Design and Analyze Secure Networked Systems (Coursera)

We will examine the trustworthiness of programs and data installed in our systems and show the proper way to verify their integrity and authenticity. We will apply principle of least privileges for controlling the shared access given to different groups of users and system processes. On Amazon Cloud instances, we will use GnuPG software to generate public/private key pair for signing/verifying documents and open source software, and for encrypting documents. We will learn how to publish software, the related signature and release key on web server and publish public key to PGP key server for others to retrieve. We will learn Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Linux utility to serve as a CA for an organization, learn how to sign certificate request for clients or servers in secure email and web applications.

Course 1 of 4 in the Fundamentals of Computer Network Security Specialization

Syllabus

WEEK 1

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.

WEEK 2

Protect Data Access and Verify Source of Trust

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.

WEEK 3

Using GPG to Sign/Verify Software

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.

WEEK 4

Be a CA, Setup Secure Server and Client Certificate

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.