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# Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks Introduction to Cert 2
My name is Ashley, and I'm a Customer Engineering Enablement Lead for Security Operation Sales at Google. I'm excited to be your instructor for this course.
Let's start by quickly reviewing what we've covered so far. Earlier, we defined security and explored some common job responsibilities for entry-level analysts. We also discussed core skills and knowledge that analysts need to develop. Then, we shared some key events like the LoveLetter and Morris attacks that led to the development and ongoing evolution of the security field. We also introduced you to frameworks, controls, and the CIA triad, which are all used to reduce risk.
In this course, we'll discuss the focus of Certified Information Systems Security Professional's, or CISSP's, eight security domains. We'll also cover security frameworks and controls in more detail, with a focus on NIST's Risk Management Framework. Additionally, we'll explore security audits, including common elements of internal audits. Then, we'll introduce some basic security tools, and you'll have a chance to explore how to use security tools to protect assets and data from threats, risks, and vulnerabilities.
Securing an organization and its assets from threats, risks, and vulnerabilities is an important step in maintaining business operations. In my experience as a security analyst, I helped respond to a severe breach that cost the organization nearly $250,000. So, I hope you're feeling motivated to continue your security journey. I know I'm excited. Let's get started!
# Course 2 overview
#
Hello, and welcome to **Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks**, the second course in the Google Cybersecurity Certificate. You’re on an exciting journey!By the end of this course, you will develop a greater understanding of the eight Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) security domains, as well as specific security frameworks and controls. You’ll also be introduced to how to use security tools and audits to help protect assets and data. These are key concepts in the cybersecurity field, and understanding them will help you keep organizations, and the people they serve, safe from threats, risks, and vulnerabilities.
## Certificate program progressThe Google Cybersecurity Certificate program has eight courses. **Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks** is the second course.
1. [**Foundations of Cybersecurity**](https://www.coursera.org/learn/foundations-of-cybersecurity/home/week/1)— Explore the cybersecurity profession, including significant events that led to the development of the cybersecurity field and its continued importance to organizational operations. Learn about entry-level cybersecurity roles and responsibilities.
2. [**Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks**](https://www.coursera.org/learn/manage-security-risks/home/week/1)— *(current course)* Identify how cybersecurity professionals use frameworks and controls to protect business operations, and explore common cybersecurity tools.
3. [**Connect and Protect: Networks and Network Security**](https://www.coursera.org/learn/networks-and-network-security/home/week/1)— Gain an understanding of network-level vulnerabilities and how to secure networks.
4. [**Tools of the Trade: Linux and SQL**](https://www.coursera.org/learn/linux-and-sql/home/week/1)— Explore foundational computing skills, including communicating with the Linux operating system through the command line and querying databases with SQL.
5. [**Assets, Threats, and Vulnerabilities**](https://www.coursera.org/learn/assets-threats-and-vulnerabilities/home/week/1)— Learn about the importance of security controls and developing a threat actor mindset to protect and defend an organization’s assets from various threats, risks, and vulnerabilities.
6. [**Sound the Alarm: Detection and Response**](https://www.coursera.org/learn/detection-and-response/home/week/1)— Understand the incident response lifecycle and practice using tools to detect and respond to cybersecurity incidents.
7. [**Automate Cybersecurity Tasks with Python**](https://www.coursera.org/learn/automate-cybersecurity-tasks-with-python/home/week/1)— Explore the Python programming language and write code to automate cybersecurity tasks.
8. [**Put It to Work: Prepare for Cybersecurity Jobs**](https://www.coursera.org/learn/prepare-for-cybersecurity-jobs/home/week/1)— Learn about incident classification, escalation, and ways to communicate with stakeholders. This course closes out the program with tips on how to engage with the cybersecurity community and prepare for your job search.
## Course 2 contentEach course of this certificate program is broken into weeks. You can complete courses at your own pace, but the weekly breakdowns are designed to help you finish the entire Google Cybersecurity Certificate in about six months.What’s to come? Here’s a quick overview of the skills you’ll learn in each week of this course.
### **Week 1: Security domains**
You will gain understanding of the CISSP’s eight security domains. Then, you'll learn about primary threats, risks, and vulnerabilities to business operations. In addition, you'll explore the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Risk Management Framework and the steps of risk management.
### **Week 2: Security frameworks and controls**
You will focus on security frameworks and controls, along with the core components of the confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) triad. You'll learn about Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) security principles and security audits.
### **Week 3: Introduction to cybersecurity tools**
You will explore industry leading security information and event management (SIEM) tools that are used by security professionals to protect business operations. You'll learn how entry-level security analysts use SIEM dashboards as part of their every day work.
### **Week 4: Use playbooks to respond to incidents**
You'll learn about the purposes and common uses of playbooks. You'll also explore how cybersecurity professionals use playbooks to respond to identified threats, risks, and vulnerabilities.
## What to expectEach course offers many types of learning opportunities:
- **Videos** led by Google instructors teach new concepts, introduce the use of relevant tools, offer career support, and provide inspirational personal stories.
