IPsec training course description

This hands on course focuses on IPsec VPNs. Rather than focusing on one implementation this course concentrates on the technologies and protocols of IPsec. Starting with an overview of the complete IPsec architecture the course then moves onto ESP packet analysis along with encryption and authentication provided. IKEv1 and IKEv2 are both covered in detail. Having covered IPsec with pre shared keys the course then moves onto IPsec with certificates followed by IPsec issues. The course is vendor neutral with hands on with both Cisco and Microsoft implementations.

What will you learn

• Explain how IPsec works.
• Explain the role of AH, ESP and IKE.
• Configure IPsec.
• Troubleshoot IPsec.

IPsec training course details

IPsec training course contents

• What is IPsec?

How to spell IPsec, IPsec is IP security, confidentiality, integrity, authenticity, replay protection, what is a VPN? Network layer security, IPsec and IPv4, IPsec and IPv6, the suite of protocols, the standard, IPsec RFCs, IPsec history.
Hands on Analysis of “normal” IP packets.

• IPsec architecture

The IPsec protocols, AH vs ESP, Why two headers? transport mode, tunnel mode, Remote access VPNs, site to site VPNs, security associations, SA database, Security Parameters Index, implementations: Host tack, Bump in the Stack, Bump in the Wire.
Hands on Configuring IPsec.

• AH

What AH does, the stack, The AH header, What is authenticated? Device authentication. AH in transport mode, AH in tunnel mode.
Hands on AH packet analysis.

• ESP

What ESP does, the ESP header, ESP in transport mode, ESP in tunnel mode, ESP and SA, ESP and SPI.
Hands on ESP packet analysis, policy configuration.

• IPsec encryption

IPsec is a framework, standard algorithms, ESP keys, the role of IKE, key lifetimes, how IKE generates the keys, DES, 3DES, AES, cipher block chaining, counter mode, other encryption.
Hands on Encryption configuration.

• IPsec authentication

Authentication types, IPsec authentication, Authentication algorithms: MD5, keyed SHA-1, HMAC-MD5, HMAC-SHA-1, HMAC-RIPEMD, other authentication algorithms.
Hands on Authentication configuration.

• IKE

Internet Key Exchange, IKE and the SAD, the two phase negotiation, ISAKMP, ISAKMP header, pre shared keys, digital signatures, public key encryption, Diffie Hellman, proposals, counter proposals, nonces, identities, phase 1 negotiation: main mode, aggressive mode, base mode. Phase 2 negotiation: quick mode, new group mode.
Hands on IKE packet analysis.

• More IKE

PFS, IKE and dynamic addresses, XAUTH, hybrid authentication, CRACK, ULA, PIC. User level authentication. IKE renegotiation, heartbeats.
Hands on Troubleshooting IPsec.

• IKEv2

The IKEv2 exchange, IKE_SA_INIT, IKE_AUTH, CREATE_CHILD_SA, IKEv2 packets, the informational exchange. Comparing IKev1 vs IKE v2.
Hands on IKEv2 configuration and analysis.

• PKI

What is PKI?, Digital certificates, Certificate authorities, CA servers, RA, VA, certificates, CA hierarchy, CRLs, certificate formats.
Hands on installing and configuring certificate servers.

• IPsec issues

NAT, IPsec overhead and fragmentation.

• Summary

IPsec strengths and weaknesses. Where to get further information.

Learning path

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