• Understand network protocols and routing.
• Understand commonly used network services - DNS, mail, web, etc. as well as less common network services.
• Perform packet analysis and be able to identify malformed packets.
• Understand differences between various operating systems - which OS an event came from and which OS is vulnerable to a certain attack.
• Define the types of malicious software found in modern networks.
• Explain the threats and countermeasures for physical security and social engineering.
• Perform footprinting, port scans, and enumeration on a network.
• Perform very simple programming in C, HTML, and Perl, specifically oriented towards the needs of network security professionals.
• Identify Microsoft Windows vulnerabilities and to harden systems.
• Identify Linux vulnerabilities and to protect servers.
• Describe and deploy security devices, including routers, firewalls, Intrusion Detection Systems, and honeypots.
• Describe the ethics associated with the use of hacking or penetration testing tools and techniques.

This option is designed to align with the National Institute of Technology and Standards’ (NITS) National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Cybersecurity Workforce Framework to ensure consistent, current, and flexible training in the growing technology field of Information Security. Graduates of this option may qualify for positions as entry level information security professionals.