- **Readings** build on the topics discussed in the videos, introduce related concepts, share useful resources, and describe case studies.
- **Discussion prompts** explore course topics for better understanding and allow you to chat and exchange ideas with other learners in the [discussion forums](https://www.coursera.org/learn/manage-security-risks/discussions)**.**
- **Self-review activities** and **labs** give you hands-on practice in applying the skills you are learning and allow you to assess your own work by comparing it to a completed example.
- **Interactive plug-ins** encourage you to practice specific tasks and help you integrate knowledge you have gained in the course.
- **In-video quizzes** help you check your comprehension as you progress through each video.
- **Practice quizzes** allow you to check your understanding of key concepts and provide valuable feedback.
- **Graded quizzes** demonstrate your understanding of the main concepts of a course. You must score 80% or higher on each graded quiz to obtain a certificate, and you can take a graded quiz multiple times to achieve a passing score.
## Tips for success
- It is strongly recommended that you go through the items in each lesson in the order they appear because new information and concepts build on previous knowledge.
- Participate in all learning opportunities to gain as much knowledge and experience as possible.
- If something is confusing, don’t hesitate to replay a video, review a reading, or repeat a self-review activity.
- Use the additional resources that are referenced in this course. They are designed to support your learning. You can find all of these resources in the [Resources](https://www.coursera.org/learn/manage-security-risks/resources/jvwzA) tab.
- When you encounter useful links in this course, bookmark them so you can refer to the information later for study or review.
- Understand and follow the [Coursera Code of Conduct](https://www.coursera.support/s/article/208280036-Coursera-Code-of-Conduct) to ensure that the learning community remains a welcoming, friendly, and supportive place for all members.
# Google Cybersecurity Certificate glossary
##
A
**Absolute file path: **The full file path, which starts from the root
**Access controls:** Security controls that manage access, authorization, and accountability of information
**Active packet sniffing: **A type of attack where data packets are manipulated in transit
**Address Resolution Protocol (ARP): **A network protocol used to determine the MAC address of the next router or device on the path
**Advanced persistent threat (APT): **An instance when a threat actor maintains unauthorized access to a system for an extended period of time
**Adversarial artificial intelligence (AI): **A technique that manipulates artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology to conduct attacks more efficiently
**Adware: **A type of legitimate software that is sometimes used to display digital advertisements in applications
**Algorithm: **A set of rules used to solve a problem
**Analysis:** The investigation and validation of alerts
**Angler phishing:** A technique where attackers impersonate customer service representatives on social media
**Anomaly-based analysis: **A detection method that identifies abnormal behavior
**Antivirus software: **A software program used to prevent, detect, and eliminate malware and viruses
**Application:** A program that performs a specific task
**Application programming interface (API) token: **A small block of encrypted code that contains information about a user
**Argument (Linux): **Specific information needed by a command
**Argument (Python): **The data brought into a function when it is called
**Array: **A data type that stores data in a comma-separated ordered list
**Assess: **The fifth step of the NIST RMF that means to determine if established controls are implemented correctly
**Asset:** An item perceived as having value to an organization
**Asset classification:** The practice of labeling assets based on sensitivity and importance to an organization
**Asset inventory:** A catalog of assets that need to be protected
**Asset management: **The process of tracking assets and the risks that affect them
**Asymmetric encryption:** The use of a public and private key pair for encryption and decryption of data
**Attack surface: **All the potential vulnerabilities that a threat actor could exploit
**Attack tree:** A diagram that maps threats to assets
**Attack vectors:** The pathways attackers use to penetrate security defenses
**Authentication:** The process of verifying who someone is
**Authorization:** The concept of granting access to specific resources in a system
**Authorize: **The sixth step of the NIST RMF that refers to being accountable for the security and privacy risks that might exist in an organization
**Automation:** The use of technology to reduce human and manual effort to perform common and repetitive tasks
**Availability:** The idea that data is accessible to those who are authorized to access itB
**Baiting: **A social engineering tactic that tempts people into compromising their security
**Bandwidth: **The maximum data transmission capacity over a network, measured by bits per second
**Baseline configuration (baseline image): **A documented set of specifications within a system that is used as a basis for future builds, releases, and updates
**Bash:** The default shell in most Linux distributions
**Basic auth:** The technology used to establish a user’s request to access a server
**Basic Input/Output System (BIOS):** A microchip that contains loading instructions for the computer and is prevalent in older systems
**Biometrics: **The unique physical characteristics that can be used to verify a person’s identity
**Bit: **The smallest unit of data measurement on a computer
**Boolean data: **Data that can only be one of two values: either True or False
**Bootloader: **A software program that boots the operating system
**Botnet: **A collection of computers infected by malware that are under the control of a single threat actor, known as the “bot-herder"
**Bracket notation: **The indices placed in square brackets
**Broken chain of custody:** Inconsistencies in the collection and logging of evidence in the chain of custody
**Brute force attack: **The trial and error process of discovering private information
**Bug bounty: **Programs that encourage freelance hackers to find and report vulnerabilities
**Built-in function:** A function that exists within Python and can be called directly
**Business continuity: **An organization's ability to maintain their everyday productivity by establishing risk disaster recovery plans
**Business continuity plan (BCP): **A document that outlines the procedures to sustain business operations during and after a significant