Firewalls and VPN - Cyberpro Train

This course focuses on the essential roles of firewalls and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in securing network communications. Learners will explore how firewalls control traffic at network boundaries and how VPNs ensure secure data transmission over public or untrusted networks. The course includes practical implementations of perimeter security, basic VPN configuration, and the integration of these tools into resilient and secure infrastructures. The curriculum is organized into four packages that build from foundational knowledge to practical integration skills.

Main objectives

The main objectives of this course are to

• Understand the fundamental purpose and functionality of firewalls in network security.
• Learn the core principles behind firewall operation and traffic filtering.
• Study how VPNs provide secure remote access and encrypted communication.
• Implement perimeter security using firewalls and VPNs.
• Gain hands-on experience configuring basic VPN connections.
• Learn to integrate firewalls and VPNs into an overall network security strategy.
• Design more resilient and secure network infrastructures using these technologies.

Outcomes

Upon completion, participants will be able to

• Explain the operating principles and types of firewalls (e.g., packet-filtering, stateful, application-level).
• Configure firewall rules and settings to enforce perimeter security.
• Describe how VPNs operate, including tunneling protocols and encryption.
• Set up and manage basic VPN configurations for secure remote access.
• Assess the strengths and limitations of firewalls and VPNs in different network environments.
• Develop perimeter defense strategies using a combination of firewall and VPN solutions.
• Integrate firewall and VPN solutions into a secure, layered, and resilient network infrastructure.

Target

Professionals, including SME employees and Public Administration staff, looking to enhance their cybersecurity knowledge 

Dates

• 20 Jan 2026 – Italian (09:00 - 17:00) (GMT+1)
• 21 Jan 2026 – Greek (09:00 - 17:00) (GMT+2)
• 22 Jan 2026 – Spanish (09:00 - 17:00) (GMT+1)

Program

The program of the course contains tools

• To understand the operating principles of firewalls.
• To implement perimeter security measures
• To understand how VPNs work.
• Integrate firewalls and VPNs into a secure infrastructure

Additional resources (individual study)

• Firewalls & VPNs
• Vendor Official Documentation
• Fortinet Official Docs & Knowledge Base
• Fortinet NSE Training (Free Levels 1–2)
• Cisco ASA & Firewalls – Configuration Guides
• Palo Alto Networks TechDocs
• Security Architecture & Best Practices
• NIST SP 800-41 – Guidelines on Firewalls
• OWASP Cheat Sheet – Firewall & Proxy Security
• Gartner – SASE (Secure Access Service Edge)
• VPN Protocols & Encryption
• WireGuard Official Documentation
• Cisco – IPsec, IKEv1 & IKEv2
• Cloudflare – What Is a VPN?
• Labs & Simulations
• A Security Site – ASA VPN, ISAKMP, Crypto Maps Labs
• TryHackMe – VPN Fundamentals Lab
• Packet Tracer & GNS3 Labs (Firewall Rules / ACLs)