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Network Defense Strategies

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Network Defense Strategies

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Apply secure design using threat modeling, VLANs, subnetting, and layered zones to strengthen network defense and reduce enterprise risk.

  • Implement ACLs and VPNs using proven network security strategies to regulate traffic and encrypt data across networks.

  • Configure AAA with TACACS+ to manage secure access and support effective cyber network defense monitoring and threat detection.

  • Apply advanced network defense strategies to design and validate secure enterprise network infrastructures using integrated skills.

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Assessments

4 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer
Taught in English

There are 6 modules in this course

In today’s interconnected world, strong network defense and secure infrastructure design are essential for organizational resilience. As enterprise networks expand across offices, plants, cloud environments, and data centers, cyber threats increasingly exploit vulnerabilities such as weak segmentation, misconfigurations, and unmonitored systems. This course equips learners with the practical skills needed to design, implement, and manage secure network infrastructures using modern network defense strategies and proven network security methods.

Through a combination of theory and hands-on labs, learners will explore core network defense fundamentals and apply industry-recognized cybersecurity best practices such as defense in depth, least privilege, segmentation, and zero trust. Participants will gain practical experience in securing a network through VLAN configuration, firewall implementation, IDS/IPS deployment, and VPN technologies including IPSec, SSL/TLS, and L2TP. The course also emphasizes modern cyber defense strategy techniques, including real-time traffic monitoring, SIEM integration, log analysis, intrusion detection, and continuous monitoring for effective cyber network defense. Learners will understand how to improve network security and strengthen enterprise resilience against evolving cyber threats. Designed for aspiring network security professionals, system administrators, and IT managers, this practical network defense course focuses on scalable architectures, policy-driven operations, and advanced network security strategies to help organizations secure modern enterprise environments effectively.

In this course, you’ll learn how to design, implement, and manage secure network infrastructures that can withstand evolving cyber threats. You’ll focus on real-world applications such as network segmentation with VLANs, secure remote connectivity through VPNs, and proactive defense using firewalls, IDS/IPS, and SIEM systems. Through guided labs and hands-on configuration, you’ll gain the skills to build scalable, resilient networks, monitor traffic in real time, and apply layered security principles like zero trust and defense in depth—ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and continuous protection across complex digital environments.

What's included

1 video1 reading

1 videoTotal 4 minutes
  • Intro Video to Course 4 minutes
1 readingTotal 5 minutes
  • Welcome to the Course: Course Overview5 minutes

In this module, you’ll learn how to build secure network architectures from the ground up—starting with the foundational principles of network security and progressing to practical configuration of VLANs for segmentation and protection. You’ll explore key concepts such as the CIA triad, common cyberattack methods, and architectural design principles like defense in depth and least privilege. Through interactive lessons, hands-on VLAN labs, and demonstrations, you’ll gain the skills to design, implement, and secure segmented network environments that minimize attack surfaces and enhance organizational resilience.

What's included

10 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 69 minutes
  • Module Introduction 2 minutes
  • What is Network Security and Why It Matters8 minutes
  • Common Threats and Attack Vectors8 minutes
  • The CIA Triad and Security Design Principles 8 minutes
  • Security Zones and Segmentation9 minutes
  • The Role of Subnetting and Addressing in Security9 minutes
  • Introduction to VLANs and Network Isolation 9 minutes
  • Demo: VLAN Configuration on Switches 4 minutes
  • Demo: Inter-VLAN Routing and Trunking 8 minutes
  • VLAN Hopping Attacks and Mitigations 5 minutes
1 readingTotal 5 minutes
  • VLAN Best Practices and Security Tips for Cisco Business Routers 5 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes
  • Network Security Fundamentals & Architecture 20 minutes
1 peer reviewTotal 10 minutes
  • Hands-On-Learning: Creating VLANs and Implementing Inter-VLAN Routing 10 minutes
1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes
  • Designing for Security: What Matters Most?10 minutes

In this module, you’ll learn how to control who and what can access your network, secure data as it travels across untrusted environments, and harden network devices against unauthorized use. You’ll explore access control mechanisms like ACLs for filtering traffic, VPNs for encrypting communication, and secure authentication methods for device protection. Through real-world demonstrations, guided configurations, and hands-on labs, you’ll gain the skills to build, deploy, and manage secure access solutions that safeguard both internal and external network communications.

What's included

10 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 54 minutes
  • Module Introduction 2 minutes
  • What Are ACLs and Why They Matter5 minutes
  • Standard vs. Extended ACLs3 minutes
  • Applying ACLs to Interfaces and Traffic Flows 10 minutes
  • VPN Fundamentals and Encryption Concepts4 minutes
  • Demo: Site-to-Site vs. Remote-Access VPNs 6 minutes
  • VPN Protocols: IPSec, SSL, and L2TP 8 minutes
  • Demo: Creating User Accounts and Privilege Levels 5 minutes
  • Demo: Password Policies and Local Authentication 6 minutes
  • Securing Management Access with SSH and Console Restrictions 6 minutes
1 readingTotal 5 minutes
  • Cisco IOS XE Software Hardening Guide 5 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes
  • Access Control, VPNs, and Device Security20 minutes
1 peer reviewTotal 10 minutes
  • Hands-On-Learning: Configuring and Applying Access Control Lists (ACLs) 10 minutes
1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes
  • Overcoming Access Control Misconfiguration 10 minutes