disruption
**Business Email Compromise (BEC): **A type of phishing attack where a threat actor impersonates a known source to obtain financial advantageC
**Categorize: **The second step of the NIST RMF that is used to develop risk management processes and tasks
**CentOS: **An open-source distribution that is closely related to Red Hat
**Central Processing Unit (CPU): **A computer’s main processor, which is used to perform general computing tasks on a computer
**Chain of custody:** The process of documenting evidence possession and control during an incident lifecycle
**Chronicle:** A cloud-native tool designed to retain, analyze, and search data
**Cipher: **An algorithm that encrypts information
**Cloud-based firewalls:** Software firewalls that are hosted by the cloud service provider
**Cloud computing: **The practice of using remote servers, applications, and network services that are hosted on the internet instead of on local physical devices
**Cloud network:** A collection of servers or computers that stores resources and data in remote data centers that can be accessed via the internet
**Cloud security: **The process of ensuring that assets stored in the cloud are properly configured and access to those assets is limited to authorized users
**Command:** An instruction telling the computer to do something
**Command and control (C2): **The techniques used by malicious actors to maintain communications with compromised systems
**Command-line interface (CLI):** A text-based user interface that uses commands to interact with the computer
**Comment:** A note programmers make about the intention behind their code
**Common Event Format (CEF): **A log format that uses key-value pairs to structure data and identify fields and their corresponding values
**Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE®) list:** An openly accessible dictionary of known vulnerabilities and exposures
**Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS): **A measurement system that scores the severity of a vulnerability
**Compliance: **The process of adhering to internal standards and external regulations
**Computer security incident response teams (CSIRT):** A specialized group of security professionals that are trained in incident management and response
**Computer virus:** Malicious code written to interfere with computer operations and cause damage to data and software
**Conditional statement: **A statement that evaluates code to determine if it meets a specified set of conditions
**Confidentiality:** The idea that only authorized users can access specific assets or data
**Confidential data: **Data that often has limits on the number of people who have access to it
**Confidentiality, integrity, availability (CIA) triad: **A model that helps inform how organizations consider risk when setting up systems and security policies
**Configuration file: **A file used to configure the settings of an application
**Containment:** The act of limiting and preventing additional damage caused by an incident
**Controlled zone: **A subnet that protects the internal network from the uncontrolled zone
**Cross-site scripting (XSS):** An injection attack that inserts code into a vulnerable website or web application
**Crowdsourcing: **The practice of gathering information using public input and collaboration
**Cryptographic attack: **An attack that affects secure forms of communication between a sender and intended recipient
**Cryptographic key: **A mechanism that decrypts ciphertext
**Cryptography: **The process of transforming information into a form that unintended readers can’t understand
**Cryptojacking:** A form of malware that installs software to illegally mine cryptocurrencies
**CVE Numbering Authority (CNA):** An organization that volunteers to analyze and distribute information on eligible CVEs
**Cybersecurity (or security):**The practice of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information by protecting networks, devices, people, and data from unauthorized access or criminal exploitationD
**Data:** Information that is translated, processed, or stored by a computer
**Data at rest: **Data not currently being accessed
**Database: **An organized collection of information or data
**Data controller: **A person that determines the procedure and purpose for processing data
**Data custodian:** Anyone or anything that’s responsible for the safe handling, transport, and storage of information
**Data exfiltration: **Unauthorized transmission of data from a system
**Data in transit:** Data traveling from one point to another
**Data in use:** Data being accessed by one or more users
**Data owner: **The person who decides who can access, edit, use, or destroy their information
**Data packet: **A basic unit of information that travels from one device to another within a network
**Data point:** A specific piece of information
**Data processor: **A person that is responsible for processing data on behalf of the data controller
**Data protection officer (DPO): **An individual that is responsible for monitoring the compliance of an organization's data protection procedures
**Data type:** A category for a particular type of data item
**Date and time data:** Data representing a date and/or time
**Debugger:** A software tool that helps to locate the source of an error and assess its causes
**Debugging:** The practice of identifying and fixing errors in code
**Defense in depth: **A layered approach to vulnerability management that reduces risk
**Denial of service (DoS) attack: **An attack that targets a network or server and floods it with network traffic
**Detect: **A NIST core function related to identifying potential security incidents and improving monitoring capabilities to increase the speed and efficiency of detections
**Detection: **The prompt discovery of security events
**Dictionary data: **Data that consists of one or more key-value pairs
**Digital certificate: **A file that verifies the identity of a public key holder
**Digital forensics:** The practice of collecting and analyzing data to determine what has happened after an attack
**Directory: **A file that organizes where other files are stored
**Disaster recovery plan: **A plan that allows an organization’s security team to outline the steps needed to minimize the impact of a security incident
**Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack: **A type of denial or service attack that uses multiple devices or servers located in different locations to flood the target network with unwanted traffic
**Distributions: **The different versions of Linux
**Documentation:** Any form of recorded content that is used for a specific purpose
**DOM-based XSS attack:** An instance when malicious script exists in the webpage a browser loads
**Domain Name System (DNS):** A networking protocol that