Network Security Essentials Exam
The Network Security Essentials exam assesses a candidate’s understanding of basic networking concepts as well as their ability to operate, setup, and monitor a WatchGuard Firebox. This test is also appropriate for network administrators who are familiar with setting and maintaining Firebox devices that run Fireware v12.4.
Key Concepts of Network Security Essentials exam
To powerfully complete the Network Security Essentials exam, the candidate must comprehend the following key concepts:
1. Fireware Knowledge
- Firebox activation and initial setup
- Network configuration
- Policy and proxy configuration
- Subscription services configuration
- User authentication
- Device monitoring, logging, and reporting
- Branch office and mobile VPN configuration
2. General Network and Security Knowledge
- IPv4 networking concepts (subnets, DNS, TCP/IP, DHCP, NAT, static routing)
- General understanding of firewalls
Test environment:
- This is a proctored online exam with two testing locations: Kryterion testing facility n Online, with virtual proctoring through a webcam that has been authorised
Prerequisites
- For this particular exam, there are no prerequisites as such. However, the Network Security video course or instructor-led course is recommended, but not demanded.
Basic Details
- The Basic Security Suite for network security covers all the traditional network security settings typical to a UTM appliance:
- Gateway AntiVirus, application control, Intrusion Prevention Service, URL filtering, spam blocking, and reputation lookup.
- Also, it also includes centralized management and network visibility capabilities.
- For the WatchGuard Network Security Essentials questions, there will be 70 multiple-choice and multiple-selection, true/false, and matching questions.
- And, the passing score for the exam is 75%.
WatchGuard unique access to network security concentrates on bringing best-in-class, enterprise-grade security to any business, notwithstanding of size or technical expertise. Ideal for SMBs and disseminated enterprise organizations, their award-winning Unified Threat Management (UTM) devices are created from the ground up to concentrate on ease of deployment, management, and ongoing administration, in addition to providing the strongest security achievable.
Check: Network Security Essentials Interview Questions
Course Outline: Network Security Essentials
The Network Security Essentials exam assesses a candidate’s knowledge of the levels listed below. Furthermore, the Weight column represents the approximate percentage of exam questions from each knowledge topic reviewed in the Network Security Essentials exam. The weights do not perfectly match the percentage of exam questions since atypical exam questions demand skills or knowledge from many categories. The following topics are covered in the WatchGuard Network Security Essentials test course outline:
1. Network and Network Security Basics (10%)
- IPv4 addresses, subnetting and routing (WatchGuard Documentation: Use a 31-bit or 32-bit Subnet Mask, Understanding IPv4 Subnetting (Part 1), IPv4 Subnetting (Part 2))
- The Network Address Translation (WatchGuard Documentation: Network Address Translation (NAT)
- Then, packet headers (TCP, IP, HTTP) (WatchGuard Documentation: HTTP Request: Header Fields, Firebox Configuration Best Practices)
- The MAC addresses (WatchGuard Documentation: Wireless MAC Address of a Trusted Access Point)
- Network services, ports, and protocols (WatchGuard Documentation: About Ports, Firewall Settings)
2. Administration and Setup (10%)
- Firebox default policies and network settings (WatchGuard Documentation: Factory-Default Settings, Setup Wizard Default Policies, and Settings, Firebox Configuration Best Practices)
- The Fireware Web Setup Wizard (WatchGuard Documentation: Run the Web Setup Wizard)
- Feature keys (WatchGuard Documentation: About Feature Keys)
- Firebox backup and restore (WatchGuard Documentation: Firebox Backup and Restore)
- Configuration file migration (WatchGuard Documentation: Move a Configuration to a New Firebox, Firebox Upgrade, Downgrade, and Migration)
- Default threat protection (WatchGuard Documentation: About Default Threat Protection)
3. Monitoring, Logging, and Reporting (15%)
- Tools to monitor Firebox status and activity (WatchGuard Documentation: Monitor your Firebox with Fireware Web UI)
- Diagnostic tools in Firebox System Manager (WatchGuard Documentation: Run Diagnostic Tasks on Your Firebox)
- Firebox logging to Dimension or WatchGuard Cloud (WatchGuard Documentation: Enable Logging for Firebox Cloud)
- Firebox log messages (WatchGuard Documentation: View Log Messages (Dimension), Read a Log Message)
- Logging settings (WatchGuard Documentation: Set Up Logging to a WSM Log Server, Configure Logging Settings)
4. Networking and NAT (25%)
- Network interface types, security zones, and settings (WatchGuard Documentation: Network Modes and Interfaces, Configure a Custom Interface)
- WINS/DNS (WatchGuard Documentation: Configure Network DNS and WINS Servers, About DNS on the Firebox)
- Routing and static routes (WatchGuard Documentation: Routes and Routing)
- NAT types and configuration (WatchGuard Documentation: Network Address Translation (NAT), Configure Firewall 1-to-1 NAT)
- DHCP (WatchGuard Documentation: Configure an IPv4 DHCP Server)
- VLANs (WatchGuard Documentation: Define a New VLAN)
- Multi-WAN and SD-WAN actions (WatchGuard Documentation: Multi-WAN and SD-WAN)
5. Policies, Proxies, and Security Services (25%)
- Packet filter policies and proxy policies (WatchGuard Documentation: About Policies)
- Policy precedence (WatchGuard Documentation: About Policy Precedence)
- HTTP proxy (WatchGuard Documentation: About the HTTP-Proxy)
- HTTPS proxy content inspection (WatchGuard Documentation: HTTPS-Proxy: Content Inspection, HTTP Content Action, and Domain Name Rule Examples)
- Content actions and domain name rules (WatchGuard Documentation: HTTPS-Proxy: Domain Name Rules)
- Firmware subscription security services (WatchGuard Documentation: WatchGuard Security Services, About Subscription Services)
6. Authentication and VPNs (15%)
- Authentication servers (WatchGuard Documentation: Authentication Server Types)
- Users and groups in policies (WatchGuard Documentation: Use Users and Groups in Policies)
- Firebox authentication portal (WatchGuard Documentation: User Authentication Steps, Firewall Authentication)
- Mobile VPN routing options and protocols (WatchGuard Documentation: Select a Mobile VPN Type, Configure VPN Routes)
- Branch Office VPN gateways and tunnel routes (WatchGuard Documentation: Configure Manual Branch Office VPN Tunnel Switching, Add Routes for a Tunnel)
- Branch Office VPN and NAT (WatchGuard Documentation: Configure 1-to-1 NAT Through a Branch Office VPN Tunnel, Configure Outgoing Dynamic NAT)
- The BOVPN virtual interfaces (WatchGuard Documentation: About BOVPN Virtual Interfaces, Configure a BOVPN Virtual Interface)
Exam Policies
While preparing for the Network Security Essentials exam you will be solely responsible for understanding and complying with WatchGuardCertification exam policies, together with the specified exam delivery provider’s policies and procedures.
