The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

Assessment must confirm knowledge of emerging security issues, security features of hardware and software, limitations in vendor solutions, operating systems and software.

Assessment must confirm the ability to implement and manage security functions on a network.

To demonstrate competency in this unit the following resources will be needed:

Live system

Network support tools

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Managing network security is a complex process involving internal and external threats and choices between a range of potential solutions. With many small to medium enterprises joining larger organisations in providing both domestic and global e-commerce facilities, it is increasingly important to provide secure networks. This can only be done with a comprehensive plan that takes into account the whole organisation system as well as the network.

Analysis involves participation in development of network security planning and implementation.

The breadth, depth and complexity covering planning and initiation of alternative approaches to skills or knowledge applications across a broad range of technical and/or management requirements, evaluation and coordination would be characteristic.

The demonstration of competency may also require self-directed application of knowledge and skills, with substantial depth in some areas where judgement is required in planning and selecting appropriate equipment, services and techniques for self and others.

Assessment must ensure:

Applications involve participation in development of strategic initiatives as well as personal responsibility and autonomy in performing complex technical operations or organising others. It may include participation in teams including teams concerned with planning and evaluation functions. Group or team coordination may also be involved

Method of assessment

The purpose of this unit is to define the standard of performance to be achieved in the workplace. In undertaking training and assessment activities related to this unit, consideration should be given to the implementation of appropriate diversity and accessibility practices in order to accommodate people who may have special needs. Additional guidance on these and related matters is provided in ICA05 Section 1.

Competency in this unit should to be assessed using summative assessment to ensure consistency of performance in a range of contexts. This unit can be assessed either in the workplace or in a simulated environment. However, simulated activities must closely reflect the workplace to enable full demonstration of competency.

Assessment will usually include observation of real or simulated work processes and procedures and/or performance in a project context as well as questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills. The questioning of team members, supervisors, subordinates, peers and clients where appropriate may provide valuable input to the assessment process.

Guidance information for assessment

The interdependence of units for assessment purposes may vary with the particular project or scenario. Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of security in relation to network solutions

Describe in detail issues related to security in some key areas

Analyse and plan to solve compromised networks

Determine network security requirements

Apply theoretical scenarios in line with security and technical issues

Demonstrate skills in a range of complex security situations

Evaluate security information and use it for planning purposes

Take responsibility for the achievement of security outcomes

Maintain knowledge of industry products and services

Additionally, an individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating theoretical concepts, with substantial depth in some areas

Analyse and plan approaches to technical problems or management requirements

Transfer and apply theoretical concepts and/or technical or creative skills to a range of situations

Evaluate information, using it to forecast for planning or research purposes

Take responsibility for own outputs in relation to broad quantity and quality parameters

Take some responsibility for the achievement of group outcomes

Required skills

Investigation skills for identifying, analysing and evaluating security systems logs for weaknesses, invalid users and intruders

Application of best practice in systems security methodologies and technologies

Problem solving skills for complex networks, including systems processes

Rapid deployment of solutions to problems involving failure

Ability to analyse network information and determine actions

Report writing skills

Questioning and active listening skills

Required knowledge

Network management and security process controls

Specific and detailed knowledge of the organisation's network infrastructure

Security technologies and capabilities of software and hardware solutions, with substantial depth in some areas

Logging analysis techniques, with broad knowledge of general features, with depth in security procedures

Broad knowledge related to emerging security issues, with substantial depth in related weaknesses of installed network infrastructure

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Network may include but is not limited to:

large and small LANs

WLANs

VPNs

WANs

the internet

the use of the PSTN for dial-up modems and DSL

private lines

data

voice

Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)

May include a computer or small sub-network that sits between a trusted internal network , such as a corporate private LAN , and an untrusted external network, such as the public Internet.

Typically, the DMZ contains devices accessible to Internet traffic, such as Web ( HTTP ) servers, FTP servers, SMTP (e-mail) servers and DNS servers.

User may include:

a person within a department

a department within the organisation

a third party

Security may include but is not limited to:

IPSec

SSL

PKM

LEAP

WEP

WPA

AAA

Diameter

tokens

smart cards

Threat assessment may include:

eavesdropping

manipulation

impersonation

penetration

denial of service and by-pass

spoofing

authorisations

hackers

viruses using logging

intruder detection

other tools

Equipment may include but is not limited to:

workstations

personal computers

modems or other connectivity devices

printers

hard drives

DSL modems

monitors

switches

hubs

personal digital assistant (PDA)

other peripheral devices

Firewalls may be part of router configuration or proxy server. Products include

Cisco Centri

Smoothwall

IPcop

Check Point FireWall-1

CyberwallPLUS

Linux - IPtables firewall

OpenBSD firewall