Design and Analyze Secure Networked Systems

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/design-secure-networked-systems

Introduction

### Course Review: Design and Analyze Secure Networked Systems on Coursera #### Overview In an age where cyber threats are rampant, understanding the intricacies of cybersecurity is paramount. The course **Design and Analyze Secure Networked Systems**, available on Coursera, provides a comprehensive journey through the fundamental concepts of cybersecurity, focusing on identifying vulnerabilities and protecting networked systems. This MOOC is thoughtfully designed to equip learners with the necessary skills to analyze and combat today’s complex cyber threats, using real-world incidents as case studies. #### Detailed Course Content **Module 1: Cybersecurity Concepts and Security Principles** The course begins with an introduction to essential cybersecurity concepts, covering both vulnerabilities and threats present in network systems. Participants will delve into recent cyber incidents, such as the OPM data breach, to examine enabling factors and implement basic security services for defense and triage. This foundational module ensures that learners understand the fundamental principles of risk management and security design, which are vital for protecting data and secure systems. **Module 2: Protect Data Access and Verify Source of Trust** Building on the concepts from the first module, this part emphasizes the principle of least privilege, teaching learners about access control through practical examples. By analyzing the OPM data breach, students will appreciate the significance of adequate data protection. This module also covers the critical importance of establishing trust by verifying the source and integrity of programs and data we utilize every day. **Module 3: Using GPG to Sign/Verify Software** In this module, the course introduces the GPG software tool, empowering students to generate public key/private key pairs and sign or encrypt documents. Learners will have hands-on experience verifying the integrity of popular open-source software packages, a valuable skill that reinforces the importance of secure software management. **Module 4: Be a CA, Setup Secure Server and Client Certificate** The final module dives deep into the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and the role of Certificate Authorities (CA). Participants will receive step-by-step guidance on setting up a CA, signing certificate requests, and configuring Apache web servers for secure web access. This module is particularly hands-on, as learners will set up mutual authentication between clients and servers, enabling secure communications. #### Recommendations I highly recommend **Design and Analyze Secure Networked Systems** for anyone interested in bolstering their cybersecurity knowledge, whether you’re a beginner or someone seeking to deepen your existing knowledge. Here are a few reasons why this course stands out: 1. **Comprehensive Content**: The course covers a breadth of topics that are essential for understanding modern cybersecurity challenges and defenses. 2. **Practical Application**: Real-life case studies, such as the OPM breach, provide context and relevance, making the theoretical concepts tangible and applicable. 3. **Hands-On Learning**: The modified practical approach in setting up secure systems, from GPG to PKI, equips participants with skills that are directly applicable in the workforce. 4. **Wide Audience Appeal**: With no prior experience required, anyone with an interest in cybersecurity can benefit from this well-structured course. #### Conclusion Cybersecurity is not just a technical concern; it is crucial for protecting sensitive data and maintaining trust in digital interactions. The course **Design and Analyze Secure Networked Systems** on Coursera provides a strong grounding in cybersecurity principles while cultivating the skills needed to assess and mitigate risks effectively. Whether you are an IT professional, a business leader, or simply a curious learner, this course is a worthwhile investment in safeguarding your knowledge and enhancing your capabilities in the digital landscape.

Syllabus

Cybersecurity Concepts and Security Principles

In this module, we will introduce the basic cyber security concepts, enable you to identity root causes of vulnerabilities in a network system and distinguish them from the threats from both inside and outside. We will analyze the enabling factors of recent cyber attack incidences and discuss the basic security services for their defense and triage. We will introduce the risk management framework for analyzing the risks in a network system, and apply the basic security design principles to protect the data and secure the computer systems. Trust is critical and in the center of any secure systems. We will examine the source and authenticity of the programs and data installed in systems we used daily and show the proper way to check their integrity, and verify their authenticity.

In this module we apply principle of least privileges for controlling the proper access given to users and system process. We will demonstrate such an access control by using an example of project document access control using the Unix file access mechanism. We use OPM data breach example to show the impact and the need for principle of adequate data protection. Trust is critical and in the center of any secure systems. We will examine the source and authenticity of the programs and data installed in systems we used daily and show the proper way to check their integrity, and verify their authenticity.

In this module, we introduce GPG software tool for generating public key private key pair for signing/verifying the documents and to encrypt documents, and publish our public key on our web server and PGP key server for others to retrieve. We will use GnuPG software tool to verify the common opensource software packages such as apache and putty. We will also learn how to sign software and the proper way to list the software package, their pgp signature, and our signing public key on a web site.

In this module, we will learn the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), how CA operates, and the certificates signing and verification process. We will utilize the utility command in a Linux system to serve as a CA for an organization, learn how to sign certificate request for clients or servers both secure email or secure web access purpose. We will earn how to generate server certificate requests as a webmaster, send them to CA for signing and install the signed certificates in Apache web server for secure web access. We will also set up apache web server for requiring clients to present their client certificates for mutual authentication. We will also guide you to set client certificate on browser for mutual authentication and on a mail client for signing and encrypting emails.