Learn how to secure and protect networks against the most common attacks

MNSE - Network Security Essentials

Network security is the practice of protecting your computer networks from unauthorized access and/or damage.

There are a variety of skills required to work in network security. The most important skill is a strong understanding of computer systems and networks. Security professionals need to be able to think critically and analyze systems to find vulnerabilities. They also need to be able to communicate effectively with other members of a team, as well as customers or clients.

This certification in network and endpoint security will give you the skillset needed to safeguard small and medium size organizations from cybercrime. You will learn how to prevent cyber adversaries from gaining access to systems, through implemented prevention techniques.

This course is ideal for aspiring junior security engineers looking to gain a practical understanding of how to secure an organization. The course will provide you with the skillset necessary to obtain many job opportunities in the security field.

$699

Beginner

Certification

300+ hours

115

$450

No Expiry, No Renewals

Course Overview

Network security is an important investment for any organization because it helps protect their computer systems and the data those systems contain from unauthorized access, tampering, or destruction. Network security solutions can help organizations protect their networks from a variety of threats, including intrusions, malware, and DDoS attacks. By implementing network security solutions, organizations can help ensure the integrity of their systems and data, and protect themselves from financial and legal damages.

Network security engineers are hired to protect an organization's computer networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, or destruction. They work to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, protect against cyber attacks, and respond to security incidents. Network security engineers are in high demand as organizations become increasingly aware of the importance of cybersecurity.

A network security engineer can earn a good salary depending on their experience and the type of company they work for. For example, a network security engineer for a small company may only earn around $50,000 per year, while a network security engineer for a large company may earn around $100,000 per year.

If you're looking to become a network security professional, the MCSI MNSE certification is a great qualification to have. This certification proves that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to secure an organization's networks. It also demonstrates that you're up-to-date on the latest security threats and how to protect against them.

This certification will equip you with the skillset necessary to carry out the following tasks:

Develop information security registers, policies, procedures and checklists
Perform network reconnaissance and scan for network vulnerabilities
Harden legacy Microsoft Windows operating systems
Harden Windows 10 and Microsoft Office
Deploy network-wide security countermeasures using GPOs

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities You Will Acquire

MCSI is one of the most respected and trusted names in cyber security education and training. Our certifications teach critical skills, knowledge and abilities needed to advance a career in cyber security. Our courses are comprehensive and up-to-date, and our instructors are experienced professionals who are dedicated to helping students learn. MCSI provides the real-world skills and knowledge you need to protect any organization from cyber threats.

Apply fundamental Governance, Risk and Compliance techniques in the enterprise
- Performing Gap Assessments
- Using RASI charts
- Proposing multiple ways to manage cyber risks
- Developing a Risk Register
- Undertaking a Cyber Maturity Survey
- Creating checklists for Information Security Audits
- Developing Information Security policies and procedures
Perform network reconnaissance and vulnerability scanning
- Discovering insecure domains and sub-domains
- Passively mapping out an organization's Internet-facing attack surface
- Scanning machines with Metasploit, NMAP and OpenVAS
Enumerate vulnerabilities on Windows machines
- Missing security patches
- Privilege escalation vulnerabilities
- Insecure administration access
Harden Windows operating systems
- Insecure legacy network services
- Deploying application whitelisting
- Protecting legacy desktop and server applications
- Hardening PowerShell
- Securing Windows 10
- Hardening Microsoft Office
Deploy security in large-scale networks
- Deploying network-wide security countermeasures using GPOs
- Developing ELK filters to detect intrusions

Career Outcomes

This certification thoroughly prepares you for the following roles:

Network Security Engineer
System Administrator

MCSI certifications are highly respected and sought-after credentials in the industry. Earning an MCSI certification is a testament to your knowledge and skillset, and demonstrates your commitment to excellence. The content is cutting-edge, uniquely-designed, and hands-on. Our exercises teach in-demand skills that are immediately applicable in the field.

The certifications are valid indefinitely and do not require any renewal fees. The training is accessible without any time limits.

