- BIND
  • DNSSec
  • Evidence Collection and Preservation
  • Forensic Analysis
  • Forensic Preparation and Incident Handling
  • Host Based Firewalls – iptables
  • Intro to Forensics
  • OS Install and Patching
  • Physical, User Account, and Password Access Control
  • Se Linux
  • Sendmail
  • SSH
  • Stack Smashing
  • Sudo
  • Syslog-NG
  • UNIX Logging

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: wbcarter

Instructor comments: Good Stuff. Thanks!

User: ryuhas

Instructor comments: Very Good Instructor

Facilities comments: Facilities was great. Location had a lot to be desired. To much traffic and accidents trying to get here.

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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-855: Advanced and In-Depth ICD 503 RMF, Controls, and Assessments

Course Overview:

This course is very hands-on with respect to SP 800-53 controls as related to ICD-503, leveraging experience with DCD 6/3, and incorporating a broad array of technologies found in the field.  Assessors and Auditors have to face many technologies that are not part of the main stream.  TechNow has gone to great efforts to build a very broad, comprehensive, and complex lab to simulate many scenarios and architectures.  Technologies such as a network appliance that is not a typical infrastructure product, a radio/satellite communications device, or many other technologies that build up a weapon system.  Students learn how controls are integrated into many different devices and how they fit in the overall security architecture of monitoring, reporting, and compliance testing.

Directly discussed are overlays for different requirements i.e.: tactical, medical, network type: JWICS, SIPR; IC or AF.  TechNow has developed a funnel concept to overlays to exemplify the encapsulation of a control within different requirements.  TechNow has over 15 years experience in Trusted Solaris/Trusted Extensions and labeled security.  Cross Domain overlays are presented that fits the work flow of an assesor.  PII overlays and any overlays that an organization uses and can be made available are also presented.  

This course allows the student to leverage years of experience in DoD DCD 6/34 for transition to the Risk Management Framework (RMF) applied to the Intelligence Community as mandated by ICD 503.  Utilizing NIST SP 800-37 to establish a baseline of RMF knowledge, the student learns how to integrate the NIST pubs to provide cohesive information assurance architectures and compliance.  ICD 503 scorecard evaluations are integral in demonstrating a successful ICD 503 compliance program.  TechNow's ICD 503 course provides students with the skill to assess security programs and evaluate ICD 503 compliance to build an improvement and sustainable program for score consistency.  TechNow's instructors have unparralleled expertise in federal compliance initiatives, and we bring this expertise instructing students on the complete life cycle of RMF.

More than a simple checklist, we instruct students not only how to validate essential security controls, programs, and metrics, but that they are operating effectively.  The student leaves the course knowing how to: identify gaps where controls, programs, or metrics are incomplete, missing or ineffective, and provide actionable findings and recommend remediation strategies.  Students learn to internalize NIST pubs to meaningul and effective IA guidelines and work with the Body of Evidence templates which include: Risk Assessment Report (RAR), Systems Security Plan (SSP), Security Assessment Report (SAR), and Plans of Action and Milestone (POAM).

TechNow training materials are aligned with the most recent set of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS), and Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) policies standards, processes, policies and instructions to be addressed/explained include ICD 503, ICS 503-1, ICS 500-16, ICS 500-18, ICS 500-27, ICD 502, NIST SP 800-37, NIST SP 800-30, NIST SP 800-53, NIST SP 800-53A, NIST SP 800-137, NIST SP 800-47, CNSSP 22, CNSSI 1253, and CNSSI 4009.

A majority of time is spent on in-depth compliance review of NIST SP 800-53 controls.  Instruction discusses which method should be used to test and validate each security control and what evidence should be gathered.  This course is not theory or death by power point.  Real scenarios are presented as exercises.  A complete live cyber range simulating the IC is utilized for hands-on labs for techniques of validating and documenting compliance of NIST SP 800-53 controls as related to ICD 503.