Also, you can go through the Exam Retake Policy together with other WatchGuard exams available and exam testing procedures. The exam policy page provides details of the exam provider’s policies and procedures together with the exam provider’s details. Note, you will have 30 days after taking an exam to challenge your exam score for that exam.
For more Queries, Visit the Network Security Essentials FAQ Page.
A Comprehensive Guide to all Learning Resources
There is no doubt that the moment we start preparing for any examination, we’re stuck between the two important questions. These include- which topic is the most important one and where to get all the reliable information. So, our main goal is to provide with such learning resources that you’re certified in the very first attempt. And, we promise you that if you work according to the given preparatory guide. Then, you becoming certified is certain.
However., the followings are the step that a candidate needs to follow in order to pass the Network Security Essentials exam.
1. Review all the Exam Objectives
The moment you begin your preparation for the Network Security Essentials exam, the first thing one must do is to visit the WatchGuard’s official Website. In addition, make sure to review all the exam objectives. Reviewing all the exam objectives will help you configure more about the examination and will definitely make you confident. Since this step constitutes the whole foundation of the exam preparation. So, remember to go through with the most trusted the website first and then move on to other learning resources.
2. Get handy with Official Blue Print
Your next step in the preparatory guide is to go through the official Blue Print for the Network Security Essentials exam. You can download the official Blue Print from the WatchGuard’s official website. The WatchGuard Network Security Essentials study guide is the perfect tool to grasp the exam details beforehand. Although we have mentioned the domains in the course outline for making it quite easy, we are mentioning the objectives below:
- Network and network security basics (10%)
- Administration and setup (10%)
- Monitoring, logging and reporting (15%)
- Networking and NAT (25%)
- Policies, proxies, and security services (25%)
- Authentication and VPNs (15%)
3. Instructor-Led Training
This particular course offers all the skills you need to gain in order to qualify the examination. A certification is incomplete without training. Even the Network Security Essentials certification preparatory guide highlights the importance of Training. To get hands-on experience, we recommend that you begin with an instructor-led WatchGuard Network Security Essentials training class. Classes are often held in-region, sponsored by sales or a local WatchGuard distributor.
End-users of WatchGuard can also sign up for a class through our network of WatchGuard Certified Training Partners (WCTPs). n Partners — Click here to sign up for training (login required) n End-users – Visit the WatchGuard website to see the current WCTP training program.
4. Self-Study Course (Video)
WatchGuard offers video-based courseware that you can use for self-study, or to reinforce instructor-led training. To prepare for this exam, review the Network Security Essentials course.
5. Other Resources
- Online Help
- The Online Help systems provided for the various WatchGuard Fireware management tools include detailed information to expand on the principles presented in the Network Security Essentials training courseware. We propose that you explore the associated information in the appropriate Help system for the knowledge areas listed in the Assessment Objectives section. The WatchGuard Help Center has information about Fireware.
- Configuration Examples
- The information you need to customise your Firebox to fulfil unique business objectives is provided through Fireware configuration samples. We give reference configuration files for each use case so you can examine the final setup of the features involved.
- A handbook is also included to go through the specifics of each arrangement. These setup examples can be used to help you learn more about Fireware and how it relates to the knowledge areas listed in the Assessment Objectives section. You can find the Configuration Examples on the WatchGuard website documentation pages: Configuration Examples
6. Read a Book Mate
Books are always a good learning resource to gain knowledge. So, never try to limit your knowledge. Therefore, we highly recommend the following WatchGuard Network Security Essentials exan guide books-
- Network Security Essentials: Applications and Standards by William Stallings
- Network Security: Private Communication in a Public World by Chalie Kauffman
7. Join the Community
Online forums and study groups are a great way to prepare for the WatchGuard Network Security Essentials certification exam. Therefore, feel free to get in touch with other candidates through study forums or online groups to ask a question related to the topic you’re having difficulty with. However, it’s not something you have to join. It’s just something very subjective. Not to mention, these online groups help you stay equated with the other people who are also walking through the same path as yours. Moreover, you can also ask a question related to the topic you’re having difficulty with.
8. Practice Tests
And, finally, it’s time for practice sessions. Take it from us, Self Evaluation is the only step you need in the end. The more you’re going to use the WatchGuard Network Security Essentials practice exam tests, it’s better for you. Not only does it helps you understand the areas where you lack but also, ensures you’re strengthening your skills as well. So, go through as many WatchGuard Network Security Essentials practice tests as you can. FOR MORE PRACTICE TEST, CLICK HERE!