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In my IPv6 Class this week we get to touch a number of IPv6 topics.  We have already discussed the Basics of IPv6, Routing Protocols, and QoS features.  Aside from tunneling, which we cover on Thursday, one of the topics that I am most facinated with (being a CCIE Security) is of course….wait for it……Security!  As I prep ahead of time for my class I can’t help but look to see what new and exciting resources are out there to share when it comes to Security.  The following video, IMHO, is pretty darn cool.  Take a little time to watch it and let me know what your thoughts are.

In some popular online forums people have been talking about how the number of candidates that have passed the CCIE Security since the new version is very low, almost non-existant.  While there may be issues with the lab itself, a claim on commenter made, I wonder how much of this is related to a lack in understanding of core knowledge concepts.  See, as an instructor its easy to get into the trap of knowing all the technical details of how something works because you teach it so often and yet you lack in practical configurations.  This is something I have always fought against, one reason I spend as much time as I can on the equipment.

But when it comes to the CCIE you have to face the Open Ended Questions (OEQs).  I hear a lot of talk about them and I know that people struggle with them.  So I have to ask the question: How do you get your core knowledge?  I think this information can be obtained in a few different ways.

1. Cisco Certified Courses
2. Cisco Press Books
3. Third Party Books
4. Non-Certified Courses
5. Cisco Documentation
6. Blogs, Wikis, Forums, and whatever else is out there on the Web.

What do you use?

[poll id="9"]

Now back to the point of this post.  Is core knowledge key?  Absolutley!  So let me share with you something I know alot about- The Cisco Certified Courses.  I’m going to relate this to CCIE Security, but if anyone wants to know about Voice or R&S we can get Patrick to put that post together.

So lets break down the CCIE Security Lab Blueprint and see what courses would cover the information.

Topic 1:

Implement secure networks using Cisco ASA Firewalls

1. Perform basic firewall Initialization
2. Configure device management
3. Configure address translation (nat, global, static)
4. Configure ACLs
5. Configure IP routing
6. Configure object groups
7. Configure VLANs
8. Configure filtering
9. Configure failover
10. Configure Layer 2 Transparent Firewall
11. Configure security contexts (virtual firewall)
12. Configure Modular Policy Framework
13. Configure Application-Aware Inspection
14. Configure high availability solutions
15. Configure QoS policies

For this section you’re going to want to look at the SNAF course.  This class goes into all the topics of the ASA that are defined here.  The only drawback to this course is that the labs are primarily using ASDM, something you’re not going to use on the lab.  You can look at the outline for the course here.

Next section looks like this:

Implement secure networks using Cisco IOS Firewalls

1. Configure CBAC
2. Configure Zone-Based Firewall
3. Configure Audit
4. Configure Auth Proxy
5. Configure PAM
6. Configure access control
7. Configure performance tuning
8. Configure advanced IOS Firewall features

All of this information is going to be found in IINS and SND.  IINS is the CCNA Security course and it was developed by Ascolta for Cisco.  It’s entry level but teaches you a wide range of security concepts.  If you want to start somewhere- this is it.  SND is much more involved technically.  It includes the topics in this section in detail.  You can find the course information here.

The next topic relates to VPN.

Implement secure networks using Cisco VPN solutions

1. Configure IPsec LAN-to-LAN (IOS/ASA)
2. Configure SSL VPN (IOS/ASA)
3. Configure Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN)
4. Configure Group Encrypted Transport (GET) VPN
5. Configure Easy VPN (IOS/ASA)
6. Configure CA (PKI)
7. Configure Remote Access VPN
8. Configure Cisco Unity Client
9. Configure Clientless WebVPN
10. Configure AnyConnect VPN
11. Configure XAuth, Split-Tunnel, RRI, NAT-T
12. Configure High Availability
13. Configure QoS for VPN
14. Configure GRE, mGRE
15. Configure L2TP
16. Configure advanced Cisco VPN features

