Network Security Training Course

Introduction

• The critical importance of network security in software development for government operations.
• An overview of the common threat landscape and attacker motivations relevant to public sector systems.
• A discussion of layered defense strategies and secure design principles for enhancing government IT infrastructure.

IT Security and Secure Coding

• A comprehensive overview of security objectives, including Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA), in the context of government operations.
• An introduction to secure software development practices tailored for government applications.
• Addressing common security misconceptions in coding that can impact government systems.

Network Security

• An examination of the OSI model and its implications for network vulnerabilities within government networks.
• A review of common attacks such as Denial of Service (DoS), spoofing, Man-in-the-Middle (MITM), and session hijacking in the context of public sector IT environments.
• Best practices and defensive measures for enhancing network security for government systems.

Practical Cryptography

• An overview of symmetric encryption algorithms, including AES and DES, with a focus on their application in government communications.
• A discussion of asymmetric encryption techniques, such as RSA and ECC, and their relevance to secure government data exchange.
• Exploration of hashing and integrity checks using the SHA family of algorithms for ensuring data authenticity in government systems.
• Key management practices and the role of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in securing government communications.

Security Protocols

• An introduction to cryptographic protocols essential for secure government operations.
• A detailed look at IPSEC, including its architecture, modes of operation, and use cases within government networks.
• An examination of SSL/TLS, focusing on the handshake process and how it facilitates secure communication in government systems.
• Common pitfalls and misconfigurations in security protocols that can affect government IT environments.

Cryptographic Vulnerabilities

• A review of protocol-specific attacks such as BEAST, CRIME, POODLE, FREAK, and Logjam, with a focus on their impact on government systems.
• An analysis of padding oracle attacks and their potential to compromise government data.
• Discussion of timing attacks, including RSA timing attacks, and their implications for government security.
• Practical mitigations and secure usage patterns to protect government systems from cryptographic vulnerabilities.

Knowledge Sources

• An overview of secure coding standards, such as those provided by OWASP and CERT, that are particularly relevant for government software development.
• Guidelines and tools for conducting vulnerability testing in government IT environments.
• Resources for continuous learning and community engagement to stay updated on the latest security practices for government operations.

Summary and Next Steps