NET 477 – Network Security Fundamentals
Spring 2024/2025
Instructor Ahmad Abusini Office Online via Zoom meeting Saturday 11:00AM to
Hours 12:30PM CST
Course http://d2l.depaul.edu E-mail [email protected]
Website
Meeting time Thursdays 5:45 PM CST Location Lewis Center RM#1511.
Text:
• Optional Text: recommended - CCNA SECURITY 210-260: OFFICIAL...-W/CD, Author: SANTOS, Publisher: PEARSON, Edition: 15
• EBK CCNA SECURITY 210-260 OFFICIAL CERT, Author: STUPPI, Publisher: VST, Edition: 1
• (PP slides and other study materials will be provided to students)
• Cisco Network Academy Website -CCNA Security
Description:
• This course is an introductory class in network security and security applications. Both the theory behind security
methods and their applications in today's business environments will be presented. Topics include: Review of
components used in an enterprise security infrastructure including routers, firewalls, security auditing and assessment
tools, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), and Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems. The integration of the different
components will be studied in detail, including IP addressing, Network Address Translation (NAT), design of firewall
rule sets and performance considerations.
Goals and outcomes:
• Explain the different network security threats and vulnerabilities.
• Explain the technologies available to mitigate these threats
• Authentication and Access Controls (ACLs)
• Review and write appropriate firewall rules
• Configure basic firewalls and VPNs.
• Design overall communication and security infrastructure
• Explain the basics of cryptography.
• Perform vulnerability assessments and based on results improve security posture
.
Prerequisites:
NET 463 or CSC 435
Course Breakdown:
➢ 30% - Homework and Discussions - Packet Tracer Homework, Case Studies, Discussions and Word Documents
➢ 30% - Lab Assignments -Packet Tracer labs, Virtual Box and Word Documents.
➢ 5% - Discussions And Case Studies
➢ 15% - Midterm Exam-Online for all students using D2L
➢ 20% - Final Exam
Further details on each assignment will be distributed to students, Homework assignments and exams must be completed
individually. Late assignments will be accepted with partial credit depends on how many days late, any assignments with
more than one week late with no proper excuse will not be accepted and zero grade is granted.
Final grades will be calculated as follows: points earned divided by possible points in each category will be multiplied by
the contribution percentages shown to yield a total course percentage score between 0% and 100%. Letter grades will be
assigned as the following grading scale:
Grading Scale
A = 90% - 100% A- = 88% - 90% B+ = 86%-88% B = 80% - 86%
B- = 78% - 80% C+ = 76% - 78% C = 70% - 76% C- = 68% - 70%
D+ = 66% - 68% D = 60% - 66% F = 0% - 60%
Course Schedule:
Date Topic Required Reading Assignment
04/03 Class overview, general security Ch1, Ch2.
concept, threats and defenses;
Security technologies.
04/10 Firewalls technologies and filtering Ch4 HW 1 due 04/16 at 11:59PM
strategies. Configuring IOS ACLs
and NAT.
04/17 Firewalls (contd.) – Introduction to Ch4, Ch9 and ch10 Lab1due 04/23 at 11:59 PM
ASA Configurations
Firewall deployment and
architecture
04/24 Firewalls (contd.) Firewalls Rules, FW Ch4 Hw2 due 04/30 at 11:59PM
Config with pfSense
05/01 Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Ch8, Ch10 No Assignments-midterm review
IPSEC Final Project is available
05/08 Midterm Exam
05/15 Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Ch8, Ch10 HW3 due 05/21 at 11:59PM
IPSEC (contd.)
05/22 Fundamentals of Cryptography. Ch7 Lab2 due 05/28 at 11:59PM
Symmetric and asymmetric
cryptography.
Steganography
05/29 Cryptography (contd.) Ch7 and Ch11 Lab3 due 06/04 at 11:59PM
Vulnerability Scanning(Nessus)
Page 2
Date Topic Required Reading Assignment
06/05 Authentication and PKI (contd.) Ch5, Ch7 and Ch11 No Assignments-Final Exam review
Introduction to Intrusion Plus Q&A
Detection/Prevention System
(IDPS), Introduction to Snort- if time
permits.
06 /12 Final Week-Final Exam
* Cisco Press http://www.ciscopress.com/articles/article.asp?p=101151&seqNum=3
Course Policies:
Changes to Syllabus
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during
class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Online Course Evaluations
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed
feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals
of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to
provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not
track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the
evaluation is completely separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic
reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the
evaluation online in CampusConnect.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
All quizzes and assignments must be completed individually. This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity
policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/. If you have any questions be sure to
consult with your professor.
Academic Policies
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and
withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and
incompletes can be found at: cdm.depaul.edu/enrollment.
Students with Disabilities
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor
privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as
possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the Center for
Students with Disabilities (CSD) at: [email protected].
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296
Page 3
Incomplete Grades
An incomplete grade is a special, temporary grade that may be assigned by an instructor when unforeseeable
circumstances prevent a student from completing course requirements by the end of the term and when otherwise the
student had a record of satisfactory progress in the course. All incomplete requests must be approved by the instructor of
the course and a CDM Associate Dean. Only exceptions cases will receive such approval. Information about the
Incomplete Grades policy can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/Grading-Policies.aspx
Online exams and activities for all Students including in class enrolled students.
All course exams, quizzes and other activities will be done online using DePaul’s course shell (D2L).
Page 4