When  it comes to VPN things get a little more difficult.  VPN is covered in SND, which i mentioned in the above section.  However, the coverage in SND is only Router-to-Router VPN.  You do get some WebVPN on the routers, as well as Easy VPN on the Routers.  If you want VPN on the ASA you have to look at the SNAA course.  This is the “Advanced” version of the ASA course, bit really it should be called ASA VPNs.  The reason I say this is that it is mostly VPNs (Anyconnect, Clientless SSL, Easy VPN Server and Client, DAP, CSD, and IPSec) but it does include a few other topics- Advanced Nat, Routing and Switching, and Layer 7 MPF.  You also get to cover the SSMs in this course.  The details can be found here.

The IPS topics are pretty straight forward.  They include the following:

Configure Cisco IPS to mitigate network threats

1. Configure IPS 4200 Series Sensor Appliance
2. Initialize the Sensor Appliance
3. Configure Sensor Appliance management
4. Configure virtual Sensors on the Sensor Appliance
5. Configure security policies
6. Configure promiscuous and inline monitoring on the Sensor Appliance
7. Configure and tune signatures on the Sensor Appliance
8. Configure custom signatures on the Sensor Appliance
9. Configure blocking on the Sensor Appliance
10. Configure TCP resets on the Sensor Appliance
11. Configure rate limiting on the Sensor Appliance
12. Configure signature engines on the Sensor Appliance
13. Use IDM to configure the Sensor Appliance
14. Configure event action on the Sensor Appliance
15. Configure event monitoring on the Sensor Appliance
16. Configure advanced features on the Sensor Appliance
17. Configure and tune Cisco IOS IPS
18. Configure SPAN & RSPAN on Cisco switches

For these topics you want to look at Implementing Cisco Intrusion Prevention Systems v6.0.  Every one of these topics is covered in the IPS course in great detail. This is another course that was written by Ascolta for Cisco.  You can get the details here.

The next section is going to spread things out a bit.

Implement Identity Management

1. Configure RADIUS and TACACS+ security protocols
2. Configure LDAP
3. Configure Cisco Secure ACS
4. Configure certificate-based authentication
5. Configure proxy authentication
6. Configure 802.1x
7. Configure advanced identity management features
8. Configure Cisco NAC Framework

Now the Radius and TACACS+ is covered in SNAF, SND, and IINS but they only cover the topics related to the respective course.  In otherwords, SNAF covers RADIUS and TACACS+ and Cisco Secure ACS for the ASA.  SND and IINS cover RADIUS and TACACS+, Cisco Secure ACS, Certificate Based Authentication, Proxy Authentication, and 802.1x for the Cisco Routers.  SND covers the Switches.  NAC is coverd in a NAC course but I dont even see it on the Ascolta Course list and I haven’t had to teach it in about 3 years.  It was a good course though.  There is a course called Implementing Cisco NAC Appliance v2.1 (CANAC), but its the NAC appliance and not the stuff Cisco used to call “Cisco NAC.”

As far as Advanced Identity Management features go…that could mean anything.  And I only know of 1 class- CIPT1 that has LDAP information in it but it is not related to Security at all.

On to the next topic:

Implement Control Plane and Management Plane Security

1. Implement routing plane security features (protocol authentication, route filtering)
2. Configure Control Plane Policing
3. Configure CP protection and management protection
4. Configure broadcast control and switchport security
5. Configure additional CPU protection mechanisms (options drop, logging interval)
6. Disable unnecessary services
7. Control device access (Telnet, HTTP, SSH, Privilege levels)
8. Configure SNMP, Syslog, AAA, NTP
9. Configure service authentication (FTP, Telnet, HTTP, other)
10. Configure RADIUS and TACACS+ security protocols
11. Configure device management and security

This is a mish-mash of topics.  You’re going to find a ton of them in SND.  I can’t recall is the Service Authentication is in SND though.  Everything else is.

Second to last topic….