Syllabus

Training Modules

This course provides you with multiple training modules, each of which is designed to teach you practical skills that can help you solve important cyber problems. Each module offers exercises that will help you build your skills and capabilities.

MNSE-QS-01: Quickstarter - 10 exercises
MNSE-001: Lab Setup - Part 1 - 1 exercises
MNSE-101: Information Security Governance Concepts - 10 exercises
MNSE-102: Risk Management Concepts - 10 exercises
MNSE-103: Incident Response Concepts - 10 exercises
MNSE-201: Practical GRC Exercises - 9 exercises
MNSE-202: Information Security Policies and Procedures - 5 exercises
MNSE-301: Lab Setup - Part 2 - 3 exercises
MNSE-302: Network Reconnaissance - 5 exercises
MNSE-303: Network Vulnerability Scanning - 10 exercises
MNSE-401: Windows Security Tools - 5 exercises
MNSE-402: Windows Vulnerability Enumeration - 5 exercises
MNSE-403: Hardening Legacy Windows Versions - 9 exercises
MNSE-404: Windows 10 Hardening - 5 exercises
MNSE-405: Microsoft Office Hardening - 2 exercises
MNSE-501: Lab Setup - Part 3 - 2 exercises
MNSE-502: Large-Scale Network Security - 7 exercises
MNSE-503: Challenges - 1 exercises

⚡ Enroll now with lifetime access for $450 →

Certifications

MCSI Industry Certifications are important for you to earn because they signify that you have the skills required to work in a cybersecurity. Certificates of Completion are also important to earn because they signify that you have completed an exercise. Earning Certificates of Completion and Industry Certifications demonstrates that you are willing to put in the extra work to be successful.

Student

Obtain CPE points by solving exercises

Achieve multiple certifications

Receive help from instructors online

MCSI's MNSE certification covers three levels of the Australian Signals Directorate's Cyber Skills Framework. You will achieve a certificate upon reaching each level. Click here to learn more.

	ASD Skills Proficiency Level	Curriculum Completion Requirement
MCSI Network Security Learner	Level 1	30%
MCSI Network Security Novice	Level 2	60%
MCSI Certified Network Security Essentials (Practitioner)	Level 3	90%

Career Pathways

This certification aligns with the following career pathways:

Certifications are important tools to validate your skills and knowledge. They can provide you with the credentials you need to get ahead in your career.

There are many reasons why a person should select certifications that teach practical skills over an open-book theory exam. Hands-on experience is crucial in many industries, and theory exams cannot replace the real-world application of skills. Furthermore, practical skills are often more marketable than theoretical knowledge, and can help a person secure a job in their desired field. Finally, practical skills can provide a foundation for further learning, while theory exams may only teach limited information. In conclusion, selecting a certification that teaches practical skills is the best way to ensure success in today's competitive job market.

Sample Exercises

Below are three (3) exercises from the 100+ exercises available in MNSE - Network Security Essentials:

Write A PS Script To Turn On Hyper-V (Novice)

Write A PS Script To List Missing Security Patches (Novice)

Write A PS Script To Detect When A Windows Domain Has More Than 5 Domain Admins (Advanced Beginner)

Our Instructors

Student exercises are reviewed and graded by multiple instructors. This one-of-a-kind approach allows you to get highly personalized input from a number of successful professionals.

MCSI's teachers bring real-world experience and knowledge to the classroom, ensuring that students have the skills they need to excel in the field of information security. Due to their extensive experience in penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, reverse engineering, incident response, digital forensics, and exploit development, students will understand the most up-to-date defensive and offensive cybersecurity strategies and procedures.

Our instructors are passionate about information security and are always looking to further their own knowledge. Students who attend an MCSI course can be confident that they are learning from some of the best in the business. They can adapt their teaching approaches to match the demands of any student, regardless of their degree of expertise.

The MCSI team strives to provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date cybersecurity training available. Whether you are a seasoned security professional or new to the field, MCSI has a course that will meet your needs.

