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.

N-305: CCNA Bootcamp

Course Overview:

TechNow’s Course ensures that you are ready to test for the CCNA Certification. This intensive five-day program is a high end, hands-on, bootcamp using physical routers & switches in classroom.  Students will learn how to install, operate, configure, and verify basic IPv4 and IPv6 networks. The course covers configuring network components such as switches, routers, and wireless LAN controllers; managing network devices; and identifying basic security threats. The course also gives you a foundation in network programmability, automation, and software-defined networking. Additionally the course stress tests the students on exam practices that insure the student a successful outcome on the 200-301 CCNA exam.

This course helps you prepare to take the 200-301 Cisco® Certified Network Associate (CCNA®) exam.

 Attendees to N-305: CCNA Bootcamp will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Date/Locations:

Date/Time Event
08/11/2025 - 08/15/2025
08:00 -16:00 		N-305: CCNA Bootcamp
TechNow, Inc, San Antonio TX
11/17/2025 - 11/21/2025
08:00 -16:00 		N-305: CCNA Bootcamp
TechNow, Inc, San Antonio TX

Duration: 5 days

Course Objectives:

    • Identify the components of a computer network and describe their basic characteristics
    • Understand the model of host-to-host communication
    • Describe the features and functions of the Cisco Internetwork Operating Systems (IOS) software
    • Describe LANs and the role of switches within LANs
    • Describe Ethernet as the network access layer of TCP/IP and describe the operation of switches
    • Install a switch and perform the initial configuration
    • Describe the TCP/IP Internet layer, IPv4, its addressing scheme, and subnetting
    • Describe the TCP/IP Transport layer and Application layer
    • Explore functions of routing
    • Implement basic configuration on a Cisco router
    • Explain host-to-host communications across switches and routers
    • Identify and resolve common switched network issues and common problems associated with IPv4 addressing
    • Describe IPv6 main features and addresses, and configure and verify basic IPv6 connectivity
    • Describe the operation, benefits, and limitations of static routing
    • Describe, implement, and verify Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) and trunks
    • Describe the application and configuration of inter-VLAN routing
    • Explain the basics of dynamic routing protocols and describe components and terms of Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
    • Explain how Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) work
    • Configure link aggregation using EtherChannel
    • Describe the purpose of Layer 3 redundancy protocols
    • Describe basic WAN and VPN concepts
    • Describe the operation of Access Control Lists (ACLs) and their applications in the network
    • Configure Internet access using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) clients and explain and configure Network Address Translation (NAT) on Cisco routers
    • Describe basic Quality of Service (QoS) concept
    • Describe network and device architectures and introduce virtualization
    • Introduce the concept of network programmability and Software-Defined Networking (SDN)
    • Configure basic IOS system monitoring tools
    • Describe the management of Cisco devices
    • Describe the current security threat landscape
    • Describe threat defense technologies
    • Implement a basic security configuration of the device management plane
    • Implement basic steps to harden network devices

Lab Objectives:

      • Get started with Cisco Command-Line Interface (CLI)
      • Observe How a Switch Operates
      • Perform Basic Switch Configuration
      • Implement the Initial Switch Configuration
      • Inspect TCP/IP Applications
      • Configure an Interface on a Cisco Router
      • Configure and Verify Layer 2 Discovery Protocols
      • Implement an Initial Router Configuration
      • Configure Default Gateway
      • Explore Packet Forwarding
      • Troubleshoot switch Media and Port Issues
      • Troubleshoot Port Duplex Issues
      • Configure Basic IPv6 Connectivity
      • Configure and Verify IPv4 Static Routes
      • Configure Iv6 Static Routes
      • Implement IPv4 Static Routing
      • Implement IPv6 Static Routing
      • Configure VLAN and Trunk
      • Troubleshoot VLANs and Trunk
      • Configure a Router on a Stick
      • Implement Multiple VLANs and Basic Routing Between the VLANs
      • Configure and Verify Single-Area OSPF
      • Configure and Verify EtherChannel
      • Improve Redundant Switched Topologies with EtherChannel
      • Configure and Verify IPv4 ACLs
      • Implement Numbered and Named IPv4 ACLs
      • Configure a Provider-Assigned IPv4 Address
      • Configure Static NAT
      • Configure Dynamic NAT and Port Address Translation (PAT)
      • Implement PAT
      • Log into the WLC
      • Monitor the WLC
      • Configure a Dynamic (VLAN) Interface
      • Configure a DHCP Scope
      • Configure a WLAN
      • Define a Remote Access Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) Server
      • Explore Management Options
      • Explore the Cisco DNA Center
      • Configure and Verify NTP
      • Configure System Message Logging
      • Create the Cisco IOS Image Backup
      • Upgrade Cisco IOS Image
      • Configure WLAN Using Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) Pre-Shared Key (PSK) Using the GUI
      • Secure Console and Remote Access
      • Enable and Limit Remote Access Connectivity
      • Secure Device Administrative Access
      • Configure and Verify Port Security
      • Implement Device Hardening

Prerequisites:

      • Familiarity in the following networking topics:
        • TCP/IP
        • IP Configuration
        • Peer-to-Peer Networking
        • Subnetting
        • Building a Routing Table
      • It is not required but highly recommended to have the following certifications:

Comments

Latest comments from students

User: dverzone

Instructor comments: Tim was excellent. He covered all of the required information and went in to greater detail when needed. His instruction was easy to follow, provided learning mnemonics that were easy to retain, and entertaining in a way that help provide easy recall of the information for study.

Facilities comments: Facilities were good, but a little crowded.

User: Trietdacvuong

Instructor comments: No Comments

Facilities comments: No comments

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TN-5455: Managing Windows Environments with Group Policy

 

Course Overview: 

In this course-currently the only offering in the market devoted to Group Policy training-you will learn how to reduce costs and increase efficiencies in your network. You will discover how to consolidate the administration of an enterprise IT infrastructure with Group Policy, and learn to control and manage computer systems and domain users running Windows Server and Windows clients. Create Group Policies, implement administrative and security templates, and determine best practices when deploying software packages. Walk away with the experience and tools needed to optimize your enterprise systems and networks.

Attendees to TN-5455: Managing Windows Environments with Group Policy will receive TechNow approved course materials and expert instruction.

Date/Locations:

No Events

Course Duration: 5 days

Course Objectives:

  • Features and functions of Group Policy
  • Use Group Policy management tools to manage security policies
  • Design a Group Policy infrastructure
  • Group Policy processing architecture
  • Back up, restore, import, and copy Group Policy Objects through the Group Policy
  • Management Console
  • Use Windows PowerShell to manage Group Policy
  • Implement security using Group Policy
  • Configure the desktop environment with Group Policy
  • Configure roaming profiles and Folder Redirection
  • Assign and publish software packages
  • Implement AppLocker and software restriction policies
  • Create and deploy Administrative Templates
  • Configure Group Policy preferences

 

 

Course Prerequisites:

  • Experience with the Microsoft Windows Server 2008/12 environments and a fundamental understanding of Active Directory

Comments

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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.

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Dates/Locations:

Date/Time Event
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

Latest comments from students

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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