Certified Network Defender (C|ND)

Course Overview

Strengthen your network defence skills with the Certified Network Defender (C|ND) course. This program equips IT professionals with the expertise to protect, detect, respond, and predict cyber threats in enterprise environments. Designed by EC-Council, the course provides hands-on training and real-world simulations to help you secure, monitor, and defend networks against modern cyber threats.

The C|ND course follows a defence-in-depth approach, covering network security controls, protocols, risk mitigation strategies, and incident response techniques. You will learn how to proactively identify and remediate security vulnerabilities across various network infrastructures. Aligned with industry standards such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), this course ensures that learners gain globally recognised, practical cyber security skills.

Who is this course for?

This course is ideal for professionals working in network security and cyber defence, including:

• IT professionals specialising in network security
• Network administrators
• Security analysts
• Cyber security professionals
• IT managers
• Anyone interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills in network security and defence

Benefits of the Course

• Industry-Aligned Training – Learn real-world network defence techniques based on NIST CSF and industry best practices.
• Hands-on Experience – Gain practical skills through 100+ labs on live machines.
• Comprehensive Learning – Develop expertise in threat protection, detection, response, and predictive security.
• Certification Readiness – Fully prepares you for the C|ND certification exam to validate your network security expertise.
• Career Growth – Stand out in the job market with a globally recognised certification.

What you need to know

The Certified Network Defender (C|ND) course is designed to provide hands-on training in network security, risk assessment, and threat mitigation. This program aligns with global security education frameworks, including the National Infocomm Competency Framework (NICF) and the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE). Additionally, it maps to Department of Defense (DoD) job roles, making it a globally recognised certification for system and network administrators looking to enhance their security expertise.

What You'll Learn

Throughout this course, you will gain practical skills in network defence strategies, incident response, and security operations, including:

• Managing network security across enterprise environments
• Implementing network security policies and best practices
• Administering security controls for Windows and Linux systems
• Securing mobile and IoT devices against cyber threats
• Applying data security techniques to protect sensitive information
• Strengthening security in virtualisation environments
• Protecting cloud and wireless networks from attacks
• Utilising risk assessment tools for vulnerability management
• Understanding incident response, forensics, and first response techniques
• Identifying Indicators of Compromise (IoC), Attack (IoA), and Exposure (IoE)
• Leveraging threat intelligence to predict and prevent cyber attacks
• Managing and analysing logs for security monitoring
• Enhancing endpoint security through advanced defence mechanisms
• Implementing firewall solutions for network protection
• Deploying IDS/IPS technologies to detect and prevent intrusions
• Utilising Network Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) protocols for access control

Course Delivery

Online, Self-Paced Learning – Study at your own pace with flexible, on-demand training that fits your schedule.

Course Duration

5 Days (40 Hours Recommended Study Time) – A structured program covering all aspects of network defence.

About the Exam

To achieve the Certified Network Defender (C|ND) certification, candidates must pass the official C|ND exam, which assesses their ability to protect, detect, respond to, and predict cyber threats within a network environment.

Exam Details

• Exam Title: Certified Network Defender (C|ND)
• Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions
• Number of Questions: 100
• Test Duration: 4 hours
• Passing Score: 60% to 85% (varies based on the exam form)
• Exam Availability: EC-Council Exam Portal

This exam validates your knowledge of network security best practices, risk mitigation strategies, incident response, and defensive measures. Upon passing, candidates earn the C|ND certification, a globally recognised credential in network security defence.

Course Structure

The Certified Network Defender (C|ND) course comprises 20 comprehensive modules, each focusing on critical aspects of network security and defense. Below is the list of modules:

• Network Attacks and Defense Strategies
• Administrative Network Security
• Technical Network Security
• Network Perimeter Security
• Endpoint Security – Windows Systems
• Endpoint Security – Linux Systems
• Endpoint Security – Mobile Devices
• Endpoint Security – IoT Devices
• Administrative Application Security
• Data Security
• Enterprise Virtual Network Security
• Enterprise Cloud Network Security
• Enterprise Wireless Network Security
• Network Traffic Monitoring and Analysis
• Network Logs Monitoring and Analysis
• Incident Response and Forensic Investigation
• Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
• Risk Anticipation with Risk Management
• Threat Assessment with Attack Surface Analysis
• Threat Prediction with Cyber Threat Intelligence