Receive personalized feedback from cybersecurity experts:

Overcome challenges and hurdles preventing you from advancing your skills

Receive guidance on how to focus your training efforts and avoid wasting time

Learn how to meet the industry's quality standards and produce high-quality work

When you're stuck, go to a support forum or ask inquiries to the instructors right on the platform

Help and Support

24/7 Discord Community

If you're looking for additional support during your studies, consider joining our Discord server. Our community of fellow students and instructors is always available to provide help and answer any questions you may have.

Personalized Support

Your submissions will be reviewed by MCSI instructors, who will provide you with personalized feedback. This input is critical since it can assist you in identifying the areas where you need to enhance your skills. The instructor's feedback will also tell you how well you did an exercise and what you can do to improve your performance even further.

Click here to see an example of personalized feedback.

Our personalized support will take your skills to the next level. Read what a student says about it:

Quick Questions

If you have any questions or need clarification on any of the exercises, MCSI offers a Quick Questions section on each exercise where you can ask for help. This is a great resource to use if you need assistance. This feature is only available for paid courses.

Actively Maintained Course

This course is actively maintained to ensure that it is current and error-free. We want to ensure that you have the best possible experience while taking this course, which includes having access to accurate and current information. This course is also tested for flaws on a regular basis, so you can be sure you're getting a high-quality product.

This course is constantly updated with the support of trustworthy industry peers to ensure that students are acquiring the most up-to-date information and skills. This dedication to staying ahead of the curve is what distinguishes this course as one of the greatest in the market.

Prerequisites

Training Laptop Requirement

This course can be completed on a standard training laptop. To ensure you have the necessary hardware to complete the course, your machine should meet the following specifications:

64-bit Intel i5/i7 2.0+ GHz processor or equivalent
8GB of RAM
Ability to run at least (1) virtual machine using Virtual Box, or an equivalent virtualization software
Windows 10 or later, macOS 10 or later, or Linux
Local administrator privileges

Do you support older operating systems?

Yes. Many of the exercises can be completed on older OS versions. A few of our students are successfully using older equipment to learn cyber security.

Proficiency in the English language

You must have the ability to comfortably read and understand IT documentation written in English. Ideally, they have an IELTS score of 6.5 with no band less than 6 (or equivalent).

Note: You can register for this course without having undertaken an English test.

Programming Skills

We recommend that you have some experience in writing PowerShell scripts prior to registering for this course.

Lab Environment

This course teaches you how to setup and configure your own cybersecurity lab.

There are numerous advantages to creating your own cybersecurity lab rather than paying for one. The cost savings are perhaps the most evident benefit. When compared to the expense of licensing a pre-built lab, creating your own lab can save you thousands of dollars. You also have the option of customizing the lab environment to meet your specific requirements. You can, for example, select the hardware and software that will be used in your lab.

Another advantage of setting up your own cybersecurity lab is that it allows you to learn new skills. Building a lab from the ground up necessitates knowledge of networking, system administration, and other technical subjects. This experience is invaluable in your career as a cybersecurity professional.

We frequently see students who can complete a task in a pre-built lab but cannot complete the same task at work. This is because these labs are meant to lessen work complexity, thereby creating an illusion of personal capabilities. It's also worth noting that you'll be expected to set up your own lab to test tools and techniques in the workplace. Employers may give you the resources to set up virtual computers and networks, but it will be up to you to manage the lab environment and maintain your tools.

Finally, you should know that pre-built labs are not commonly licensed by top cybersecurity professionals. They've realized that setting up a lab is simple, efficient, adaptable, cost-effective, and that it sparks creativity. It also nullifies risk of performing unauthorized actions against systems provisioned by a third-party.

Free Study Materials

We place a major emphasis on teaching practical skills. Our students learn best when they can put what they've learned into practice. In addition, we believe that many significant thoughts and ideas should be publicly accessible to anyone. We believe that knowledge that is already available in the public domain should not be subject to price.

