Cybersecurity Training Topics

This list covers key areas of learning within the field of cybersecurity

1. Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities

• Types of Malware: Viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, rootkits, botnets, RAT, polymorphic malware, keyloggers, grayware.

• Types of Attacks: Social engineering attacks, Man-in-the-Middle, DDoS and DoS attacks, code injection attacks, replay attacks, rainbow table attacks, dictionary attacks, pass the hash, hijacking and related attacks, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs).

• Physical security attacks: Tailgating, lock picking, fence jumping.

• Threat Actors: Insider threats, nation-states/APTs, organized crime, script kiddies, hacktivists, cyberterrorists, unintentional threats.

• Indicators of Compromise: Unusual network traffic, anomalies in privileged user account activity, sudden increase in database read volume, suspicious registry or system file changes.

• IoT and embedded device threats: Insecure configurations, weak authentication, firmware vulnerabilities.

• Advanced Threat Tactics: Living off the land attacks, fileless malware.

• Malware Analysis: Static and dynamic analysis techniques, behavior analysis.

• Insider Threats: Detection and mitigation strategies.

• Fileless Malware: Analysis and response techniques.

• Social Engineering: Pretexting, quid pro quo, tailgating, manipulation techniques.

• Supply Chain Attacks: Assessing and securing the software and hardware supply chain.

• Zero-day Vulnerabilities: Identifying and addressing undisclosed vulnerabilities.

• Incident Response: Incident handling and response, containment, eradication, recovery.

• Threat Hunting: Proactive identification of advanced threats.

• Mobile Device Security: Best practices for securing smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.

• Wireless Security: Securing wireless networks, preventing unauthorized access.

• Web Application Security: Secure coding practices, input validation, output encoding, session management.

2. Identity and Access Management

• Account Management: Least privilege, onboarding/offboarding processes, permission auditing, password complexity.

• Access Control Models: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Mandatory Access Control (MAC), Discretionary Access Control (DAC), Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC).

• Identity Repositories: LDAP, SQL databases, Active Directory, federated identities.

• Biometric Authentication: Fingerprints, retina scanning, facial recognition.

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Different factors, implementation methods.

• Identity as a Service (IDaaS): Cloud-based identity management.

• Cloud Identity and Access Management: AWS IAM, Google IAM, Azure AD.

• Privileged Access Management (PAM): Managing and securing administrative access.

• Federation and Single Sign-On (SSO): OAuth, OpenID Connect, SAML.

• Privileged Account Management (PAM): Monitoring and controlling privileged accounts.

• Just-in-Time (JIT) and Just-Enough-Access (JEA): Provisioning temporary and limited access.

• Identity Governance and Administration (IGA): Managing digital identities, roles, entitlements.

• Biometric Technologies: Voice recognition, gait analysis, behavioral biometrics.

• Passwordless Authentication: Alternative authentication methods.

• Single Sign-On (SSO) Federation: Federated identity providers, SSO protocols.

• Privilege Escalation: Techniques used to gain elevated privileges.

3. Technologies and Tools

• Network Security: Firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, network scanners, vulnerability scanners.

• Endpoint Security: Antivirus, anti-malware, host-based firewalls, host-based IDS/IPS.

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Systems: Real-time monitoring, log collection, correlation.

• Secure Staging Deployment: Sandbox environments, secure baseline configurations.

• Cloud-Based Security Tools: Web Application Firewalls (WAFs), Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs), Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) tools.

• Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR): Automating security operations and incident response.

• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Real-time threat monitoring and response on endpoints.

• Firewalls: Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs), application-aware firewalls, web application firewalls (WAFs).

• Security in DevOps: Integrating security practices into DevOps workflows and pipelines.

• IoT Security: Securing Internet of Things (IoT) devices and networks.

• Secure Email Gateways (SEG): Protection against email-based threats such as phishing and malware.

• Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPP): Securing cloud workloads and containers.