Configure Advanced Security

1. Configure mitigation techniques to respond to network attacks
2. Configure packet marking techniques
3. Implement security RFCs (RFC1918/3330, RFC2827/3704)
4. Configure Black Hole and Sink Hole solutions
5. Configure RTBH filtering (Remote Triggered Black Hole)
6. Configure Traffic Filtering using Access-Lists
7. Configure IOS NAT
8. Configure TCP Intercept
9. Configure uRPF
10. Configure CAR
11. Configure NBAR
12. Configure NetFlow
13. Configure Anti-Spoofing solutions
14. Configure Policing
15. Capture and utilize packet captures
16. Configure Transit Traffic Control and Congestion Management
17. Configure Cisco Catalyst advanced security features

Much of this is covered in SND.  I dont think that RTBH filtering (Remote Triggered Black Hole) is in any of the Cisco courses but I may be wrong.  NBAR and CAR are in the QOS class as well as Policing on the routers.  SNAF covers policing on the ASA.  Antispoofing is covered in SND and Netflow is kinda covered in the MARS class but I wouldnt take the MARS class for Netflow alone.  It’s very light on the Netflow but it does cover it.  BCMSN has a pretty good security section for the switches so if you combine the information in there with the information in the SND course you should have it covered.  BCMSN in part of the CCNP program.

And finally….

Identify and Mitigate Network Attacks

1. Identify and protect against fragmentation attacks
2. Identify and protect against malicious IP option usage
3. Identify and protect against network reconnaissance attacks
4. Identify and protect against IP spoofing attacks
5. Identify and protect against MAC spoofing attacks
6. Identify and protect against ARP spoofing attacks
7. Identify and protect against Denial of Service (DoS) attacks
8. Identify and protect against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks
9. Identify and protect against Man-in-the-Middle (MiM) attacks
10. Identify and protect against port redirection attacks
11. Identify and protect against DHCP attacks
12. Identify and protect against DNS attacks
13. Identify and protect against Smurf attacks
14. Identify and protect against SYN attacks
15. Identify and protect against MAC Flooding attacks
16. Identify and protect against VLAN hopping attacks
17. Identify and protect against various Layer2 and Layer3 attacks

This information is going to primarily be covered in SND. You will find some of it spread through the other classes I mentioned.

Wow thats a ton of information right?  Yeah.  I know.  But let me just be clear on one thing.  While the courses I mentioned are a great source of information on these CCIE Security topics they are not designed to teach you what you need to know to be a CCIE.  They should however give you a solid foundation to build upon with a great deal of study of the Cisco Documentaion as well as Lab time.

Its been a few months since I passed the CCIE Security exam.  Since then I have been working on Voice and R&S but jumping back and forth.  It’s not the study plan I would follow if I had things my way.  Alas, work, family, and study all have to come together in a fine balance for me to acomplish anything.  It took me 2 years and three attempts to pass the Security Lab. The reason it took me so long is because I wasn’t seriously studying for much of that time.  So when people ask me what plan I followed it’s a tough one to answer.  Once I put it all together and subtract the on-and-off periods I can however, see a distinct path.  So for those who are interested, let me share.

To begin with I was a CCSP prior to taking the Security written.  This, in my opinion, was the “core knowledge” understanding that you must have.  I used CCBootcamps CCIE Security Written Workbook to study for that.  Once I passed it was technology focused labs.  If I couldnt figure something out I went back to what I know of the core knowledge topics and reviewed/re-learned.  Then I would go back to the technology specific labs.  Once in a while I would throw in a mock lab just to smack myself in the face and prove how little I really knew.  When that started getting smoother I began doing multiple mock labs per week.

At this point I took a bootcamp with Jared at IPexpert.  I KNOW it pushed me over the edge.  After that I changed the way I studied because I was less than three months from taking the lab.  It was after the bootcamp that I eased up, rented rack time 24/7 all the way up to two days before my lab.  Now when I would do a full scale mock lab I would not start over every day.  I would work on as much as I wanted whenever I wanted and if I got bored I would go watch TV.  If I got frustrated I would go watch TV or go outside or something.  The point is I would remove myself from the labs.  When I felt guilty for not studying I would go back to it.