translates internet domain names into IP addresses
**Dropper: **A program or a file used to install a rootkit on a target computerE
**Elevator pitch: **A brief summary of your experience, skills, and background
**Encapsulation: **A process performed by a VPN service that protects your data by wrapping sensitive data in other data packets
**Encryption: **The process of converting data from a readable format to an encoded format
**Endpoint:** Any device connected on a network
**Endpoint detection and response (EDR): **An application that monitors an endpoint for malicious activity
**Eradication:**The complete removal of the incident elements from all affected systems
**Escalation policy: **A set of actions that outline who should be notified when an incident alert occurs and how that incident should be handled
**Event:** An observable occurrence on a network, system, or device
**Exception: **An error that involves code that cannot be executed even though it is syntactically correct
**Exclusive operator**: An operator that does not include the value of comparison
**Exploit: **A way of taking advantage of a vulnerability
**Exposure:** A mistake that can be exploited by a threat
**External threat:** Anything outside the organization that has the potential to harm organizational assetsF
**False negative**: A state where the presence of a threat is not detected
****
**False positive: **An alert that incorrectly detects the presence of a threat
**Fileless malware: **Malware that does not need to be installed by the user because it uses legitimate programs that are already installed to infect a computer
**File path: **The location of a file or directory
**Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS):** The component of the Linux OS that organizes data
**Filtering:** Selecting data that match a certain condition
**Final report:** Documentation that provides a comprehensive review of an incident
**Firewall: **A network security device that monitors traffic to or from a network
**Float data: **Data consisting of a number with a decimal point
**Foreign key: **A column in a table that is a primary key in another table
**Forward proxy server: **A server that regulates and restricts a person’s access to the internet
**Function:** A section of code that can be reused in a programG
**Global variable:**A variable that is available through the entire program
**Graphical user interface (GUI):**A user interface that uses icons on the screen to manage different tasks on the computerH
**Hacker: **Any person or group who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data
**Hacktivist: **A person who uses hacking to achieve a political goal
**Hard drive: **A hardware component used for long-term memory
**Hardware: **The physical components of a computer
**Hash collision: **An instance when different inputs produce the same hash value
**Hash function: **An algorithm that produces a code that can’t be decrypted
**Hash table: **A data structure that's used to store and reference hash values
**Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): **A U.S. federal law established to protect patients’ health information
**Honeypot: **A system or resource created as a decoy vulnerable to attacks with the purpose of attracting potential intruders
**Host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS):** An application that monitors the activity of the host on which it’s installed
**Hub: **A network device that broadcasts information to every device on the network
**Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP): **An application layer protocol that provides a method of communication between clients and website servers
**Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS): **A network protocol that provides a secure method of communication between clients and website serversI
**Identify: **A NIST core function related to management of cybersecurity risk and its effect on an organization’s people and assets
**Identity and access management (IAM): **A collection of processes and technologies that helps organizations manage digital identities in their environment
**IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi): **A set of standards that define communication for wireless LANs
**Immutable:** An object that cannot be changed after it is created and assigned a value
**Implement:** The fourth step of the NIST RMF that means to implement security and privacy plans for an organization
**Improper usage: **An incident type that occurs when an employee of an organization violates the organization’s acceptable use policies
**Incident:** An occurrence that actually or imminently jeopardizes, without lawful authority, the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information or an information system; or constitutes a violation or imminent threat of violation of law, security policies, security procedures, or acceptable use policies
**Incident escalation**: The process of identifying a potential security incident, triaging it, and handing it off to a more experienced team member
**Incident handler’s journal:** A form of documentation used in incident response
**Incident response: **An organization’s quick attempt to identify an attack, contain the damage, and correct the effects of a security breach
**Incident response plan:** A document that outlines the procedures to take in each step of incident response
**Inclusive operator: **An operator that includes the value of comparison
**Indentation: **Space added at the beginning of a line of code
**Index:** A number assigned to every element in a sequence that indicates its position
**Indicators of attack (IoA):** The series of observed events that indicate a real-time incident
**Indicators of compromise (IoC):** Observable evidence that suggests signs of a potential security incident
**Information privacy: **The protection of unauthorized access and distribution of data
**Information security (InfoSec):** The practice of keeping data in all states away from unauthorized users
**Injection attack:** Malicious code inserted into a vulnerable application
**Input validation:** Programming that validates inputs from users and other programs
**Integer data: **Data consisting of a number that does not include a decimal point
**Integrated development environment (IDE): **A software application for writing code that provides editing assistance and error correction tools
**Integrity: **The idea that the data is correct, authentic, and reliable
**Internal hardware: **The components required to run the computer
**Internal threat: **A current or former employee, external vendor, or trusted partner who poses a security risk
**Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP): **An internet protocol used by devices to tell each other about data transmission errors across the network
