Updated in May 2025.

This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. In this course, you will gain foundational knowledge of security concepts and network automation techniques essential for modern network management. Through real-world scenarios and practical insights, you'll learn about threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies that can be applied in your daily tasks. Understanding security awareness and password policies will empower you to contribute to your organization's network defense effectively. You'll also explore AAA security elements, VPN types, and their application in secure business communications. The course will then introduce you to network automation, emphasizing its crucial role in managing large-scale networks. We will dive into network management automation and how it simplifies repetitive tasks, helping to avoid human error and ensuring network stability. You'll discover SDN (Software-Defined Networking) architecture concepts, focusing on how APIs interact with network devices, enhancing flexibility and control over network infrastructures. Next, you'll explore campus device management methods, including how tools like Cisco DNA center enable seamless management across multiple devices. We will also examine REST-based APIs, their significance in network operations, and how they drive automation. Furthermore, configuration management tools such as Puppet, Chef, and Ansible will be covered, helping you automate network configurations efficiently. Finally, you will learn how to interpret JSON-encoded data, a vital skill in network automation tasks. This course is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their skills in network security and automation. It is designed for network engineers, system administrators, and IT professionals looking to implement automation techniques to streamline network management processes. Basic networking knowledge is recommended for this course, as it will help you understand the core concepts more easily. The difficulty level is intermediate, catering to individuals looking to build upon foundational networking skills.