This Specialization takes cybersecurity practice to the next level. It is an advanced experience that builds upon the defensive skills and knowledge taught by the CyberSec First Responder® Specialization. It is an applied experience in that it almost entirely consists of hands-on exercises featuring many different tools and environments.
The "A" in CFR-A can also refer to the cybersecurity modes this Specialization is built around:
Attack: Simulating attacks on computing assets to test security measures and learn more about threat vectors.
Analyze: Identifying, detecting, and assessing threats to learn more about how they operate and how they affect security.
Address: Implementing countermeasures and other protections to mitigate the impact of threats to security.
Gaining the knowledge covered in the three courses in this Specialization and passing the final exam in the third course will qualify you for the CertNexus CFR-A credential.
Note: This Specialization requires that you use the provided virtual machines, which include all of the tools and system configurations needed to support the activity environment. The course setup instructions provided in the first course go into more detail about the hardware and software requirements.
Applied Learning Project
In each module, you will apply the advanced cybersecurity skills you learn by attacking and then defending multiple simulated business assets, including data, networks, and systems. You will save the evidence of your attacks in a reconnaissance spreadsheet, and you'll also retain evidence of your offensive and defensive actions within the virtual machines, all of which you can take with you once you've completed each course.
