A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering CIS Controls for Principal Network Engineers in Regulated Environments
Build auditable, regulator-ready network hardening patterns that elevate peer trust and accelerate review cycles
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Technical escalations still funnel through compliance or security teams, your expertise gets diluted in translation
The situation this course is for
Despite deep technical ownership, network decisions are second-guessed during audits or M&A integrations because evidence isn’t structured to travel. Ad-hoc documentation leads to repeated requests, delayed sign-offs, and missed opportunities to demonstrate control authority.
Who this is for
Principal Network Engineers in regulated tech firms who own critical infrastructure decisions but lack formal control articulation frameworks
Who this is not for
Entry-level engineers, non-technical compliance staff, or consultants without production network oversight
What you walk away with
- Produce network control documentation that passes review without revision cycles
- Become the default escalation point for integration teams during M&A activity
- Structure evidence flows so security and audit teams pull from you, not push to you
- Deploy CIS-aligned network baselines that gain rapid approval in regulated environments
- Build a reusable library of regulator-ready network configurations
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. CIS Controls v8 and Network Infrastructure
Ground your network design in the latest CIS benchmark updates with focus on network device hardening, secure access controls, and audit logging requirements.
12 chapters in this module
- Understanding CIS Controls structure and control families
- Mapping CIS Control 14 to router and switch configuration
- Inventorying network assets for continuous compliance
- Securing network device access with role-based policies
- Enforcing multi-factor authentication for network management
- Standardizing secure configuration baselines across vendors
- Implementing automated device configuration validation
- Hardening SSH and TLS protocols on network infrastructure
- Managing firmware updates in compliance with CIS 4.12
- Documenting network device inventory for audit trails
- Integrating network logs with centralized monitoring systems
- Benchmarking current network posture against CIS Level 1
Module 2. Network Design for Auditability
Design network architectures with built-in audit evidence generation to reduce manual data collection during compliance reviews.
12 chapters in this module
- Embedding evidence capture into network change workflows
- Designing network segmentation with compliance zones
- Documenting network topology for auditor consumption
- Creating network diagrams that support control narratives
- Labeling VLANs and subnets for regulatory tracking
- Automating network configuration backups for versioning
- Tagging devices for asset classification and ownership
- Integrating network data with compliance management tools
- Generating network evidence on demand for reviews
- Aligning network zoning with data classification levels
- Building network runbooks for audit validation
- Maintaining network documentation as a living system
Module 3. Securing Hybrid Cloud Networking
Extend CIS Controls to hybrid environments with focus on consistent policy enforcement across on-prem and cloud networks.
12 chapters in this module
- Mapping CIS Controls to cloud provider networking models
- Securing VPCs and VNets with CIS-aligned rulesets
- Establishing secure connectivity between cloud and on-prem
- Hardening cloud network gateways and firewalls
- Enforcing consistent DNS and DHCP policies
- Controlling east-west traffic in cloud environments
- Securing API gateways and service mesh endpoints
- Implementing cloud network logging and monitoring
- Auditing cloud network configurations for drift
- Integrating cloud network controls with on-prem policies
- Managing hybrid network identity and access
- Documenting hybrid network compliance posture
Module 4. Network Access Control Implementation
Implement strict network access policies that align with CIS Controls 12 and 13 for user and device authentication.
12 chapters in this module
- Designing network access control with 802.1X
- Implementing RADIUS servers for device authentication
- Configuring NAC policies for wired and wireless access
- Integrating endpoint compliance checks with NAC
- Enforcing device posture assessment at network entry
- Managing guest network access securely
- Segmenting IoT devices from corporate networks
- Applying time-based access restrictions
- Maintaining NAC logs for compliance audits
- Updating NAC policies during organizational changes
- Testing failover and redundancy in NAC systems
- Documenting NAC architecture for peer review
Module 5. Network Monitoring and Logging
Deploy comprehensive network monitoring aligned with CIS Controls 6 and 8 to detect anomalies and support forensic investigations.
12 chapters in this module
- Configuring network devices for syslog export
- Centralizing network logs in SIEM platforms
- Setting up real-time alerting for network anomalies
- Establishing baseline network traffic patterns
- Monitoring for unauthorized network connections
- Detecting network device configuration changes
- Logging network access attempts and failures
- Integrating NetFlow with security monitoring tools
- Maintaining log retention for compliance periods
- Generating network activity reports for audit
- Correlating network events with user activity
- Documenting network monitoring architecture
Module 6. Firewall and Router Hardening
Apply CIS benchmark recommendations to secure firewalls and routers against configuration drift and unauthorized access.
