Advanced Cybersecurity

Offered by: N&N Cyber Pathways Institute
Duration: 10–12 Weeks (Instructor-Led / Self-Paced Hybrid)
Level: Advanced
Prerequisites:

• Completion of Cybersecurity Basics or equivalent knowledge.

• Basic understanding of networking, operating systems, and security fundamentals.

Course Overview

The Advanced Cybersecurity course at N&N Cyber Pathways Institute is designed for learners seeking to master the art of defending complex digital environments against sophisticated cyber threats. This course goes beyond fundamentals, diving into network defense, threat analysis, penetration testing, cryptography, and incident response. Through a combination of theory, simulations, and hands-on labs, learners gain practical experience in identifying vulnerabilities, fortifying infrastructures, and responding to real-world cyberattacks. The goal is to transform participants into highly skilled professionals capable of managing security at an enterprise level.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Analyze, detect, and mitigate advanced cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

• Perform penetration testing and ethical hacking with industry tools.

• Apply cryptographic techniques to secure systems and communications.

• Design and implement enterprise-level security policies and frameworks.

• Conduct effective incident response and digital forensics investigations.

• Prepare for industry certifications such as CEH, CISSP, and CompTIA Security+.

Course Modules

Module 1: Advanced Network Defense

• Understanding network architectures and attack surfaces

• Advanced firewall configuration and management

• Network segmentation and secure routing

• Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)

• Network traffic analysis and anomaly detection

Module 2: Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing

• Phases of ethical hacking: reconnaissance to exploitation

• Penetration testing methodologies and reporting

• Vulnerability scanning using Nessus, Nmap, and OpenVAS

• Exploitation frameworks (Metasploit, Burp Suite)

• Conducting internal and external assessments

Module 3: Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)

• Gathering and analyzing threat data

• Understanding indicators of compromise (IOCs)

• Cyber kill chain and MITRE ATT&CK framework

• Dark web monitoring and threat actor profiling

• Automating intelligence workflows

Module 4: Cryptography and Secure Communications

• Symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms

• Hashing, digital signatures, and certificates

• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) management

• Secure email, VPNs, and SSL/TLS protocols

• Quantum cryptography and future trends

Module 5: Cloud and Application Security

• Securing cloud infrastructures (AWS, Azure, GCP)

• Identity and Access Management (IAM) in the cloud

• Application vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10)

• Web app firewalls and secure API design

• DevSecOps and continuous security integration

Module 6: Incident Response and Digital Forensics

• Building an incident response plan

• Detecting and containing active threats

• Evidence collection and forensic tools (FTK, Autopsy)

• Malware analysis and reverse engineering basics

• Reporting and post-incident lessons learned

Module 7: Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)

• Risk assessment frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001, COBIT)

• Security policies, standards, and controls

• Legal, ethical, and privacy considerations

• Auditing and compliance management

• Building a security culture within organizations

Module 8: Capstone Project – The Cyber Defense Challenge

• Learners simulate real-world cyberattacks and defenses

• Design and implement enterprise-level protection strategies

• Present findings, incident reports, and recommendations

• Peer and instructor evaluation

Course Features

• Real-world simulations and cyber range labs

• Guidance from certified cybersecurity professionals

• Access to exclusive learning materials and tools

• Certification of Completion recognized by N&N Cyber Pathways Institute

• Career mentorship for roles like Security Analyst, Ethical Hacker, and Cyber Defense Specialist

Assessment

• Quizzes and lab assignments after each module

• Mid-course vulnerability assessment project

• Final capstone project and professional presentation