Palo Alto Cyber Security Packaged (PCCSA and PCNSA) (short course)

More about this course

Today's organisations are challenged with rapidly detecting cyber security breaches and effectively responding to security incidents. Teams of people in security operations centres (SOCs) keep a vigilant eye on security systems, protecting their organisations by detecting and responding to cyber security threats. The Palo Alto Cyber Security PCCSA and PCNSA course prepares you to begin a career working as a cyber security administrator with security operations centres.

Uncovering cybercrime, cyber espionage and other threats to the integrity of networks is an exciting new area that spans all industries. London Met is the only Palo Alto Cyber Security Regional Academy in the UK that has started offering this new course at one of the most advanced Palo Alto Academies in the country.

Assessment

You will be assessed by in-class chapter tests, final theory and practical exams.

Professional accreditation

On completion of this course you will acquire the Palo Alto PCCSA and PCNSA qualifications.

Entry requirements

You're required to have:

• a reading-age level (RAL) of 13
• basic computer literacy and awareness of the internet

Prior experience with computer hardware, cabling, binary maths and basic electronics is desirable but not required.

You're also required to have a Windows-based PC or laptop with an internet connection if you want to study the material outside of the University's premises.

International students

You will need the following level of English:

• a minimum English qualification of IELTS 5.5 with 5.0 or above in all components, or 550 with 4 in the TWE (Test of Written English) or 213 in the computer-based test (essay rating 4)

The Britsh Council offers more information about how to take an IELTS exam (the preferred qualification).

It may be possible to be exempt from formal English qualifications if:

• you received high grades in English throughout your education
• your education has been undertaken in English

Course structure

The course consists of two parts, PCCSA and PCNSA.

The PCCSA consists of three modules, which are:

Module one: Cyber Security Foundation explains the nature and scope of today's cyber security challenges. This module explores the cybersecurity landscape, cyberthreats, malware and spamming, and Wi-Fi and advanced threats.

Module two: Cyber Security Gateway explains networking concepts, fundamentals and technologies. This module explores the basic operation of computer networks; common networking devices; routed and routing protocols; network types and topologies; DNS; physical, logical and virtual addressing; IP addressing and subnetting; the OSI and TCP/IP models; network security models, cloud and data centre security, network security technologies, cloud computing, virtualisation and storage technologies and network operations fundamentals.

Module three: Cyber Security Essentials presents detailed information about next-generation cybersecurity solutions available from Palo Alto Networks. This module demonstrates the real-world application of the cyber security design best practices and principles presented in Module two to address the cyber security landscape and threat challenge design described in Module one.

The PCNSA consists of two modules, Palo Alto Cyber Security Infrastructure Configuration (CIC) and Palo Alto Cyber Security Prevention and Countermeasures (CPC) which is essentially the Palo Alto EDU-210 course. The Palo Alto CIC course provides you with a general understanding of how to install, configure and manage firewalls for defence of enterprise network architecture. You will learn the theory and configuration steps for setting up the security, networking, threat prevention, logging, and reporting features of next generation firewall technologies.

The Palo Alto CPC module provides you with advanced information on how to install and configure firewalls for defence of enterprise network architecture. You will learn the theory and extended configuration features necessary for setting up traffic handling, advanced content/user identification, quality of service, global protection, monitoring/reporting and high availability of next-generation firewall technologies.

Palo Alto Cyber Security Packaged Course Timetable – 15 February 2021 start

Classes take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am to 5pm on our Holloway Road campus.

The first day of the course starts at 11am 15 February 2021.

Palo Alto Cybersecurity Packaged Course February 2021 Start

PCCSA Cyber Security Foundation, Gateway and Essentials 

Week one (beginning 15 February 2021)

• Chapter 0 Course Introduction, Welcome to PA Cybersecurity Foundation 
• Chapter 1 Cybersecurity Landscape 
• Chapter 2 Cyberthreats 
• Chapter 3 Endpoint Security Basics
• Chapter 4 Cyber-attack Techniques and Types

Week two (beginning 22 February 2021)

• Chapter 5 Wifi and Advanced Persistent Threats
• Chapter 6 Course Introduction, Welcome to PA Cybersecurity  Gateway 
• Chapter 7 The Connected Globe 
• Chapter 8 Physical, Logical and Virtual Addressing 
• Chapter 9 Packet Encapsulation and Lifecycle

Week three (beginning 1 March 2021)

• Chapter 10 Network Security Models
• Chapter 11 Cloud and Data Centre Security
• Chapter 12 Network Security Technologies 
• Chapter 13 Endpoint Security 
• Chapter 14 Cloud, Virtualisation, and Storage Security

Week four (beginning 8 March 2021)

• Chapter 15 Networking Concepts 
• Assessments 
• Retakes

Week five (beginning 15 March 2021)

• Chapter 16 Course Introduction, Welcome to PA Cybersecurity Essentials 
• Chapter 17 Security Operating Platforms 
• Chapter 18 Network Security 
• Chapter 19 Endpoint Protection
• Chapter 20 Cloud Security 

Week six (beginning 22 March 2021)

• Chapter 21 Application Framework and Logging Services
• Assessments 22 March 2021
• Retakes 24 March 2021

PCNSA Cyber Security Infrastructure Configuration, Prevention and Countermeasures 

Week seven (beginning 12 April 2021)

• Chapter 0 Course Introduction, Welcome to PCNSA Course
• Chapter 1 Security Architecture Planning
• Chapter 2 Infrastructure Device Configuration 
• Chapter 3 Cybersecurity Policy

Week eight (beginning 19 April 2021)

• Chapter 4 Application Software Identification 
• Chapter 5 Anti-Virus, Anti Spyware, File Blocking
• Chapter 6 Uniform Resource Locator Filtering

Week nine (beginning 26 April 2021)

• Chapter 7 Decryption and Certificate Management 
• Chapter 8 Virus Analysis 
• Chapter 9 End User ID

Week ten (beginning 3 May 2021)

• Chapter 10 Remote Access
• Chapter 11 Monitor and Report 
• Chapter 12 High Availability  

Week 11 (beginning 10 May 2021)

• Assessments 10 May 2021
• Retakes 12 May 2021

Skills and experience gained

By the end of the course you will be able to install, configure and maintain Palo Alto firewalls.

Where this course can take you

On completion of this course career opportunites may include: junior network security or cyber security analyst/administrator within small to medium sized businesses, large enterprises or security operations centres including BT, Vodafone, O2, Cisco Systems, Palo Alto Networks, Accenture, Bloomberg, Fortinet and more

Payments and discounts

By paying for a place on the course you confirm that you have received an offer letter for the accepting you onto the course , you meet the standard entry requirements for the course and that you agree to the School of Computing's  for professional and short courses.

Payment must be made in full via eShop before the start of the course. Full payment of the fee will qualify you to a 10% discount for all three modules.

If we made an option available to you to split the payment, you are still committed to pay any outstanding fees as early as starting the second module, or when you are asked to do so. Please read our terms and conditions before proceeding with any payments. Current students and London Met alumni and staff are entitled to a 10% discount.

Please note that the cost does not cover the cost of sitting the certification exams.

When to apply

The official closing date for this course is one week before the course start date. Please refer to the course structure. However you are advised to apply as early as possible as we will only consider your application if there are places available on the course. If you have missed the deadline, please get in touch and we will do our best to accommodate you.

For more information on course content, please contact the course administrator at cisco.academy@londonmet.ac.uk

Course leader: Dr Shahram Salekzamankhani – s.salek@londonmet.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7133 3705