Cisco CyberOps: Security and Network Monitoring

• Cisco CyberOps refers to Cisco's Cybersecurity Operations framework, certifications, and overall approach to training and enabling cybersecurity professionals.
• It focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents.
• CyberOps covers a range of topics, including security concepts, network security monitoring, host-based analysis, intrusion analysis, and security policies and procedures.

Core Concepts

• Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from digital attacks.
• Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information is accessible only to authorized individuals.
• Integrity maintains the accuracy and completeness of data, preventing unauthorized modification.
• Availability ensures that systems and data are accessible to authorized users when needed.
• Non-repudiation provides proof of actions, preventing individuals from denying their involvement.

Network Security Monitoring

• Network security monitoring (NSM) involves the continuous collection and analysis of network traffic data to detect suspicious activity.
• NSM tools include intrusion detection systems (IDS), intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and security information and event management (SIEM) systems.
• Full packet capture (FPC) involves recording all network traffic for later analysis.
• NetFlow and IPFIX are protocols used to collect summarized network traffic statistics.
• NSM data sources include network traffic logs, system logs, and security alerts.

Host-Based Analysis

• Host-based analysis involves examining individual computer systems for signs of compromise.
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools provide real-time monitoring and analysis of endpoint activity.
• Host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) monitor system logs, file integrity, and process activity.
• Malware analysis involves examining suspicious files to determine their functionality and potential impact.
• Common host-based data sources include system logs, event logs, and process lists.

Intrusion Analysis

• Intrusion analysis is the process of investigating security alerts and incidents to determine their scope and impact.
• Incident response involves containing, eradicating, and recovering from security incidents.
• The incident response lifecycle typically includes preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned.
• Common intrusion analysis techniques include examining network traffic, analyzing system logs, and reverse engineering malware.
• Security alerts are generated by security tools when suspicious activity is detected, and analysts triage these alerts to determine their validity and priority.

Security Policies and Procedures

• Security policies are high-level statements that define an organization's security objectives and responsibilities.
• Security procedures are detailed instructions for implementing security policies.
• Access control policies define who is authorized to access specific resources.
• Password policies define requirements for creating and managing strong passwords.
• Change management policies define procedures for making changes to systems and networks in a controlled manner.

Cisco CyberOps Certifications

• The Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate certification validates a candidate's knowledge and skills in cybersecurity operations.
• The certification covers security fundamentals, network security monitoring, host-based analysis, intrusion analysis, and security policies and procedures.
• Candidates must pass the 200-201 CBROPS exam to earn the certification.
• The Cisco Certified CyberOps Professional certification is a higher-level certification that validates advanced cybersecurity skills.
• CyberOps Professionals possess advanced knowledge and skills in incident response, threat hunting, and security automation.

Security Tools

• SIEM systems aggregate and analyze security data from various sources. Examples include Splunk, and QRadar.
• IDS/IPS tools detect and prevent malicious activity on networks. Examples include Snort and Suricata.
• Firewalls control network traffic based on predefined rules, acting as a barrier between trusted and untrusted networks.
• EDR tools monitor endpoint activity and detect threats. Examples include CrowdStrike and Carbon Black.
• Vulnerability scanners identify security weaknesses in systems and applications. Examples include Nessus and OpenVAS.
• Packet capture tools capture network traffic for analysis. Examples include Wireshark and tcpdump.

Threat Intelligence

• Threat intelligence is information about current and potential threats that can be used to improve security.
• Threat intelligence sources include open-source intelligence (OSINT), commercial threat feeds, and government agencies.
• Indicators of compromise (IOCs) are artifacts observed during security incidents that can be used to identify other compromised systems.
• Common IOCs include IP addresses, domain names, file hashes, and registry keys.
• Threat intelligence platforms (TIPs) aggregate and analyze threat intelligence data.

Cryptography

• Cryptography is the practice of using mathematical algorithms to encrypt and decrypt data.
• Encryption protects data from unauthorized access by converting it into an unreadable format.
• Decryption converts encrypted data back into its original format.
• Symmetric-key cryptography uses the same key for encryption and decryption. Examples include AES and DES.
• Asymmetric-key cryptography uses separate keys for encryption and decryption. Examples include RSA and ECC.
• Hashing algorithms create a one-way representation of data that cannot be reversed. Examples include SHA-256 and MD5.

Common Attacks

• Malware is malicious software that can damage or compromise systems; common types include viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, and spyware.
• Phishing is a type of social engineering attack that attempts to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
• SQL injection is an attack that exploits vulnerabilities in database applications.
• Cross-site scripting (XSS) is an attack that injects malicious code into websites.
• Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks attempt to overwhelm systems with traffic, making them unavailable to legitimate users.

Security Best Practices

• Implement a strong password policy.
• Enable multi-factor authentication.
• Regularly patch and update systems.
• Implement a firewall.
• Install and maintain antivirus software.
• Train users on security awareness.
• Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity.
• Implement a data backup and recovery plan.
• Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

• Cybersecurity professionals must adhere to legal and ethical guidelines.
• Laws and regulations related to cybersecurity include GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
• Ethical principles include confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
• CyberOps professionals must respect user privacy and protect sensitive information.
• Incident response activities must comply with legal requirements and organizational policies.