Purchasing a course is a significant investment. It's critical to know what the course entails and what you intend to get out of it. If you're on the fence about whether or not to buy this course, you might want to check out our library for more information. Concepts, terminology, and essential principles are all taught in our library. This will give you more details about the topics that will be addressed in the course.

🔥 Click here to read more articles from our online library.

Why MCSI's Network Security Essentials Curriculum is World Class

Comprehensive, Effective, Exceeds Standards

Holders of the MNSE Certification have completed 100 practical online exercises demonstrating that they have the skills and knowledge required to deploy network security controls in small and medium size IT environments. Students take an average of 3 months to complete these exercises.

OS Focused

Students who have obtained this Certification have demonstrated that they can write PowerShell scripts and GPOs to deploy Windows hardening controls, as well as use Microsoft native tools such as AppLocker and EMET to secure legacy operating systems. They can defend Windows networks without relying on commercial products.

Augmented with GRC

This Certification also imparts fundamental Governance, Risk and Compliance concepts and techniques to transform the Information Security of organizations from the top-down. Students that have completed this training can write policies, procedures and checklists. They can also develop and maintain a Risk Register.

Enrollment and Fees

Fees

$699

Terms and Conditions

No discounts
No refunds
No transfers
No renewal fees
No hidden fees
No time limits
Exercises must be completed on MCSI's Online Learning Platform
You'll also be charged GST if you live in Australia

Cooling-Off Policy

Received a full refund if you changed your mind about a purchase within 24 hours. No questions asked. Read the full details here.

Don't Buy This Course

Don't buy this course if you think learning cyber security is simple, that it will only take a few hours, that remembering a few concepts from videos and books would be enough, or, that you should be provided with walkthroughs and solutions to practical problems instead of thinking critically for yourself.

Our competitors are misleading you by claiming that their video courses and open-book theoretical certificates will teach you everything you need to know about cyber security. We recommend that you stay away from our courses until you've realized that cybersecurity requires hundreds of hours of training against difficult challenges under the watchful eye of experts encouraging you to improve your weaknesses. Only then will you understand the value of this course and the benefits that the MCSI Method™ can bring to your career. We only want satisfied customers.

When purchasing a course, you acknowledge that you understand and agree with our 100% practical MCSI Method™: no solutions, no walkthroughs, and you're expected to use critical thinking and research to solve the exercises. If you're not sure how this work, try our free version before buying.

How does MCSI Compare?

If you are looking for a certification that will give you an edge in the job market, look no further than MCSI certifications. Thanks to our innovative approach, cybersecurity training is more affordable and effective than traditional methods.

	MCSI Certifications	Traditional Vendors	Industry Conferences	Conference Workshop	Cybersecurity Bootcamps	Cyber Ranges
Cost	$450	$5,000+	$900+	$4,000+	$10,000+	$3,000+
Hours of training	300+ hours	40-48	10+	16-40	450	40-100
Certifications	3	1	0	0	1	0
Online	Yes	Some	No	No	No	Yes
practical	100%	50%	0%	50%	50%	100%
Maintenance Level	High	Low	Low	Low	Low	Low
free trial	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Access to instructors	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Some

Our pricing is more affordable than our competitors because we have reinvented how cyber training is done online. Our innovative Online Learning Platform is highly effective at teaching cyber security. The platform provides a more engaging and interactive learning experience than traditional methods, which helps students learn and retain skills better. Try the free version and see for yourself.

⚡ Enroll now with lifetime access for $450 →

Bloom's Taxonomy

Bloom's Taxonomy is a system for categorizing distinct stages of intellectual growth. It is used in education to assist students comprehend and learn material more effectively. MCSI teaches students how to apply, analyze, evaluate, and create at the highest levels of the taxonomy. The majority of our competitors are simply concerned with getting you to remember concepts.

The intellectual developments outlined in Bloom's Taxonomy are directly tied to your capacity to advance in your cyber security career. Employers look for people who can solve challenges that are worth paying for. With us, you'll learn practical skills that are in demand and applicable to a wide range of cyber occupations.