• DevSecOps: Integrating security practices into DevOps methodologies.

• Secure Remote Access: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), remote desktop solutions, multi-factor authentication (MFA).

• Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): Protecting web applications from common attacks.

• Cloud Security: Securely deploying and managing applications and services in cloud environments.

• Intrusion Detection Systems/Intrusion Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): Monitoring and preventing unauthorized access and attacks.

• Vulnerability Scanners: Identifying and assessing vulnerabilities in systems and applications.

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Systems: Collecting and analyzing security event logs for threat detection and incident response.

4. Risk Management

• Vulnerability Management: Vulnerability scanning, patch management, remediation processes.

• Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Techniques to prevent data leakage, such as endpoint DLP, network DLP, email DLP.

• Vendor Risk Management: Assessing and managing risks associated with third-party vendors and suppliers.

• Risk Management Frameworks: ISO 27001/27002, NIST SP800-53, COBIT, ITIL.

• Incident Response procedures: Incident response planning, initial response, documentation, escalation, reporting, post-incident response.

• Business Impact Analysis (BIA): Assessing potential effects of disruptions to business functions.

• Disaster Recovery: Recovery Point Objective (RPO), Recovery Time Objective (RTO), recovery strategies.

• Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing tracking and evaluation of security controls.

• Business Continuity Management (BCM): Developing and testing plans to ensure business resilience.

• Privacy and Data Protection Laws: Understanding global regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA.

• Threat Modeling: Identifying and evaluating potential threats and vulnerabilities in systems and applications.

• Quantitative and Qualitative Risk Assessment: Estimating and evaluating risks using numerical or descriptive methods.

• Risk Register and Risk Treatment Plan: Documenting identified risks and defining appropriate risk response strategies.

• Security Assessment and Authorization: Evaluating and authorizing systems to operate within acceptable risk levels.

• Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA): Assessing the privacy risks and impacts of systems and processes.

• Security Program Management: Developing and managing security programs, policies, and procedures.

• Security Governance: Roles and responsibilities, compliance with regulations and standards.

5. Architecture and Design

• Security Frameworks: CIS Controls, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISO/IEC 27001.

• Secure Network Design: Segmentation, network access control (NAC), zero-trust networks.

• Container Security: Securing container technologies like Docker and Kubernetes.

• Secure Mobile Device Deployment: Implementing mobile device management (MDM) solutions and enforcing device security policies.

• Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Security: Securing virtualized network environments and network function virtualization (NFV).

• Web Application Security: Secure coding practices, input validation, output encoding, session management, error handling.

• Cloud Security Architecture: Securely designing and deploying applications and services in cloud environments.

• Secure IoT Deployment: Implementing security measures for IoT devices, protocols, and communication channels.

• Microsegmentation: Implementing fine-grained network segmentation to isolate workloads and limit lateral movement.

• Identity and Access Provisioning: Implementing processes and technologies to ensure secure user access provisioning and deprovisioning.

• Security Architecture Diagrams: Creating visual representations of security architecture and controls.

• Security in Agile Development: Integrating security practices into Agile software development methodologies.

• Security in DevOps: Integrating security practices into DevOps workflows and pipelines.

• Security in Cloud Environments: Securely designing and configuring cloud environments and services.

• Secure Software Development: Secure coding practices, code reviews, and secure development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies.

• Secure Data Storage and Transmission: Encryption, secure protocols, secure file storage, secure data transfer.

6. Cryptography and PKI

• Cryptographic Protocols: SSL/TLS, IPsec, SSH, HTTPS, LDAPS.

• Cipher Suites: RC4, AES, DES, 3DES, HMAC, RSA, SHA, understanding different types of attacks on encryption: Cryptographic attacks, Brute-force attacks, Birthday attacks, Rainbow table attacks, Dictionary attacks.

• Key Management: Key escrow, key stretching, public key infrastructure.