Two days before the lab exam I stopped working on the racks and spent the last two days just thinking about things, listening to some audio bootcamp material in areas where I felt weak, and I spent time with my kids and my wife.

Thats it.  There is no trick.  There is no Golden Rule, no “Best Practice” so-to-speak.  Here is what I say:  You know you.  Just study hard, let your mind absorb the information you are cramming it with and enjoy what you are learning.

I’m sure there is more….but I’m feeling guilty for not studying for a test I have to take.  Time to get back to that!

It’s been a bit since I have posted but a lot has been going on. I’ve recently launched my CCNA Mentoring Program, I was a Customer Speaker at CiscoLive in San Francisco, and I’ve had a ton of family and friends at my house. While I had the opportunity to speak this year at CiscoLive one of the attendees requested a configuration that I mentioned when talking about the ASA. The idea was to mask the banner of a web server using the ASA. Referring to the figure below, here is how it works.

1. The User on the Desktop PC makes a telnet connection to port 80 of the web server.
2. The User enters GET/ HTTP/1.1
3. The Server Returns the Bad Request Error with the Server Banner in it Stating that it is an IIS Server
4. The ASA spoofs that banner making it appear to be an Apache/2.2 Server.

It’s actually acomplished by a very simple MPF configuration as seen below:

access-list HTTP permit tcp any any eq www

class-map HTTP
match access-l HTTP

policy-map type inspect HTTP_SPOOF
parameters
spoof-server "Apache/2/2/0 (Unix)
policy-map HTTP
class HTTP
inspect http HTTP_SPOOF

service-policy HTTP interface outside

Well that’s about it. Hope you find this useful!

So what is a CCA?  Well according to the release “The Cisco Certified Architect certification recognizes the architectural experience and competency of network designers who can support the increasingly complex networks of global organizations and effectively translate business strategies into evolutionary technical strategies.

So, because experience is part of being a CCA approximately 10 years of industry experience is one of the prerequisites.  Next because a CCA is testing competnecy of network designers the CCDE is also required as a prerequsite..  Finally, just to be accepted to the program you must submit an application.  I would assume that the lower number of CCA’s the better so the process seems to be solid in my opinion.  If this doesnt weed out the garbage I dont know what will.

I think Cisco made an excelent decision in formuating this certification and I believe it will really set people apart in the networking industry.

Monday

1:00 PM-3:00 PM
BRKCRT-2201
Moscone W2011 CCVP Prep: Cisco IP Telephony Essentials
3:30 PM-5:30 PM
BRKCRT-1963
Moscone W2008 CCVP:Mobility Features in Cisco Unified Communications Manager version 6 and 7

Tuesday

7:30 AM-9:30 AM
BRKCRT-1280
Moscone W2002 CCSP: Securing Networks with ASA Advanced (SNAA) Technical Introduction
10:00 AM-11:30 AM
(Conference Event) GENKEY-5501
Hall D Opening Keynote and Welcome Address with John Chambers
12:00 PM-2:00 PM
BRKRST-3035
Moscone W3001 Advanced Enterprise Campus Design: Virtual Switching System (VSS)
[ Related Technology Demo: Catalyst Switching Management ]
4:00 PM-6:00 PM
BRKRST-3468
Moscone W2011 Cisco Catalyst Virtual Switching System (VSS)
[ Related Technology Demo: Catalyst Switching Management ]

Wednesday

8:00 AM-10:00 AM
BRKCRT-1280
Moscone W2002 CCSP: Securing Networks with ASA Advanced (SNAA) Technical Introduction
10:30 AM-11:30 AM
(Conference Event) GENKEY-5564
Hall D Cisco Technology Keynote with Padmasree Warrior
12:00 PM-2:00 PM
BRKRST-3320
Moscone W2004 Troubleshooting BGP
4:00 PM-6:00 PM
BRKCRT-1852
Moscone W2008 CCNA Wireless: Prep Session

Thursday

8:00 AM-10:00 AM
BRKCRT-1108
Moscone W2002 CCNP Wireless Preview
10:30 AM-11:30 AM
(Conference Event) GENKEY-5565
Hall D Closing Guest Keynote: Guy Kawasaki
12:00 PM-2:00 PM
BRKRST-2301
Moscone W2022 Enterprise IPv6 Deployment

Hello everyone.