Industry Recognized Skills

MCSI credentials are well-respected around the world, and organisations searching for people with real cyber security abilities seek them out. Obtaining an MCSI certification verifies your understanding of critical cyber security topics as well as your ability to provide real-world results.

The ability of MCSI's training programme to give students with real-world, hands-on experience is unrivalled. Students must conduct their own research and develop their own answers in order to complete our practical exercises, which are meant to give them the skills they need to be successful in the field.

With MCSI, you will build a comprehensive cybersecurity portfolio of your skills as you complete exercises. This portfolio is a powerful tool for displaying your cybersecurity knowledge and abilities. A portfolio, as opposed to typical resumes and paper-based credentials, presents a more thorough summary of your skills and accomplishments.

Students Feedback

Here's what students say about the MCSI Method™ and our Online Learning Platform:

Information Security Professionals made a median salary of $103,590 in 2020. Cybersecurity roles are regularly ranked #1 jobs in the United States.

If you are looking to increase your earning potential, this course will put you on track for jobs that offer a salary of $75,000 to $150,000 per year. Why spend tens of thousands of dollars on degrees or theoretical certifications when you can develop in-demand practical skills in a shorter amount of time?

⚡ Enroll now with lifetime access for $450 →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MCSI Method™?

Common Questions

Are solutions included in certifications and bundles?
- No. Our method of teaching cyber security consists of challenging you with real-world problem statements that you're expected to research and solve by doing your own research. This is how you'll be expected to work in the field. When you fail an exercise, we provide you with constructive feedback to improve and try again.
Do bundles, training content, or certificates ever expire? Am I expected to buy again in the future?
- Upon purchase, bundles and certificates are permanently unlocked with no recurring or ongoing fees.
Do I need to buy the training and the certification separately?
- No. The price provided covers both. You only pay once.
Do you offer any special offers and discounts?
- We understand that many of our customers may be looking for discounts, and we would love to be able to offer them. However, we do not provide discounts because we believe that our prices are fair and reasonable. We work hard to keep our prices low, and we feel that discounts would be unfair to our other customers. We hope you understand.
If I can't solve the exercise where do I go for help?
- We have an online forum where you can ask questions and our team of professional instructors will help you out.
- Login/Register for MCSI's Online Forum
Who reviews and marks exercises?
- Trained cyber security instructors that work for Mossé Cyber Security Institute.
- MCSI instructors are highly qualified and experienced professionals who are able to teach a variety of topics related to information security. They have the ability to tailor their teaching methods to meet the needs of each student, regardless of their experience level. In addition, they are always up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in information security, which enables them to provide students with the most relevant and current information.
We can't pay via credit card. Can you raise an invoice for international wire payment instead?
- Yes. Send us the list of bundles and certifications you want to purchase at [email protected]
Can I access a trial/demo the certification programmes prior to enrolling?
- We provide a free curriculum with 100+ hours practical exercises you can try.
- The Free Curriculum teaches Security Tools, Penetration Testing, Red Teaming, Threat Hunting, Cyber Defence, GRC and Windows Internals.
- Try the Free Curriculum
Do you provide Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits?
- Yes. Every single exercise offers CPE credits. The number of credits earned depends on the difficulty of the exercise completed. Below are the CPE Credits achieve for an exercise in each difficulty:
- Novice exercises = 1 CPE credits
- Advanced Beginner exercises = 2 CPE credits
- Competent exercises = 5 CPE credits
- Proficient exercises= 8 CPE credits
- Beyond Proficient exercises = 16 CPE credits
Do I need to complete an exam to receive MCSI Certification?
- No. MCSI Certifications are completed by solving practical cybersecurity exercises.
Do I need to purchase cybersecurity tools or subscriptions?
- No. Only free or trial versions are used in our exercises. You do not require making any purchases.

More Kind Words from Students

⚡ Enroll now with lifetime access for $450 →

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

We'll respond within 24 hours

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for answers to the most common questions we receive.

Ready to learn hands-on cyber security skills online?

Try 100 hours for free