• PKI Components and their roles: CA (Certificate Authority), RA (Registration Authority), Certificate repository, CRL (Certificate Revocation List), OCSP (Online Certificate Status Protocol).

• Quantum Cryptography: Understanding quantum key distribution and post-quantum cryptography.

• Cryptocurrency: How blockchain and cryptographic principles apply to cryptocurrencies.

• Hardware Security Modules (HSM): Devices used to manage digital keys securely.

• Digital Signatures: Assuring integrity and non-repudiation of digital communications or files.

• Quantum Computing: Impact on encryption and how to prepare for a post-quantum world.

• Secure Hashing Algorithms: SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-3, and their different uses.

• Digital Rights Management (DRM): Protecting intellectual property using encryption, licensing, and access control.

• Cryptocurrency: Understanding blockchain technology, cryptocurrency wallets, and transaction security.

• Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Decryption: Enabling security appliances to inspect encrypted traffic.

7. Governance, Risk, and Compliance

• Third-Party Risk Management: Assessing and managing risks associated with vendors, suppliers, and business partners.

• Incident Response Plan (IRP): Developing and testing a comprehensive plan to address security incidents effectively.

• Security Policies, Standards, and Procedures: Developing and implementing policies aligned with industry best practices and legal requirements.

• Security Metrics and KPIs: Defining and tracking key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of security controls.

• Security Training and Awareness Programs: Educating employees on security best practices, policies, and emerging threats.

• Compliance Auditing: Internal audits, third-party audits, penetration testing.

• Laws and Regulations: Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), EU Cybersecurity Act, California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

• Ethical Hacking: White hat practices, penetration testing, vulnerability assessments.

• Compliance Requirements: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), ISO 27001, NIST 800-53.

• Personnel Management: Hiring practices, background checks, employment agreements (NDA, Non-compete), termination processes, continuous education.

• Data Privacy and Protection: Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Protected Health Information (PHI), Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

• Organizational Risk Management: Risk appetite/tolerance, risk avoidance, transference, acceptance, mitigation, deterrence.

• Information Classification: Public, sensitive, private, confidential.

• Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA): Assessing the privacy risks and impacts of systems and processes.

• Security Awareness Training: Implementing effective training programs for staff.

• Code of Ethics: Understanding and adhering to ethical guidelines and professional behavior in the field of cybersecurity.

8. Operations and Incident Response

• Forensics: Collecting, analyzing, and reporting on digital data in a legally admissible manner.

• Incident Handling: Preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned.

• Business Continuity Planning (BCP): Ensuring critical business functions can continue during and after a disaster.

• Cybersecurity Frameworks: Understanding different frameworks like NIST Cybersecurity Framework, MITRE ATT&CK.

• Threat Hunting: Proactive identification of threats in the environment.

• Purple Teaming: Combination of red teaming (attack simulation) and blue teaming (defense) for comprehensive security.

• Threat Intelligence Sharing: Collaborating with industry peers and information sharing communities to exchange threat intelligence.

• Incident Response Playbooks: Developing predefined response plans for different types of security incidents.

• Digital Forensics Tools and Techniques: Collecting and analyzing digital evidence for incident investigations.

• Business Impact Analysis (BIA): Assessing the potential impact of disruptions on critical business processes and systems.

• Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP): Developing and testing plans to recover IT infrastructure and systems after a disaster.

• Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) Systems: Collecting and analyzing security event logs for threat detection and incident response.

• Incident Response Exercises and Tabletop Drills: Simulating real-world security incidents to test response capabilities.

• Incident Response Automation: Implementing tools and processes for automated incident detection, analysis, and response.

• Cloud Incident Response: Understanding unique challenges and best practices for incident response in cloud environments.

• Malware Analysis: Techniques and tools for analyzing and understanding the behavior of malicious software.

• Security Incident Reporting and Documentation: Maintaining accurate records of security incidents for regulatory compliance and legal purposes.