Date/Locations:

No Events

Duration: 5 days

Course Objectives:

  • Establish a baseline of RMF knowledge
  • Validate essential security controls, programs, and metrics
  • DoD DCD 6/3 to ICD 503 Transition
  • Lab Environtment and the Cyber Range
  • Overlays: Tactical, Medical, Network type(JWICS, SIPR; IC or AF), Cross Domain, PII
  • Risk Assessment Report (RAR)
  • Systems Security Plan (SSP)
  • Security Assessment Report (SAR)
  • Plans of Action and Milestone (POAM)

Prerequisites:

Experience in the field of auditing and assesments.

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PA-215: Palo Alto Networks Firewall Essentials FastTrack

  

Course Overview: PA-215: Palo Alto Networks Firewall Essentials FastTrack Training Class is a five-day course that teaches students to configure and manage the entire line of Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls. This course combines PA-213 and PA-212 and adds a half day introduction to Panorama and Troubleshooting.  Through hands-on training, students learn high end skills of how to integrate Palo Alto next-generation firewalls into their network infrastructure.  This is not a virtualized theoretical course.  This is hands-on, real world instruction, directly relevant to the DoD and Commercial implementations of Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls.

Each student is issued a physical Palo Alto firewall and a Cisco layer 3 switch at their desk.  Real hardware per student for real experience and real skill development.  TechNow provides a very comprehensive client infrastructure that includes Windows, Linux, and multiple packet sniffer agents.

This course sets up the foundation for the two day course PA-232: Palo Alto Networks Panorama Manage Multiple Firewalls. The instructor for this course has been a lead in Unix kernel development to implement firewall and intrusion detection technologies.  Additionally, the instructor has taught several security appliance products and carries several SANS, Cisco, Unix, and Windows certifications. Attendees to the PA-215:  Palo Alto Firewall Essentials FastTrack Training Course will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Dates/Locations: No Events

Duration 5 days

Course Objectives:   Students attending this foundational-level training course will gain an in-depth knowledge of how to configure and manage their Palo Alto Networks firewall, including hands-on experience in configuring the security, networking, threat prevention, logging, and reporting features of the Palo Alto Networks Operating System (PAN-OS).  Additionally Panorama and Troubleshooting are addressed.

  • Day 1
    • Module 0 – Introduction & Overview
    • Module 1 – Administration & Management
      • Configuration Management
      • PAN-OS & Software Updates
      • Service Route Configuration
      • Log Forwarding
      • GUI, CLI, and API
    • Module 2 – Interface Configuration
      • L2 & L3
      • Vwire
      • Tap
      • Interface Management in Security Zones
      • VLANs
      • QoS
  • Day 2
    • Module 3 – Layer 3 Configuration
      • L3 Configuration and DHCP
      • NAT
      • DNS Proxy
      • Policy Based Forwarding in
      • Introduction to IPv6
    • Module 4 – App-ID
      • App-ID Process
      • Policy Administration
    • Module 5 – Content-ID
      • Antivirus
      • Anti-spyware
      • Vulnerability
      • URL Filtering
      • File Blocking and Wildfire
      • Data Filtering
      • DoS Protection
      • Botnet
  • Day 3
    • Module 6 – VM Firewall
      • Downlaod VM Template
      • Configure ESXi
      • Configure VM
    • Module 7 – Decryption
      • SSL Inbound and Outbound
    • Module 8 – Custom Signatures
      • Defining New Application Signatures
      • Application Override
      • Custom Threat ID
  • Day 4
    • Module 9 – User-ID
      • User-ID Agent
      • Terminal Server Agent
      • XML API
      • Captive Portal
    • Module 10 – VPN and GlobalProtect
      • Psec Tunnels
      • GlobalProtect
      • Agent
      • Portal
      • Gateway
      • HIP
  • Day 5
    • Module 11 – High Availability
      • Active/Passive
      • Active/Active
    • Module 12 – Panorama
      • Device Groups & Objects
      • Shared Policy
      • Configuration Management
      • Reporting

Prerequisites:

This course is in no way associated with Palo Alto Networks, Inc.

Comments

Latest comments from students

User: rod3535@gmail.com

Instructor comments: Instructor was great, he explained everything and made sure we understood the process's/product. He also took time out of his own schedule to help set up a VM environment on our personal pc's.

Facilities comments: Facility was great, enjoyed feeding the deers!

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