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 the ability to develop, implement and maintain basic security functionality for either VPN, LANs or WLANs.

To demonstrate competency in this unit the person will require access to:

Network technical requirements

Network infrastructure, including servers and security hardware and software

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This competency can be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated environment. Assessment of this unit of competency will usually include observation of real or simulated work processes and procedures, quality projects, questioning on underpinning Knowledge and skills.

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.

Assessment must ensure:

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.

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 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. The interdependence of units for assessment purposes may vary with the particular project or scenario.

Guidance information for assessment

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 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

Maintain knowledge of industry products and services

Required skills

Ability to develop enterprise policies, strategies and procedures

Ability to undertake a network security risk assessment

Ability to implement security strategies and configure network security software and hardware

Implementing LAN, WLAN, VPN and WAN solutions

Cost-benefit comparison

Troubleshooting and debugging

Required knowledge

Security threats, including eavesdropping, data interception, data corruption, data falsification, authentication issues

Organisational issues surrounding security

Security perimeters and their functions

Types of VPNs, including site-to-site, user-to-site internet traffic and extranets

The function and operation of virtual private networking (VPN) concepts, including encryption, firewalls, packet tunnelling and authentication

Common VPN issues, including, bandwidth, dynamic security environment

Network protocols and operating systems

Security protocols, standards and data encryption

Configuring routers and switches

Cryptography

LAN, WLAN and WAN solutions

TCP/IP protocols and applications

Auditing and penetration testing techniques

Screened subnets

Virus detection software

Audit and intrusion detection systems

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.

Asset

data and information

intellectual property

physical assets

Policies may include:

incident response procedures

network intrusion detection systems

audit systems