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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

Required skills

analytical skills to

analyse systems evaluation

review system security logs for breaches

communication skills to liaise with clients

literacy skills to write reports for evaluating system security status according to organisational security policies

numeracy skills to undertake a costbenefit comparison

problemsolving skills to

determine intrusion detection

troubleshoot and debug

research skills to identify and analyse network security methodologies and technologies

technical skills to

develop enterprise policies strategies and procedures

implement local area network LAN wide area network WAN virtual private network VPN and wireless local area network WLAN solutions

implement security strategies and configure network security software and hardware

install hardware and software related to improving network security

undertake a network security risk assessment

Required knowledge

authentication issues

overview knowledge of

client business domain including client organisation structure and business functionality

features and capabilities of networking technologies

privacy issues and privacy legislation

security information sources

common VPN issues including bandwidth and dynamic security environment

configuring routers and switches

current industryaccepted hardware and software security products with broad knowledge of general features and capabilities

function and operation of VPN concepts including encryption firewalls packet tunnelling and authentication

network protocols and operating systems

organisational issues surrounding security

security perimeters and their functions

security protocols standards and data encryption

security threats including eavesdropping data interception data corruption data falsification

types of VPNs including sitetosite usertosite internet traffic and extranets

systems and procedures related to

audit and intrusion detection systems

auditing and penetration testing techniques

LAN WLAN and WAN

screened subnets

transmission control protocols or internet protocols TCPsIPs and applications

use of virus detection software

Evidence Required

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 ability to

assess and identify security threats vulnerabilities and risks

determine appropriate countermeasure for threat vulnerability or risk

implement countermeasure per threat or risk

install configure and test network elements to ensure perimeter security

test and verify function and performance of selected security measures

monitor network for suspicious activity taking appropriate action where necessary

document newly discovered threats vulnerabilities and risks including change recommendations for approval

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to

site where secure network installation may be conducted

network security documentation

equipment specifications

network components

hardware and software

firewalls hardware and software

organisational guidelines

networked LAN computers

WAN service point of presence

appropriate learning and assessment support when required

Where applicable physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge The following examples are appropriate for this unit

documentation of current system security analysis that outlines required enterprise security requirements

identification of additional security threats and vulnerabilities

verbal or written questioning to assess candidates knowledge of network security

direct observation of candidate performing tasks required to successfully install configure and test a secure network

direct observation of candidate performing tasks required to successfully test function and performance of secure network

direct observation of candidate performing tasks required to successfully monitor and document newly discovered security threats vulnerabilities and risks

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended where appropriate

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and suitable to the communication skill level language literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed

Indigenous people and other people from a nonEnglish speaking background may need additional support

In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge

Range Statement

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.

System may include:	applications databases gateways operating systems servers WAN communication links workstations.
Asset may include:	data and information intellectual property physical assets.
Network may include:	intranets large and small LANs internet VPNs WANs WLANs.
Software may include:	applications: commercial customised in-house packaged encryption modules operating systems security: antivirus firewall spyware utilities: audit network monitoring.
Hardware may include:	analog modems digital subscriber line (DSL) modems firewall devices network cabling wired and wireless networks notebooks personal computers routers servers switches workstations.
Security threats may include:	by-pass denial of service eavesdropping elevation of privilege hacking impersonation manipulation penetration repudiation viruses or malicious code.
Vulnerabilities may relate to:	application bugs communications devices firmware flaws firewall misconfigurations operating system bugs poor bandwidth control measures transmitting data in plain text unnecessary services and protocols weak authentication techniques weak permissions weak physical security.
Commercial and business requirements may include:	availability backup and recovery of data confidentiality firewalls hacking prevention integrity password logons remote access to internal network.
Perimeter security may include:	access control auditing authentication authorisation hardware or software firewalls identification network address translation (NAT) surveillance.
Server may include:	web email file and print firewall file transfer protocol (FTP) proxy, cache voice over internet protocol (VoIP).
Hardening techniques may include:	demilitarised zones (DMZ) encryption intrusion detection system (IDS) operating system patch application and management rigid shared resource permissions service pack application strong firewall configurations, including unused port blocking strong physical security strong user authentication techniques unused services and protocols disablement.
Data integrity may include:	encryption hash encoding protocol control VPN.
Document may include:	audit trails International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Australian Standards (AS) standards naming standards project management templates report writing principles security analysis report version control.
Appropriate person may include:	supervisor authorised business representative client.