SD-WAN and SASE Forensics Training Course

Course Title: SD-WAN and SASE Forensics Training Course

Executive Summary

This intensive two-week course equips network security professionals with the knowledge and skills to conduct in-depth forensic investigations within SD-WAN and SASE environments. Participants will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret network traffic data, system logs, and security events to identify security breaches, policy violations, and performance bottlenecks. The course covers a wide range of forensic techniques, including packet analysis, log correlation, intrusion detection, and threat intelligence integration. Through hands-on labs and real-world case studies, attendees will gain practical experience in uncovering the root causes of security incidents and implementing effective remediation strategies. This training is crucial for organizations deploying SD-WAN and SASE architectures and ensuring the security and compliance of their network infrastructure.

Introduction

Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) are revolutionizing network architecture by providing enhanced agility, security, and performance. However, the distributed nature and complex security controls of these technologies also introduce new challenges for forensic investigations. Traditional network forensics techniques may not be sufficient to effectively analyze security incidents within SD-WAN and SASE deployments. This training course addresses this critical need by providing a comprehensive understanding of SD-WAN and SASE forensics. Participants will learn how to leverage the unique data sources and security features of these technologies to conduct thorough investigations, identify threats, and mitigate risks. The course covers a wide range of topics, including SD-WAN architecture, SASE security components, network traffic analysis, log management, intrusion detection, and threat intelligence. Through hands-on labs and real-world case studies, attendees will develop the practical skills necessary to effectively investigate security incidents in SD-WAN and SASE environments.

Course Outcomes

• Understand SD-WAN and SASE architectures and security components.
• Collect and analyze network traffic data from SD-WAN and SASE devices.
• Correlate logs and security events from multiple sources.
• Identify and investigate security breaches and policy violations.
• Implement intrusion detection and prevention techniques.
• Integrate threat intelligence into forensic investigations.
• Develop effective incident response strategies for SD-WAN and SASE environments.

Training Methodologies

• Interactive lectures and presentations.
• Hands-on labs and practical exercises.
• Real-world case studies and incident simulations.
• Group discussions and collaborative problem-solving.
• Expert guest speakers from the cybersecurity industry.
• Use of specialized forensic tools and software.
• Comprehensive course materials and documentation.

Benefits to Participants

• Gain in-depth knowledge of SD-WAN and SASE forensics.
• Develop practical skills in network traffic analysis and log correlation.
• Enhance ability to identify and investigate security incidents.
• Improve incident response capabilities.
• Increase career opportunities in cybersecurity and network security.
• Obtain certification in SD-WAN and SASE forensics.
• Network with industry experts and peers.

Benefits to Sending Organization

• Improved security posture of SD-WAN and SASE deployments.
• Reduced risk of security breaches and data loss.
• Faster and more effective incident response.
• Enhanced compliance with security regulations.
• Increased efficiency of security operations.
• Better understanding of network performance and security vulnerabilities.
• Improved return on investment in SD-WAN and SASE technologies.

Target Participants

• Network Security Engineers
• Security Analysts
• Incident Responders
• Forensic Investigators
• Network Administrators
• Security Architects
• IT Managers

WEEK 1: SD-WAN and SASE Fundamentals & Forensics Preparation

Module 1: SD-WAN Architecture and Security

1. Introduction to SD-WAN concepts and benefits.
2. SD-WAN architecture: control plane, data plane, and management plane.
3. SD-WAN security features: encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection.
4. SD-WAN deployment models: on-premises, cloud-based, and hybrid.
5. SD-WAN vendor landscape and technology comparisons.
6. SD-WAN policy management and enforcement.
7. Lab setup: configuring a virtual SD-WAN environment.

Module 2: SASE Architecture and Security

1. Introduction to SASE concepts and benefits.
2. SASE architecture: cloud-delivered security services.
3. SASE security components: SWG, CASB, ZTNA, and FWaaS.
4. SASE deployment models and integration with SD-WAN.
5. SASE vendor landscape and technology comparisons.
6. SASE policy management and enforcement.
7. Discussion: benefits and challenges of SASE implementation.