**Internet Control Message Protocol flood (ICMP flood): **A type of DoS attack performed by an attacker repeatedly sending ICMP request packets to a network server
**Internet Protocol (IP): **A set of standards used for routing and addressing data packets as they travel between devices on a network
**Internet Protocol (IP) address: **A unique string of characters that identifies the location of a device on the internet
**Interpreter: **A computer program that translates Python code into runnable instructions line by line
**Intrusion detection system (IDS): **An application that monitors system activity and alerts on possible intrusions
**Intrusion prevention system (IPS): **An application that monitors system activity for intrusive activity and takes action to stop the activity
**IP spoofing: **A network attack performed when an attacker changes the source IP of a data packet to impersonate an authorized system and gain access to a network
**Iterative statement: **Code that repeatedly executes a set of instructionsK
**KALI LINUX ™: **An open-source distribution of Linux that is widely used in the security industry
**Kernel:** The component of the Linux OS that manages processes and memory
**Key-value pair: **A set of data that represents two linked items:a key, and its corresponding valueL
**Legacy operating system: **An operating system that is outdated but still being used
**Lessons learned meeting:** A meeting that includes all involved parties after a major incident
**Library: **A collection of modules that provide code users can access in their programs
**Linux: **An open-source operating system
**List concatenation:** The concept of combining two lists into one by placing the elements of the second list directly after the elements of the first list
**List data: **Data structure that consists of a collection of data in sequential form
**Loader: **Malicious code that launches after a user initiates a dropper program
**Local Area Network (LAN): **A network that spans small areas like an office building, a school, or a home
**Local variable: **A variable assigned within a function
**Log:** A record of events that occur within an organization’s systems
**Log analysis:** The process of examining logs to identify events of interest
**Logging: **The recording of events occurring on computer systems and networks
**Logic error: **An error that results when the logic used in code produces unintended results
**Log management: **The process of collecting, storing, analyzing, and disposing of log data
**Loop condition: **The part of a loop that determines when the loop terminates
**Loop variable: **A variable that is used to control the iterations of a loopM
**Malware:** Software designed to harm devices or networks
**Malware infection**: An incident type that occurs when malicious software designed to disrupt a system infiltrates an organization’s computers or network
**Media Access Control (MAC) address: **A unique alphanumeric identifier that is assigned to each physical device on a network
**Method:** A function that belongs to a specific data type
**Metrics: **Key technical attributes such as response time, availability, and failure rate, which are used to assess the performance of a software application
**MITRE:** A collection of non-profit research and development centers
**Modem: **A device that connects your router to the internet and brings internet access to the LAN
**Module**: A Python file that contains additional functions, variables, classes, and any kind of runnable code
**Monitor**: The seventh step of the NIST RMF that means be aware of how systems are operating
**Multi-factor authentication (MFA): **A security measure that requires a user to verify their identity in two or more ways to access a system or networkN
**nano: **A command-line file editor that is available by default in many Linux distributions
**National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): **A voluntary framework that consists of standards, guidelines, and best practices to manage cybersecurity risk
**National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Incident Response Lifecycle:** A framework for incident response consisting of four phases: Preparation; Detection and Analysis; Containment, Eradication and Recovery, and Post-incident activity
**National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (S.P.) 800-53: **A unified framework for protecting the security of information systems within the U.S. federal government
**Network: **A group of connected devices
**Network-based intrusion detection system (NIDS): **An application that collects and monitors network traffic and network data
**Network data:** The data that’s transmitted between devices on a network
**Network Interface Card (NIC): **Hardware that connects computers to a network
**Network log analysis: **The process of examining network logs to identify events of interest
**Network protocol analyzer (packet sniffer):**A tool designed to capture and analyze data traffic within a network
**Network protocols: **A set of rules used by two or more devices on a network to describe the order of delivery and the structure of data
**Network security: **The practice of keeping an organization's network infrastructure secure from unauthorized access
**Network segmentation: **A security technique that divides the network into segments
**Network traffic:** The amount of data that moves across a network
**Non-repudiation:** The concept that the authenticity of information can’t be denied
**Notebook: **An online interface for writing, storing, and running code
**Numeric data:** Data consisting of numbersO
**OAuth: **An open-standard authorization protocol that shares designated access between applications
**Object: **A data type that stores data in a comma-separated list of key-value pairs
**On-path attack: **An attack where a malicious actor places themselves in the middle of an authorized connection and intercepts or alters the data in transit
**Open-source intelligence (OSINT): **The collection and analysis of information from publicly available sources to generate usable intelligence
**Open systems interconnection (OSI) model: **A standardized concept that describes the seven layers computers use to communicate and send data over the network
**Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP): **A non-profit organization focused on improving software security
**Operating system (OS)**: The interface between computer hardware and the user
**Operator:** A symbol or keyword that represents an operation
**Options:** Input that modifies the behavior of a command
**Order of volatility:** A sequence outlining the order of data that must be preserved from first to last
**OWASP Top 10: **A globally recognized standard awareness document that lists the top 10 most critical