I am here in San Francisco getting ready for CiscoLive. I’ll be presenting at 2 of the breakout sessions on SNAA, which is part of the CCSP. My sessions are Tuesday and Wednesday morning (BRKCRT-1280).

If you are in town for the show make sure you stop by the Ascolta booth (1040) and say hello.

If you couldn’t make it this year please let me know if there is anything I should keep my eyes out for,  technology that is a must learn, any booths that are a must visit, or anyone that I should meet while I’m  here.

I’m looking forward to this week!  Time to get it started with speaker registrations.

I’ve mentioned that I will be at Cisco Live this year. I will be presenting at two technical breakout sessions on the topic of the SNAA (Securing Networks with ASA Advanced) CCSP course. Since I know a number of Cisco Bloggers will be at Cisco Live I thought I would take the opportunity to compile a list of Bloggers/Tweeters and the blog you represent/Twitter handle, so that we can have a meet-up sometime during all the festivities. I’m not planning anything fancy but was thinking Drinks somewhere local perhaps.

Anyhow, if you are going to be there lets get a list built. Fill out the form below and I’ll add you to my Official, “Unofficial” List of Cisco Bloggers/Tweeters at Cisco Live 2009. Ill be in contact with you regarding the location of the meet-up and any other ideas you may want to toss around.

This list will not be used for ANYTHING else. Your email address will NOT be shared with anyone. Your Name and Blog URL will be posted on http://www.globalconfig.net/ciscolive

You may think so after what you are about to read. As many of you know, I have recently passed the CCIE Security Lab Exam. My next venture was planned to be the CCIE Voice. After assessing the landscape I’ve changed my mind. Here is what I am doing. It’s actually a little challenge. Do you think I can do it?

CCIE R&S in 90 days only using IPexperts End-to-End Program and the Cisco Doc Cd

Yes, you read it correctly. I plan on doing the CCIE R&S in 90 days using nothing but IPexpert products and Cisco Documentation. My study materials will include:

• Volume 1 Lab Workbook & Proctor Guide
• Volume 2 Lab Workbook & Proctor Guide
• Lab Mentoring Kit with Video Tutorials
• Video on Demand Lecture Series
• Audio Lecture on Demand
• Proctor Labs™ Online Rack Access
• 10 days of intense training in an IPexpert classroom facility

I’ll also be using the Online Study List for R&S (Maintained by IPexpert), and of course, the Doc Cd.

I think its going to be interesting and I know others have gone down this path before. You may be familiar with Tassos who has done it in 3 months. The difference between us is that this will make two labs passed in one year. That is, if I can do it!

For a short while now those working on routing and switching have been talking about the new Core Knowledge questions that can now make or break your lab. On May 15th Cisco announced the same change to the CCIE Security Lab exam.

So what does this mean for current CCIE Security Candidates? Well, for one, it means that you will be asked a series of four open-ended questions that require a short, typewritten response. Cisco says these will typically be several words. They are not looking for you to write a book, rather prove that you know the fundamentals. Like the Routing and Switching, as a CCIE Security Candidate you will get 30 minutes to complete this section prior to starting the hands-on portion and once you leave this section there is no looking back. This makes it even more important for you to know the fundamentals.

So how can you remain sharp when it comes to the fundamentals? I would recommend augmenting your hands on time with a review of the CCIE Security Written Exam Study guide from CCBootcamp, a read through Network Security Technologies and Solutions, and listening to the CCIE Security Audio Bootcamp from IPexpert.