Module 3: Forensic Investigation Fundamentals

1. Introduction to digital forensics principles.
2. Forensic investigation process: identification, collection, analysis, and reporting.
3. Legal and ethical considerations in forensic investigations.
4. Evidence handling and chain of custody.
5. Forensic tools and techniques: disk imaging, memory analysis, and file carving.
6. Introduction to network forensics.
7. Practical exercise: Creating a forensic workstation.

Module 4: Network Traffic Analysis

1. Introduction to network protocols: TCP/IP, HTTP, DNS, and SSL/TLS.
2. Network traffic capture techniques: packet sniffing and port mirroring.
3. Packet analysis tools: Wireshark and tcpdump.
4. Analyzing network traffic for suspicious activity.
5. Identifying network intrusions and malware infections.
6. Reconstructing network sessions and data flows.
7. Lab: capturing and analyzing network traffic with Wireshark.

Module 5: Log Management and Correlation

1. Introduction to log management principles.
2. Log sources in SD-WAN and SASE environments.
3. Log collection and aggregation techniques.
4. Log analysis tools: Splunk, ELK stack, and Graylog.
5. Log correlation techniques for identifying security incidents.
6. Creating custom alerts and dashboards.
7. Lab: configuring log collection and analysis with Splunk.

WEEK 2: SD-WAN and SASE Forensics in Practice & Incident Response

Module 6: SD-WAN Forensics Techniques

1. Analyzing SD-WAN controller logs and configurations.
2. Investigating SD-WAN edge device logs and traffic patterns.
3. Identifying policy violations and misconfigurations.
4. Detecting unauthorized access and lateral movement.
5. Analyzing VPN traffic and security tunnels.
6. Performing forensic analysis of SD-WAN virtual appliances.
7. Case study: investigating a data breach in an SD-WAN environment.

Module 7: SASE Forensics Techniques

1. Analyzing SASE security logs and events.
2. Investigating web traffic and application usage.
3. Detecting cloud-based threats and malware infections.
4. Analyzing user behavior and access patterns.
5. Investigating data loss prevention (DLP) incidents.
6. Performing forensic analysis of SASE cloud platforms.
7. Case study: investigating a compromised user account in a SASE environment.

Module 8: Intrusion Detection and Prevention

1. Introduction to intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS).
2. Deploying and configuring IDS/IPS in SD-WAN and SASE environments.
3. Analyzing IDS/IPS alerts and events.
4. Creating custom intrusion detection rules.
5. Integrating threat intelligence into IDS/IPS.
6. Responding to intrusion attempts and preventing further damage.
7. Lab: configuring and testing an intrusion detection system.

Module 9: Threat Intelligence Integration

1. Introduction to threat intelligence concepts and sources.
2. Integrating threat intelligence feeds into forensic investigations.
3. Using threat intelligence to identify known threats and vulnerabilities.
4. Analyzing malware samples and indicators of compromise (IOCs).
5. Sharing threat intelligence with other organizations.
6. Developing a threat intelligence program.
7. Lab: using threat intelligence platforms to analyze malware samples.

Module 10: Incident Response and Remediation

1. Incident response planning and procedures.
2. Containment, eradication, and recovery phases of incident response.
3. Communicating with stakeholders and reporting incidents.
4. Implementing security patches and configuration changes.
5. Conducting post-incident analysis and lessons learned.
6. Developing a remediation plan to prevent future incidents.
7. Simulation: participating in a simulated incident response exercise.

Action Plan for Implementation

1. Conduct a security assessment of your SD-WAN and SASE deployments.
2. Develop an incident response plan for SD-WAN and SASE environments.
3. Implement a log management and correlation system.
4. Deploy intrusion detection and prevention systems.
5. Integrate threat intelligence into your security operations.
6. Train your staff on SD-WAN and SASE forensics techniques.
7. Regularly review and update your security policies and procedures.