security risks to web applications P
**Package: **A piece of software that can be combined with other packages to form an application
**Package manager: **A tool that helps users install, manage, and remove packages or applications
**Packet capture (P-cap): **A file containing data packets intercepted from an interface or network
**Packet sniffing: **The practice of capturing and inspecting data packets across a network
**Parameter (Python):** An object that is included in a function definition for use in that function
**Parrot: **An open-source distribution that is commonly used for security
**Parsing:** The process of converting data into a more readable format
**Passive packet sniffing: **A type of attack where a malicious actor connects to a network hub and looks at all traffic on the network
**Password attack: **An attempt to access password secured devices, systems, networks, or data
**Patch update: **A software and operating system update that addresses security vulnerabilities within a program or product
**Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS): **Any cardholder data that an organization accepts, transmits, or stores
**Penetration test (pen test): **A simulated attack that helps identify vulnerabilities in systems, networks, websites, applications, and processes
**PEP 8 style guide:** A resource that provides stylistic guidelines for programmers working in Python
**Peripheral devices: **Hardware components that are attached and controlled by the computer system
**Permissions: **The type of access granted for a file or directory
**Personally identifiable information (PII): **Any information used to infer an individual's identity
**Phishing: **The use of digital communications to trick people into revealing sensitive data or deploying malicious software
**Phishing kit: **A collection of software tools needed to launch a phishing campaign
**Physical attack: **A security incident that affects not only digital but also physical environments where the incident is deployed
**Physical social engineering: **An attack in which a threat actor impersonates an employee, customer, or vendor to obtain unauthorized access to a physical location
**Ping of death: **A type of DoS attack caused when a hacker pings a system by sending it an oversized ICMP packet that is bigger than 64KB
**Playbook: **A manual that provides details about any operational action
**Policy: **A set of rules that reduce risk and protect information
**Port: **A software-based location that organizes the sending and receiving of data between devices on a network
**Port filtering: **A firewall function that blocks or allows certain port numbers to limit unwanted communication
**Post-incident activity: **The process of reviewing an incident to identify areas for improvement during incident handling
**Potentially unwanted application (PUA):** A type of unwanted software that is bundled in with legitimate programs which might display ads, cause device slowdown, or install other software
**Private data**: Information that should be kept from the public
**Prepare: **The first step of the NIST RMF related to activities that are necessary to manage security and privacy risks before a breach occurs
**Prepared statement:** A coding technique that executes SQL statements before passing them on to a database
**Primary key:** A column where every row has a unique entry
**Principle of least privilege: **The concept of granting only the minimal access and authorization required to complete a task or function
**Privacy protection: **The act of safeguarding personal information from unauthorized use
**Procedures:** Step-by-step instructions to perform a specific security task
**Process of Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis (PASTA): **A popular threat modeling framework that’s used across many industries
**Programming:** A process that can be used to create a specific set of instructions for a computer to execute tasks
**Protect: **A NIST core function used to protect an organization through the implementation of policies, procedures, training, and tools that help mitigate cybersecurity threats
**Protected health information (PHI): **Information that relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual
**Protecting and preserving evidence: **The process of properly working with fragile and volatile digital evidence
**Proxy server: **A server that fulfills the requests of its clients by forwarding them to other servers
**Public data**: Data that is already accessible to the public and poses a minimal risk to the organization if viewed or shared by others
**Public key infrastructure (PKI):** An encryption framework that secures the exchange of online information
**Python Standard Library: **An extensive collection of Python code that often comes packaged with PythonQ
**Query: **A request for data from a database table or a combination of tables
**Quid pro quo:** A type of baiting used to trick someone into believing that they’ll be rewarded in return for sharing access, information, or moneyR
**Rainbow table:** A file of pre-generated hash values and their associated plaintext
**Random Access Memory (RAM): **A hardware component used for short-term memory
**Ransomware:** A malicious attack where threat actors encrypt an organization’s data and demand payment to restore access
**Rapport: **A friendly relationship in which the people involved understand each other’s ideas and communicate well with each other
**Recover: **A NIST core function related to returning affected systems back to normal operation
**Recovery:** The process of returning affected systems back to normal operations
**Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® **(also referred to simply as Red Hat in this course)**:** A subscription-based distribution of Linux built for enterprise use
**Reflected XSS attack: **An instance when malicious script is sent to a server and activated during the server’s response
**Regular expression (regex):** A sequence of characters that forms a pattern
**Regulations:** Rules set by a government or other authority to control the way something is done
**Relational database: **A structured database containing tables that are related to each other
**Relative file path: **A file path that starts from the user's current directory
**Replay attack: **A network attack performed when a malicious actor intercepts a data packet in transit and delays it or repeats it at another time
**Resiliency**: The ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions
**Respond:** A NIST core function related to making sure that the proper procedures are used to contain, neutralize, and analyze security incidents, and implement improvements to the security process
**Return statement: **A Python statement that executes inside a function and sends information back