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Cybersecurity

Junior Network Security and Infrastructure Foundations

This beginner career course equips networking graduates with practical foundations in network infrastructure, secure device configuration, routing, services, and basic automation. Learners progress through short, phone-first lessons that build from core concepts to hands-on configuration, troubleshooting, and entry-level real-world tasks relevant to SMEs, schools, branch offices, and digital service environments such as point-of-sale and mobile money connectivity.

35 lessons · includes a quiz · Free

Syllabus

Module 1: Network Devices, Topologies, and Traffic Flow

  1. 1Routers, Multilayer Switches, and Firewalls
  2. 2LAN and WAN Topologies
  3. 3How Traffic Moves Across a Network
  4. 4Reading a Basic Network Diagram

Module 2: Cabling, Interfaces, and IP Addressing

  1. 1Copper, Fiber, and PoE Basics
  2. 2Interfaces, Speeds, and Link Indicators
  3. 3IPv4 Addressing and Subnet Masks
  4. 4IPv6 Global Unicast, Link-Local, and EUI-64

Module 3: Core Protocols and Basic Troubleshooting

  1. 1TCP vs UDP in Real Applications
  2. 2ARP and ICMP Functions
  3. 3Testing Connectivity with Simple Commands
  4. 4Documenting a Basic Fault Report

Module 4: VLANs, Trunks, STP, EtherChannel, and Wireless Access

  1. 1Creating VLANs and Assigning Access Ports
  2. 2802.1Q Trunking Between Switches
  3. 3Rapid PVST+ and Root Bridge Election
  4. 4EtherChannel with LACP and PAgP
  5. 5Wireless Components, AP Modes, and Roaming

Module 5: Routing, OSPF, and First-Hop Resilience

  1. 1Routing Tables, Administrative Distance, and Default Gateways
  2. 2Configuring Static Routing for IPv4 and IPv6
  3. 3Single-Area OSPFv2 Configuration
  4. 4OSPF Neighbor States and Metric Basics
  5. 5First-Hop Redundancy Concepts: HSRP and VRRP

Module 6: Network Services, NAT, QoS, and Tunnels

  1. 1DHCP, DNS Lookup, and Client Behavior
  2. 2NTP, SNMP, and Syslog Essentials
  3. 3Static NAT, Dynamic NAT, and PAT
  4. 4QoS Queuing and Marking Fundamentals
  5. 5Basic GRE Tunnel Operations

Module 7: Device Security, ACLs, and Threat Defense

  1. 1Password Security and SSH Access
  2. 2Port Security and Basic Device Hardening
  3. 3Standard and Extended ACLs for IPv4 and IPv6
  4. 4VPN Types and Security Policies

Module 8: Automation, Programmability, and Career Application

  1. 1SDN and Controller-Based Networking
  2. 2REST APIs and JSON Essentials
  3. 3Configuration Management Tools: Puppet, Chef, and Ansible
  4. 4Integrated Scenario: Secure a Small Branch Network