Networking, Mobile Devices, Virtualization, and Security Course

Lesson 1 • Network Devices and Their Roles

Distinguishes hubs, switches, routers, and firewalls by function and OSI layer. Prepares students to select appropriate devices for specific network segments.

Lesson 2 • Network Topologies and Media Types

Examines physical and logical topologies alongside wired and wireless media. Connects topology choice to performance, fault tolerance, and cost trade-offs.

Lesson 3 • OSI and TCP/IP Reference Models

Covers the seven OSI layers and the four TCP/IP layers, mapping each to real protocols. Establishes the conceptual framework used throughout all networking topics.

Lesson 4 • Core Network Protocols and Services

Introduces DNS, DHCP, HTTP/S, FTP, and SMTP as essential application-layer services. Demonstrates how each protocol supports everyday network operations.

Lesson 1 • Static and Dynamic Routing

Teaches static route configuration and introduces OSPF and EIGRP as dynamic protocols. Builds the routing knowledge needed for enterprise and WAN connectivity.

Lesson 2 • VLAN Design and Trunking

Covers VLAN creation, port assignment, and 802.1Q trunk configuration. Enables logical network segmentation for security and traffic management.

Lesson 3 • Ethernet Switching Concepts

Explains MAC address learning, frame forwarding, and the Spanning Tree Protocol. Directly supports VLAN and trunk configuration covered in the next section.

Lesson 4 • Network Address Translation and DHCP

Explains NAT types, PAT, and DHCP server configuration for address management. Reinforces IP addressing concepts and prepares students for firewall and security topics.

Lesson 1 • RF Fundamentals and Wireless Standards

Covers radio frequency behaviour, channel planning, and IEEE 802.11 standard evolution. Provides the physical-layer foundation for all wireless configuration topics.

Lesson 2 • WLAN Architecture and Components

Distinguishes autonomous APs, lightweight APs, and wireless LAN controllers. Connects architecture choice to scalability and centralised management needs.

Lesson 3 • Wireless Security Protocols

Examines WEP weaknesses, WPA2, and WPA3 improvements for WLAN protection. Directly feeds into the network security chapter by establishing wireless threat context.

Lesson 1 • Mobile Security and Troubleshooting

Addresses mobile malware, jailbreaking, rooting risks, and common connectivity issues. Integrates mobile security into the broader security posture covered later.

Lesson 2 • Mobile Hardware and Operating Systems

Surveys iOS and Android architectures, SoC components, and display technologies. Establishes hardware literacy needed for mobile troubleshooting and MDM configuration.

Lesson 3 • Mobile Connectivity Technologies

Covers cellular generations, Wi-Fi calling, Bluetooth, and NFC for mobile connectivity. Connects mobile radio technologies to enterprise network access policies.

Lesson 4 • Mobile Device Management Platforms

Introduces MDM, MAM, and EMM frameworks for enterprise device control. Prepares students to enforce policies, push apps, and remotely wipe devices.

Lesson 1 • Virtual Networking and Storage

Explains virtual switches, VLANs in hypervisors, and shared storage options like SAN and NAS. Connects physical networking knowledge to virtual infrastructure design.

Lesson 2 • High Availability and Fault Tolerance

Covers clustering, HA failover, fault tolerance, and disaster recovery in virtual environments. Applies virtualisation skills to business continuity requirements.

Lesson 3 • Containers and Microservices

Distinguishes containers from VMs, introduces Docker and Kubernetes basics. Prepares students for cloud-native workloads and modern application deployment patterns.

Lesson 4 • Virtualisation Fundamentals

Defines virtualisation, explains Type 1 vs. Type 2 hypervisors, and covers key benefits. Establishes the conceptual base for all VM, container, and cloud topics.

Lesson 1 • Hybrid Cloud Management and Governance

Addresses identity federation, policy enforcement, and monitoring across hybrid environments. Integrates cloud governance with on-premises security and compliance frameworks.

Lesson 2 • Cloud Networking and Connectivity

Covers virtual private clouds, subnets, security groups, and cloud-to-on-premises VPN. Extends routing and switching knowledge into cloud network design.

Lesson 3 • Cloud Deployment Models

Compares public, private, hybrid, and community cloud deployments by control and cost. Guides architecture decisions based on compliance, latency, and budget constraints.

Lesson 4 • Cloud Storage and Compute Services

Examines object, block, and file storage types alongside auto-scaling compute groups. Prepares students to size and optimise cloud workloads for performance and cost.

Lesson 1 • VPN Technologies and Secure Remote Access

Covers IPsec, SSL/TLS VPN, split tunneling, and zero-trust network access models. Enables secure connectivity for remote workers and site-to-site links.

Lesson 2 • Firewalls, IDS, and IPS

Distinguishes stateful firewalls, NGFW, IDS, and IPS by detection and enforcement capability. Connects device selection to network zone design and threat response requirements.

Lesson 3 • Common Attacks and Mitigation Techniques

Analyses DoS, DDoS, MITM, phishing, and SQL injection with corresponding defences. Prepares students to recognise and respond to real-world attack scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Security Concepts and Threat Landscape

Defines the CIA triad, threat actors, attack vectors, and common vulnerability types. Establishes the security vocabulary and mindset used throughout all remaining chapters.

Lesson 5 • Cryptography and PKI

Explains symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hashing, digital signatures, and certificate authorities. Provides the cryptographic foundation for VPN, TLS, and wireless security.

Lesson 1 • Security Monitoring and SIEM

Covers log collection, correlation rules, dashboards, and alert triage in SIEM platforms. Builds the monitoring skills needed for proactive threat detection and response.

Lesson 2 • Incident Response and Digital Forensics

Teaches the incident response lifecycle, evidence collection, and chain-of-custody procedures. Prepares students to contain breaches and preserve forensic integrity.

Lesson 3 • Compliance Frameworks and Risk Management

Surveys major security frameworks, risk assessment methodologies, and audit preparation. Aligns technical controls with organisational governance and regulatory obligations.

Lesson 4 • Vulnerability Management and Penetration Testing

Explains vulnerability scanning, CVSS scoring, and penetration testing phases. Connects assessment results to remediation prioritisation and risk reduction.