to the function call
**Reverse proxy server: **A server that regulates and restricts the internet's access to an internal server
**Risk:** Anything that can impact the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an asset
**Risk mitigation: **The process of having the right procedures and rules in place to quickly reduce the impact of a risk like a breach
**Root directory: **The highest-level directory in Linux
**Rootkit**: Malware that provides remote, administrative access to a computer
**Root user (or superuser): **A user with elevated privileges to modify the system
**Router: **A network device that connects multiple networks togetherS
**Salting:**An additional safeguard that’s used to strengthen hash functions
**Scareware: **Malware that employs tactics to frighten users into infecting their device
**Search Processing Language (SPL)**: Splunk’s query language
**Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP): **A secure protocol used to transfer files from one device to another over a network
**Secure shell (SSH): **A security protocol used to create a shell with a remote system
**Security architecture: **A type of security design composed of multiple components, such as tools and processes, that are used to protect an organization from risks and external threats
**Security audit**: A review of an organization's security controls, policies, and procedures against a set of expectations
**Security controls:** Safeguards designed to reduce specific security risks
**Security ethics:** Guidelines for making appropriate decisions as a security professional
**Security frameworks:** Guidelines used for building plans to help mitigate risk and threats to data and privacy
**Security governance: **Practices that help support, define, and direct security efforts of an organization
**Security hardening: **The process of strengthening a system to reduce its vulnerabilities and attack surface
**Security information and event management (SIEM)**: An application that collects and analyzes log data to monitor critical activities in an organization
**Security mindset: **The ability to evaluate risk and constantly seek out and identify the potential or actual breach of a system, application, or data
**Security operations center (SOC): **An organizational unit dedicated to monitoring networks, systems, and devices for security threats or attacks
**Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR): **A collection of applications, tools, and workflows that use automation to respond to security events
**Security posture:** An organization’s ability to manage its defense of critical assets and data and react to change
**Security zone: **A segment of a company’s network that protects the internal network from the internet
**Select**: The third step of the NIST RMF that means to choose, customize, and capture documentation of the controls that protect an organization
**Sensitive data**: A type of data that includes personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive personally identifiable information (SPII), or protected health information (PHI)
**Sensitive personally identifiable information (SPII):** A specific type of PII that falls under stricter handling guidelines
**Separation of duties:** The principle that users should not be given levels of authorization that would allow them to misuse a system
**Session: **a sequence of network HTTP requests and responses associated with the same user
**Session cookie:** A token that websites use to validate a session and determine how long that session should last
**Session hijacking:** An event when attackers obtain a legitimate user’s session ID
**Session ID: **A unique token that identifies a user and their device while accessing a system
**Set data: **Data that consists of an unordered collection of unique values
**Shared responsibility:** The idea that all individuals within an organization take an active role in lowering risk and maintaining both physical and virtual security
**Shell:** The command-line interpreter
**Signature: **A pattern that is associated with malicious activity
**Signature analysis:** A detection method used to find events of interest
**Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP): **A network protocol used for monitoring and managing devices on a network
**Single sign-on (SSO):** A technology that combines several different logins into one
**Smishing**: The use of text messages to trick users to obtain sensitive information or to impersonate a known source
**Smurf attack: **A network attack performed when an attacker sniffs an authorized user’s IP address and floods it with ICMP packets
**Social engineering: **A manipulation technique that exploits human error to gain private information, access, or valuables
**Social media phishing: **A type of attack where a threat actor collects detailed information about their target on social media sites before initiating the attack
**Spear phishing: **A malicious email attack targeting a specific user or group of users, appearing to originate from a trusted source
**Speed: **The rate at which a device sends and receives data, measured by bits per second
**Splunk Cloud: **A cloud-hosted tool used to collect, search, and monitor log data
**Splunk Enterprise: **A self-hosted tool used to retain, analyze, and search an organization's log data to provide security information and alerts in real-time
**Spyware: **Malware that’s used to gather and sell information without consent
**SQL (Structured Query Language):** A programming language used to create, interact with, and request information from a database
**SQL injection: **An attack that executes unexpected queries on a database
**Stakeholder: **An individual or group that has an interest in any decision or activity of an organization
**Standard error:** An error message returned by the OS through the shell
**Standard input:** Information received by the OS via the command line
**Standard output: **Information returned by the OS through the shell
**Standards:** References that inform how to set policies
**STAR method: **An interview technique used to answer behavioral and situational questions
**Stateful: **A class of firewall that keeps track of information passing through it and proactively filters out threats
**Stateless: **A class of firewall that operates based on predefined rules and that does not keep track of information from data packets
**Stored XSS attack: **An instance when malicious script is injected directly on the server
**String concatenation: **The process of joining two strings together
**String data:** Data consisting of an ordered sequence of characters
**Style guide:** A manual that informs the writing, formatting, and design of documents
**Subnetting: **The subdivision of a network into logical groups called subnets
**Substring: **A continuous sequence of characters within a string
**Sudo: **A command that temporarily grants elevated permissions to specific users
**Supply-chain attack: **An attack that targets systems, applications, hardware, and/or software to locate a vulnerability where malware can be deployed
**Suricata**: An open-source intrusion detection system, intrusion prevention system, and network analysis tool
**Switch: **A device that makes connections between specific devices on a network by sending and receiving data between them
**Symmetric encryption: **The use of a single secret key to exchange information
**Synchronize (SYN) flood attack: **A type of DoS attack that simulates a TCP/IP connection and floods a server with SYN packets
**Syntax: **The rules that determine what is correctly structured in a computing language
**Syntax error:** An error that involves invalid usage of a programming languageT
**Tailgating: **A social engineering tactic in which unauthorized people follow an authorized person into a restricted area
**TCP/IP model: **A framework used to visualize how data is organized and transmitted across a network
**tcpdump: **A command-line network protocol analyzer
**Technical skills:** Skills that require knowledge of specific tools, procedures, and policies
**Telemetry:** The collection and transmission of data for analysis
**Threat:** Any circumstance or event that can negatively impact assets
**Threat actor: **Any person or group who presents a security risk
**Threat hunting: **The proactive search for threats on a network
**Threat intelligence: **Evidence-based threat information that provides context about existing or emerging threats
**Threat modeling: **The process of identifying assets, their vulnerabilities, and how each is exposed to threats
**Transferable skills:** Skills from other areas that can apply to different careers
**Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): **An internet communication protocol that allows two devices to form a connection and stream data
**Triage**: The prioritizing of incidents according to their level of importance or urgency
**Trojan horse: **Malware that looks like a legitimate file or program
**True negative: **A state where there is no detection of malicious activity
**True positive **An alert that correctly detects the presence of an attack
**Tuple data:** Data that consists of a collection of data that cannot be changed
**Type error: **An error that results from using the wrong data typeU
**Ubuntu: **An open-source, user-friendly distribution that is widely used in security and other industries
**Unauthorized access: **An incident type that occurs when an individual gains digital or physical access to a system or application without permission
**Uncontrolled zone: **Any network outside your organization's control
**Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI): **A microchip that contains loading instructions for the computer and replaces BIOS on more modern systems
**USB baiting:**An attack in which a threat actor strategically leaves a malware USB stick for an employee to find and install to unknowingly infect a network
**User:** The person interacting with a computer
**User Datagram Protocol (UDP):**A connectionless protocol that does not establish a connection between devices before transmissions
**User-defined function:** A function that programmers design for their specific needs
**User interface:** A program that allows the user to control the functions of the operating system
**User provisioning: **The process of creating and maintaining a user's digital identityV
**Variable: **A container that stores data
**Virtual Private Network (VPN):** A network security service that changes your public IP address and hides your virtual location so that you can keep your data private when you are using a public network like the internet
**Virus: **Malicious code written to interfere with computer operations and cause damage to data and software
**VirusTotal:**A service that allows anyone to analyze suspicious files, domains, URLs, and IP addresses for malicious content
**Vishing:** The exploitation of electronic voice communication to obtain sensitive information or to impersonate a known source
**Visual dashboard:** A way of displaying various types of data quickly in one place
**Vulnerability:** A weakness that can be exploited by a threat
**Vulnerability assessment: **The internal review process of an organization's security systems
**Vulnerability management: **The process of finding and patching vulnerabilities
**Vulnerability scanner: **Software that automatically compares existing common vulnerabilities and exposures against the technologies on the networkW
**Watering hole attack**: A type of attack when a threat actor compromises a website frequently visited by a specific group of users
**Web-based exploits:** Malicious code or behavior that’s used to take advantage of coding flaws in a web application
**Whaling: **A category of spear phishing attempts that are aimed at high-ranking executives in an organization
**Wide Area Network (WAN): **A network that spans a large geographic area like a city, state, or country
**Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA): **A wireless security protocol for devices to connect to the internet
**Wildcard: **A special character that can be substituted with any other character
**Wireshark: **An open-source network protocol analyzer
**World-writable file:** A file that can be altered by anyone in the world
**Worm: **Malware that can duplicate and spread itself across systems on its ownY
**YARA-L:** A computer language used to create rules for searching through ingested log dataZ
**Zero-day: **An exploit that was previously unknown
# Welcome to week 1
The world of security, which we also refer to as cybersecurity throughout this program, is vast. So making sure that you have the knowledge, skills, and tools to successfully navigate this world is why we're here.
In the following videos, you'll learn about the focus of CISSP's eight security domains. Then, we'll discuss threats, risks, and vulnerabilities in more detail. We'll also introduce you to the three layers of the web and share some examples to help you understand the different types of attacks that we'll discuss throughout the program. Finally, we'll examine how to manage risks by using the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Risk Management Framework, known as the NIST RMF.
Because these topics and related technical skills are considered core knowledge in the security field, continuing to build your understanding of them will help you mitigate and manage the risks and threats that organizations face on a daily basis.
In the next video, we'll further discuss the focus of the eight security domains introduced in the first course.