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-5425: Networking with Windows Server 2016

 

Course Overview:

Course two of a three course series to obtain a Server 2016 MCSA certification. This 5-day course provides the fundamental networking skills required to deploy and support Windows Server 2016 in most organizations. It covers IP fundamentals, remote access technologies, and more advanced content including Software Defined Networking.

The course leads directly to preparing for the(MCSA):Windows Server 2016 exam “70-741: Installation, Storage, and Compute with Windows Server 2016”.  It also maps to Microsoft’s course 20741A, and is part of the Server 2016 MCSA certification. 

Attendees to TN-5425: Networking with Window Server 2016 will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Dates/Locations:

No Events

Duration: 5 Days

Course Objectives:

  • Plan and implement an IPv4 network
  • Implement Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
  • Implement IPv6
  • Implement Domain Name System (DNS)
  • Implement and manage IP address management (IPAM)
  • Plan for remote access
  • Implement DirectAccess
  • Implement virtual private networks (VPNs)
  • Implement networking for branch offices
  • Configure advanced networking features
  • Implement Software Defined Networking

Prerequisites: 

  • A basic understanding of networking fundamentals
  • Experience working with Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012
  • Experience working in a Windows Server infrastructure enterprise environment
  • Knowledge of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model
  • Understanding of core networking topologies and architectures such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs) and wireless networking
  • Basic knowledge of the TCP/IP protocol stack, addressing and name resolution
  • Experience with and knowledge of Hyper-V and virtualization
  • Hands-on experience working with the Windows client operating systems such as Windows 8.1 or Windows 10
  

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N-515: Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (ENWLSI)

Course Overview:

The Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (ENWLSI) course gives you the knowledge and skills needed to create a secure wireless network infrastructure and troubleshoot any related issues. You’ll learn how to implement and fortify a wireless network infrastructure using Cisco Identity Service Engine (ISE), Cisco Prime Infrastructure (PI), and Cisco Connect Mobile Experience to monitor and troubleshoot network issues.

Attendees to N-515: Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Network (ENWLSI) will receive TechNow approved course materials, expert instruction, and prepare you to take the 300-430 Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks (ENWLSI) exam, which is part of the CCNP® Enterprise certification and the Cisco Certified Specialist – Enterprise Wireless Implementation certification.

Dates/Locations:

No Events

Duration: 5 Days

Course Objectives:

  • Implement network settings to provide a secure wireless network infrastructure
  • Implement a secure wireless client and troubleshoot wireless client connectivity issues
  • Implement and troubleshoot QoS in wireless networks
  • Implement and troubleshoot advanced capabilities in wireless network services

Prerequisites:

 

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PA-222: Palo Alto Networks Panorama Essentials

  

Course Overview:

PA-222: Palo Alto Networks Panorama Essentials Training Class is a two-day course that teaches students to configure and manage the Palo Alto Networks Panorama management server. Through hands-on training, students learn high end skills of how to integrate Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls into their network infrastructure and manage them with Palo Alto Networks Panorama management server.This is not a virtualized theoretical course.  This is hands-on, real world in the classroom instructor led with lab assistance, directly relevant to the DoD and Commercial implementations of Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls and their enterprise management.

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.

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 Palo Alto Networks Panorama Essentials Training Course will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Dates/Locations:

No Events

Duration 2 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 Panorama management server, including hands-on experience in configuring the security, networking, threat prevention, logging, and reporting features of the Palo Alto Networks Operating System (PAN-OS) through Panorama.

  • Day 1
    • Module 0 – Introduction & Overview
    • Module 1 – Deployment Overview
      • Panorama Solution
      • Functional Overview
      • Architecture Design
    • Module 2 – Interface Configuration
      • Installation
      • Design and Planning
      • Administration Roles
      • Access Control
      • Commit Options
    • Module 3 – Device Groups
      • Device Groups
      • Policies
      • Objects
      • Device Group Commits
    • Module 4 – Templates
      • Template Overview
      • Configure Templates
      • Commits
      • Overrides Commits
  • Day 2
    • Module 5 – Administrative Tools
      • Logging
      • Reporting
      • Managing Devices
    • Module 6 – Log Collection
      • Log Collector
      • Collector Groups
      • Distributed Data Collection
      • Installation and Configuration
    • Module 7 – Deployment Recommendation
      • High Availability
      • Export Configuration
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Best Practices

Prerequisites:

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

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Observations of Instructor Led Training with Real Hardware

TechNow has heard many students talk about virtualized/remote training that TechNow Does Not Do.  While training our most recent offering of PA-215: Palo Alto Networks Firewall Essentials FastTrack a student told his story of how he endend up in our course.  His story we have heard for other technologies like Cisco, VMware, BlueCoat and other products.

A large percentage of training is moving to the virtualized/remote lab environments.  Students are asked to use some variant of remote access software and remote into the training company's lab environment. Our student in our Palo Alto Networks Firewall course informed us that he went to a very costly offering of that course from the vendor and was not able to perform any labs.  There were either network connectivity issues, or issues with the remote access software, or other problems.  The whole training experience was very frustrating and not productive.

We keep our labs open to students if they would like after hours, or before hours access.  Repeatedly going through a lab engrains that knowledge for later recall.  Touching hardware is so critical in understanding the problems that arise when a cable comes loose, or a cable gets plugged in the wrong port.  There are other scenarios such as just pulling the power cable, or turning off a power strip, or accidently overwriting a configuration.  These disaster scenarious requires hands-on physical access to hardware.  Preventing and recovering from disasters is what it's all about, and that requires hands-on, instructor led, real hardware.