Expert solutions for securing network infrastructures and VPNs

• Build security into the network by defining zones, implementing secure routing protocol designs, and building safe LAN switching environments

• Understand the inner workings of the Cisco PIX Firewall and analyze in-depth Cisco PIX Firewall and Cisco IOS Firewall features and concepts

• Understand what VPNs are and how they are implemented with protocols such as GRE, L2TP, and IPSec

• Gain a packet-level understanding of the IPSec suite of protocols, its associated encryption and hashing functions, and authentication techniques

• Learn how network attacks can be categorized and how the Cisco IDS is designed and can be set upto protect against them

• Control network access by learning how AAA fits into the Cisco security model and by implementing RADIUS and TACACS+ protocols

• Provision service provider security using ACLs, NBAR, and CAR to identify and control attacks

• Identify and resolve common implementation failures by evaluating real-world troubleshooting scenarios

As organizations increase their dependence on networks for core business processes and increase access to remote sites and mobile workers via virtual private networks (VPNs), network security becomes more and more critical. In today's networked era, information is an organization's most valuable resource. Lack of customer, partner, and employee access to e-commerce and data servers can impact both revenue and productivity. Even so, most networks do not have the proper degree of security. Network Security Principles and Practices provides an in-depth understanding of the policies, products, and expertise that brings organization to this extremely complex topic and boosts your confidence in the performance and integrity of your network systems and services. Written by a CCIE engineer who participated in the development of the CCIE Security exams, Network Security Principles and Practices is the first book that provides a comprehensive review of topics important to achieving CCIE Security certification.

Network Security Principles and Practices is a comprehensive guide to network security threats and the policies and tools developed specifically to combat those threats. Taking a practical, applied approach to building security into networks, the book shows you how to build secure network architectures from the ground up. Security aspects of routing protocols, Layer 2 threats, and switch security features are all analyzed. A comprehensive treatment of VPNs and IPSec is presented in extensive packet-by-packet detail. The book takes a behind-the-scenes look at how the Cisco PIX(r) Firewall actually works, presenting many difficult-to-understand and new Cisco PIX Firewall and Cisco IOS® Firewall concepts. The book launches into a discussion of intrusion detection systems (IDS) by analyzing and breaking down modern-day network attacks, describing how an IDS deals with those threats in general, and elaborating on the Cisco implementation of IDS. The book also discusses AAA, RADIUS, and TACACS+ and their usage with some of the newer security implementations such as VPNs and proxy authentication. A complete section devoted to service provider techniques for enhancing customer security and providing support in the event of an attack is also included. Finally, the book concludes with a section dedicated to discussing tried-and-tested troubleshooting tools and techniques that are not only invaluable to candidates working toward their CCIE Security lab exam but also to the security network administrator running the operations of a network on a daily basis.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 17 Ratings

A must read for Cisco Security Certifications - 2005-04-26
Reviewer Rating:
This is one of the first books I read for anyone preparing for CCIE Security. I found this book to be very comprehensive in its approach. The author has combined all the network security technologies in one book and now this is tough. It starts with an Introduction and then builds on that. It covers the whole nine yards VPN's Firewalls, IDS, Access Control. The Troubleshooting part of the book is very helpul to working professionals as it starts with troubleshooting NAT and then covers everything from Firewalls (PIX and IOS), VPN's, IDS and AAA. A lot of issues can be resolved just using this part of the book. I recommend this book as it will surely help everyone looking for everthing about security. This book is a must read for professionals pursuing the CCSP and CCIE Security Certifications.
Niloufer Tamboly, CISSP

To be added to your 'essentials' list of books - 2005-06-09
Reviewer Rating:
Very, VERY good. The IPSec chapter alone is worth the book, and the AAA chapters are _great_. Saadat has been able to explain in a great technical level and very clearly subjects which you're going to find in your day to day work - if working with Cisco and security. But not only that: chapters about IPSec, RADIUS, TACACS, are of value even if you do not use Cisco gear.

Missing from the book: a better chapter on NAT, PPTP. Saadat should write the 2nd edition adding those two topics, updating the IDS section, IPSec (including NAT-T), maybe add a little something about SSL VPNs, PIX 7.0 ? The section on ISP security could also benefit from a refresher (CoPP, uRPF?)

4.5 starts because it shows it age - otherwise, 5 stars for sure.

Great book to learn Cisco's implementation of IPSec - not just for CCIEs - 2006-02-03
Reviewer Rating:
CiscoPress's "Network Security Principles and Practices" by Malik is truly an awesome work. The book weighs in at over 750 pages, and not a page is wasted. The book is split up over multiple sections (Intro to Network Security, Building Security into the Network, Firewalls, VPNs, IDS, AAA and ISP Security). I have found this book of value as I pursue my CCIE Routing & Switchng lab and to better enhance my basic understanding of Cisco's vision towards network security. I also used this book to prepare for my CCSP and CISSP studies.

Practically on every page is either a diagram or detailed configuration explaining the subject at hand. In particular, the configuration examples are extremely helpful as the configs, themselves, are appended with detailed notes of their syntax. Chapter 13, IPSec, is probably the best one-chapter discussion on Cisco's implementation of IPSec and VPN I have found anywhere (and I have over 50 CiscoPress books). Another testament to it's superb level of expertise is the few and far between typos or errors that I have found.

One item to note - you will need to block off a few weeks (or months) to fully understand and appreciate the value of this book. I reference this book often, as I find information in this book I cannot find documented or presented the same way in other books.

I give this book 5 pings out of 5:
!!!!!

Lucid, clear, and useful - 2005-08-19
Reviewer Rating:
Very clear explanations of the core security technologies. The author doesn't shy away from the hard subjects, and makes them quite accessible. The IPSec chapter is the best explanation of the subject I have seen anywhere.

I used this book to pass the CCIE security written exam, and highly recommend it. It is also a very good reference for practicing consultants and network security architects.

Best ever book from Cisco - 2004-09-18
Reviewer Rating:
Not only for exam preparation, this book is for every Cisco lover. Covers a lot of stuff, took me over 2 months to finish but I feel way more knowledgeable now.

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