In this module, you’ll learn how to centralize network authentication and gain full visibility into network activity through monitoring and analysis tools. You’ll configure AAA services using TACACS+ for secure and auditable user management, compare it with RADIUS, and implement centralized authorization policies. The module then guides you through traffic analysis and performance monitoring using Wireshark, NetFlow, and SNMP to detect anomalies and performance bottlenecks. Finally, you’ll integrate these insights into a layered defense strategy combining firewalls, IDS/IPS, and incident response to create a robust, proactive security posture.

What's included

10 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 50 minutes
  • Module Introduction 2 minutes
  • Understanding AAA: Authentication, Authorization, Accounting5 minutes
  • Demo: TACACS+ vs. RADIUS: What’s the Difference? 5 minutes
  • Configuring TACACS+ on Network Devices 3 minutes
  • Tools for Monitoring: Wireshark, NetFlow, and SNMP6 minutes
  • Packet Analysis and Intrusion Detection Basics6 minutes
  • Using Logs and Alerts to Detect Threats 6 minutes
  • Defense in Depth: Combining Controls6 minutes
  • Firewalls, IDS/IPS, and Honeypots6 minutes
  • Threat Response and Containment Techniques 6 minutes
1 readingTotal 5 minutes
  • AAA, TACACS+, and SSH: Secure Access Control Explained5 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes
  • Centralized Authentication and Network Monitoring 20 minutes
1 peer reviewTotal 10 minutes
  • Hands-On-Learning: Configuring TACACS+ for Centralized Authentication 10 minutes
1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes
  • Seeing the Network Clearly 10 minutes

In this module, you’ll learn how to secure wireless networks and bring together all your skills in a comprehensive network security project. You’ll explore wireless-specific vulnerabilities and defenses, including rogue access point detection, WPA2/WPA3 encryption, and secure segmentation using VLANs and ACLs. The module also introduces wireless intrusion prevention and enterprise-level monitoring practices. It concludes with a capstone project where you’ll design, configure, and audit a fully secured network—integrating wired, wireless, and remote access components into one cohesive, defense-in-depth architecture.

What's included

10 videos1 reading1 assignment1 peer review1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 51 minutes
  • Module Introduction 2 minutes
  • Wireless Threats: Rogue APs, Eavesdropping, MITM5 minutes
  • WPA2 vs. WPA3 and Secure Authentication4 minutes
  • Segmenting Wireless Traffic with VLANs and ACLs 7 minutes
  • Detecting Rogue Access Points5 minutes
  • Demo: Wireless IDS/IPS and Monitoring Tools 6 minutes
  • Best Practices for Enterprise Wi-Fi Security 5 minutes
  • Demo: Planning a Secure Network from the Ground Up 5 minutes
  • Demo: Implementing VLANs, VPNs, and Access Controls 7 minutes
  • Final Review: Auditing and Defending the Full Environment 6 minutes
1 readingTotal 5 minutes
  • Top Wireless Network Security Best Practices5 minutes
1 assignmentTotal 20 minutes
  • Wireless Security, Operations & Final Project 20 minutes
1 peer reviewTotal 10 minutes
  • Hands-On-Learning: Segmenting Wireless Traffic with VLANs and ACLs 10 minutes
1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes
  • Designing a Secure Wireless Environment 10 minutes

In this final section, you’ll synthesize your learning across access control, VPNs, centralized authentication, and wireless defense to build a complete enterprise security framework. You’ll complete a capstone project that challenges you to design, configure, and defend a fully secured network integrating VLANs, ACLs, VPNs, TACACS+, and monitoring tools. By applying your knowledge in a practical environment, you’ll demonstrate your ability to implement layered security, mitigate threats, and maintain resilient network operations across wired and wireless infrastructures.

What's included

1 video1 peer review

1 videoTotal 3 minutes
  • Course Wrap-up Video 3 minutes
1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes
  • Project: Designing and Defending a Complete Enterprise Network 60 minutes

Instructors

Starweaver
2 Courses114 learners
Starweaver
571 Courses1,157,301 learners

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Frequently asked questions

You’ll learn how to apply modern network defense strategies, secure enterprise networks, configure firewalls and VPNs, and implement layered network security controls.

Network defense involves protecting enterprise networks from cyber threats using technologies, policies, monitoring systems, and proactive cyber defense strategy techniques.

You’ll gain hands-on experience with VLANs, ACLs, IDS/IPS, VPNs, SIEM integration, traffic monitoring, and other essential network security methods.

This course is ideal for aspiring network security professionals, system administrators, cybersecurity learners, and IT managers interested in cyber network defense and secure infrastructure design.

The course teaches proven cybersecurity defense strategies, including segmentation, zero trust, least privilege, and continuous monitoring to help learners understand how to improve network security effectively.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Financial aid available,

¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.