12 chapters in this module
- Disabling unused services on network devices
- Securing console and management interfaces
- Implementing secure boot and integrity checks
- Applying CIS-recommended firewall rule structures
- Minimizing firewall rule complexity
- Enforcing change control for firewall configurations
- Regularly auditing firewall rule sets
- Hardening router OSPF and BGP configurations
- Securing SNMP configurations and access
- Managing firmware and software updates securely
- Documenting firewall and router configurations
- Testing failover with hardened configurations
Module 7. Network Segmentation Strategies
Design and implement network segmentation that limits lateral movement and supports regulatory data isolation requirements.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying critical data flows for segmentation
- Designing zero-trust network zones
- Implementing micro-segmentation in data centers
- Securing east-west traffic between segments
- Applying firewall policies to enforce segmentation
- Documenting segmentation boundaries for audit
- Testing segmentation effectiveness with scans
- Managing segmentation policies during change
- Integrating segmentation with identity systems
- Monitoring for unauthorized cross-segment traffic
- Updating segmentation as business needs evolve
- Building segmentation runbooks for operations
Module 8. Wireless Network Security
Secure wireless networks in compliance with CIS Controls for authentication, encryption, and access control.
12 chapters in this module
- Implementing WPA3 encryption for wireless networks
- Securing wireless controller management interfaces
- Configuring separate SSIDs for different user types
- Enforcing 802.1X authentication for wireless access
- Isolating guest wireless networks
- Monitoring for rogue access points
- Applying wireless intrusion detection systems
- Hardening wireless access point configurations
- Managing wireless certificate lifecycles
- Auditing wireless network configurations
- Documenting wireless security policies
- Testing wireless network resilience under load
Module 9. Network Change Management
Integrate network change workflows with compliance requirements to maintain control integrity during updates.
12 chapters in this module
- Establishing network change approval processes
- Documenting changes before implementation
- Testing network changes in isolated environments
- Scheduling changes during maintenance windows
- Validating changes with automated checks
- Rolling back failed network changes safely
- Integrating change management with ITSM tools
- Auditing change records for compliance
- Communicating changes to stakeholders
- Managing emergency change procedures
- Training teams on change management policies
- Reviewing change effectiveness post-implementation
Module 10. Incident Response Preparation
Prepare network systems for incident response with pre-configured detection, isolation, and evidence collection capabilities.
12 chapters in this module
- Designing network layouts for rapid containment
- Configuring network taps for forensic capture
- Establishing isolated VLANs for incident analysis
- Preparing network device backups for recovery
- Documenting network response playbooks
- Testing incident response with network simulations
- Integrating network data with SOAR platforms
- Maintaining chain of custody for network evidence
- Coordinating with security teams during incidents
- Preserving network logs during investigations
- Reviewing post-incident network improvements
- Updating incident playbooks based on lessons learned
Module 11. Vendor and Third-Party Risk
Manage network security risks associated with third-party access and managed service providers.
12 chapters in this module
- Assessing third-party network access requirements
- Establishing vendor network access policies
- Monitoring third-party network activity
- Enforcing least privilege for vendor access
- Auditing vendor network configurations
- Managing vendor-provided network devices
- Validating vendor compliance with CIS Controls
- Documenting third-party network interfaces
- Establishing SLAs for network support
- Conducting vendor security assessments
- Terminating vendor network access securely
- Reviewing third-party risk annually
Module 12. Continuous Network Compliance
Maintain ongoing compliance through automated monitoring, regular assessments, and continuous improvement processes.
12 chapters in this module
- Implementing automated network compliance checks
- Scheduling regular network vulnerability scans
- Generating compliance status dashboards
- Integrating network data with GRC platforms
- Conducting internal network audits
- Preparing for external compliance assessments
- Updating network controls based on new threats
- Benchmarking against industry standards
- Training teams on network compliance requirements
- Documenting compliance improvements
- Establishing network compliance metrics
- Reviewing network posture quarterly
How this maps to your situation
- During M&A integration cycles
- When regulator reviews are announced
- Before annual network audit cycles
- After security incident investigations
Before vs. after
Before
Network configurations are reactive, scattered, and require rework during compliance reviews or integration events.
After
You produce regulator-ready network designs that preempt escalations and position you as the trusted source during technical due diligence.
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: 90 minutes per week over 8 weeks, designed for senior practitioners balancing production responsibilities.
If nothing changes
Without structured control articulation, even robust network designs get second-guessed during audits or M&A integration , leading to delayed decisions, repeated evidence requests, and lost influence in technical leadership discussions.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic security frameworks, this course delivers network-specific control implementation patterns used by firms that pass regulator reviews on first submission , with templates tailored to principal-level engineering workflows.
Frequently asked
Is this course focused on a specific network vendor?
No , the course is platform-agnostic and focuses on control implementation patterns applicable across Cisco, Juniper, Arista, and cloud networking platforms.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will this help with upcoming audit cycles?
Yes , you’ll build reusable evidence packages that reduce pre-audit workload and increase confidence during examiner interviews.
$199 one-time. 90 minutes per week over 8 weeks, designed for senior practitioners balancing production responsibilities..
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours