SEC540: Cloud Security and DevSecOps Automation

The GCSA certification covers cloud services and modern DevSecOps practices that are used to build and deploy systems and applications more securely. 

• Using cloud services with Secure DevOps principles, practices, and tools to build & deliver secure infrastructure and software
• Automating Configuration Management, Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, and Continuous Monitoring
• Use of open-source tools, the Amazon Web Services toolchain, and Azure services

The following are courses or equivalent experiences that are prerequisites for SEC540:

• SANS SEC488: Cloud Security Essentials or hands-on experience using the AWS and Azure Cloud
• Familiarity with Linux command shells and associated commands
• Basic understanding of common application attacks and vulnerabilities (e.g., OWASP Top 10)
• Hands-on experience using version control (git) and continuous integration systems (Jenkins) is recommended but not required

Preparing for SEC540

Students taking SEC540 will have the opportunity to learn and use a number of DevOps and cloud tools during the hands-on exercises. Getting a head start on the following tools, technologies, and languages will help students enjoy their lab experience:

• Running basic Git commands (clone, add, commit, push): https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/gitlab-basics/start-using-git.html
• Using GitLab for version control: https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/gitlab-basics/
• Jenkins Getting Started Guide: https://jenkins.io/doc/book/getting-started/
• YAML: https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/reference_appendices/YAMLSyntax.html
• AWS CloudFormation Templates (YAML & JSON): https://aws.amazon.com/cloudformation/aws-cloudformation-templates/
• Terraform HCL: https://www.terraform.io/docs/configuration/syntax.html
• Azure Pipelines: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines

!!! IMPORTANT NOTICE !!!

CRITICAL NOTE: Apple systems using the M1 processor cannot perform the necessary virtualization and cannot be used with the VM in this course. However, a cloud based VM can be provided if you have a M1 Mac..

1) MANDATORY CLOUD ACCOUNTS:

Students must bring their own AWS or Azure accounts to complete the course labs.

The SEC540 course labs come in both AWS and Azure versions. Students must choose one cloud provider at the beginning of class to use for the duration of the course. Students are welcome to do labs for both cloud providers on their own time once they finish the first set of labs.

Students selecting the AWS labs require an Amazon Web Services (AWS) account. The estimated AWS cost for running the AWS lab environment during a 5-day live event is approximately $20 per week. Costs are less for free-tier accounts.

Students selecting the Azure labs require a Microsoft Azure account and paid subscription. The estimated cost for running the Azure lab environment is approximately $100 per week. New Azure subscriptions may be eligible for a $200 credit for 30 days to help offset the cost.

OnDemand students:

• Students must create either an AWS account OR an Azure account prior to starting the course:
• Register a NEW AWS account prior to the start of the class at https://aws.amazon.com
• Register a NEW Azure account and paid subscription prior to the start of class at https://azure.microsoft.com

Live events (in-person or Live Online)

• Students are required to use a time-limited (duration of live class) SANS Managed AWS account that will be provided with the course materials.

• Students selecting the Azure labs or optional Azure bonus challenges must create an Azure account prior to the start of class

  • Register a NEW Azure account and paid subscription prior to the start of class at https://azure.microsoft.com

2) MANDATORY LAPTOP REQUIREMENT:

Students must bring their own system configured according to these instructions

A properly configured system is required to fully participate in this course. If you do not carefully read and follow these instructions, you will likely leave the class unsatisfied because you will not be able to participate in hands-on exercises that are essential to this course. Therefore, we strongly urge you to arrive with a system meeting all the requirements specified for the course.

Students must be in full control of the network running the VM. The VM communicates with several external services (AWS, Docker Hub, Terraform, Azure, etc.) over HTTPS, SSH, and other non-standard ports. Running the course virtual machine on a host with a VPN, intercepting proxy, or egress firewall filter may cause connection issues communicating with these services. Students must be able to configure or disable these services for the lab environment to function properly.

BRING YOUR OWN LAPTOP CONFIGURED USING THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS:

• A properly configured system is required for each student participating in this course. Before starting your course, carefully read and follow these instructions exactly:
• Host Operating System: Latest version of Windows 10, macOS 10.15.x or later, or Linux that also can install and run VMware virtualization products described below.
• Fully update your host operating system prior to the class to ensure you have the right drivers and patches installed to utilize the latest USB 3.0 devices.
• Those who use a Linux host must also be able to access exFAT partitions using the appropriate kernel or FUSE modules.
• Download and install 7-Zip (for Windows Hosts) or Keka (macOS). Without these extraction tools, you'll be unable to extract large archives we'll supply to you in class.
• Download and install either VMware Workstation Pro 15.5.x, VMware Player 15.5.x, or Fusion 11.5.x or higher versions before class.
• If you do not own a licensed copy of VMware Workstation or Fusion, you can download a free 30-day trial copy from VMware. VMware will send you a time-limited serial number if you register for the trial at its website.
• Other virtualization software, such as VirtualBox and Hyper-V, are not appropriate because of compatibility and troubleshooting problems you might encounter during class.
• VMware Workstation Pro and VMware Player on Windows 10 are not compatible with Windows 10 Credential Guard and Device Guard technologies. Please disable these capabilities for the duration of the class if they're enabled on your system by following instructions in this document.

Mandatory Host Hardware Requirements

• CPU: 64-bit 2.5+ GHz multi-core processor or higher
• BIOS/UEFI: VT-x, AMD-V, or the equivalent must be enabled in the BIOS/UEFI
• Hard Disk: Solid-State Drive (SSD) is MANDATORY with 50GB of free disk space minimum
• Memory: 16GB of RAM or higher is mandatory for this class (IMPORTANT! - 16GB of RAM is MANDATORY)
• Working USB 2.0 or higher port
• Wireless Ethernet 802.11 B/G/N/AC
• Local Administrator Access within your host operating system

Mandatory Host Operating System Requirements

You must use a 64-bit laptop with one of the following operating systems that have been verified to be compatible with course VMware image:

• Latest version of Windows 10, macOS 10.15.x or later, or Linux that also can install and run VMware virtualization products described below.

Mandatory Software Requirements

Prior to class, ensure that the following software is installed on the host operating system:

• VMware Workstation Pro 15.5.X+, VMware Player 15.5.X+, or Fusion 11.5+
• Zip File Utility (7Zip or the built-in operating system zip utility)

Cloud Virtual Machine (AWS AMI)

If your workstation or network does not meet the above requirements, please reach out to your instructor, TA, or OnDemand SME for access to the SEC540 Amazon Machine Image (AMI). After sharing the AMI, instructions will be provided for launching and connecting to the virtual machine over Remote Desktop (RDP). This option is required for students that cannot meet the laptop requirements.

IN SUMMARY

Before beginning the course you should:

• Have a laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD), 16GB of RAM, and a 64-bit operating system.
• Install VMware (Workstation or Fusion).
• Windows only: Verify that the BIOS settings have the Intel VT virtualization extensions enabled.
• Download the SEC540 Lab Setup Instructions and Course Media from your sans.org account.
• Register a NEW AWS account prior to the start of the class at https://aws.amazon.com
• Register a NEW Azure account and paid subscription prior to the start of class at https://azure.microsoft.com

After you have completed those steps, your course media will be delivered via download. The media files for class can be large, some in the 40 to 50 GB range. You need to allow plenty of time for the download to complete. Internet connections and speed vary greatly and are dependent on many different factors. Therefore, it is not possible to give an estimate of the length of time it will take to download your materials. Please start your course media downloads as you get the link. You will need your course media immediately on the first day of class. Waiting until the night before the class starts to begin your download has a high probability of failure.

SANS has begun providing printed materials in PDF form. Additionally, certain classes are using an electronic workbook in addition to the PDFs. The number of classes using eWorkbooks will increase quickly. In this new environment, we have found that a second monitor and/or a tablet device can be useful for keeping the class materials visible while the instructor is presenting or while you are working on lab exercises.

If you have additional questions about the laptop specifications, please contact laptop_prep@sans.org.

"DevOps and the cloud are radically changing the way that organizations design, build, deploy, and operate online systems. Leaders like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Netflix are able to deploy hundreds or even thousands of changes every day, continuously learning, improving, and growing - and leaving their competitors far behind. Now DevOps and the cloud are making their way from Internet 'Unicorns' and cloud providers into enterprises.

"Traditional approaches to security can't come close to keeping up with this rate of accelerated change. Engineering and operations teams that have broken down the "walls of confusion" in their organizations are increasingly leveraging new kinds of automation, including Infrastructure as Code, Continuous Delivery and Continuous Deployment, microservices, containers, and cloud service platforms. The question is: Can security take advantage of the tools and automation to better secure its systems?

"Security must be reinvented in a DevOps and cloud world."

- Eric Johnson, Ben Allen, and Frank Kim

"Great instructor, gave real life devops examples from his experience, and was very willing to demo extra concepts and commands on the fly (hashicorp terraform)." - Eden Kang