Cisco Secure Access Control System v5.x (ACS)

About This Course:

While the course will start off as a simple introduction to the Cisco Secure Access Control System, students will be taught how access to various components of the system can be controlled while maintaining security as the course progresses. The following major concepts will be covered in the course:

Authentication: Identification of the devices in the network or system to control user access

Authorization: Placing restrictions or limitations on the functions that users are allowed to perform within the network or system

Accounting: Tracking user activity for enhanced security

Students will also be introduced to multiple different protocols for authentication and security including Terminal Access Controller Access Control System Plus (TACACS+), Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS), IEEE 802.1X, and the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP).

In addition to theoretical explanations and hands on practice for the implementation of protocols for enhanced security, students of the Cisco Secure Access Control System course will also be introduced to configurations and methods that can be leveraged for targeted results. For more in-depth knowledge and practice, hands-on labs are included as part of the curriculum of the course allowing students to configure Cisco network devices and Cisco Secure Access Control System easily. The course also serves as preparation material for a number of Cisco Certification Trainings.

Cisco Certified Network Administrators earn an average of $84,000 annually.

Course Outline:

Upon completion, students of the Cisco Secure Access Control System course will be able to:

• Describe and effectively configure security and authentication protocols including TACACS+, EAP, IEEE 802.1X and RADIUS

• Weigh the pros and cons of different Access Control System solutions including ACS on VMware, Cisco Secure ACS – 1121, ACS Express, and Cisco Service ACCS – 1120.

• Describe the role of various Cisco Secure Access Control System components

• Install Cisco Secure ACS using a setup script

• Explain Cisco Secure ACS licensing

• Understand and describe the difference between value types, values, and attributes

• Understand the importance of user authentication, authorization, and accounting, and describe how identity stores work

• Effectively configure identity score sequences

• Understand the basics of Lightweight Direct Access Protocol and leverage the protocol for effective configuration of external identity stores

• Implement TACACS+ to perform various functions on Cisco Secure ACS

• Understand the different aspects of Cisco Secure ACS to monitor and troubleshoot problems

• Use a local certificate authority (CA) for the configuration and troubleshooting of digital certificates that Cisco Secure ACS self-signs

• Configure and troubleshoot IEEE 802.1X and EAP within Cisco Secure ACS environments

Audience:

This course has been designed for:

• Network administrators, architects, engineers, and security professionals who are in charge for user authentication and maintaining security within the network

• Partners of Cisco channels who are responsible for the implementation, maintenance, and selling of various solutions related to the Cisco Secure Access Control System

• Sales engineers of Cisco Secure Access Control Systems

Prerequisites:

• CCNA certification or understanding and experience with concepts covered in the Cisco certification training

• Operational knowledge and hands on experience with the Microsoft Windows operating system

• Having knowledge and experience with the Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security Cisco certification training is a plus.

Suggested prerequisite courses:

• CS-CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching Training Boot Camp v3.0 (CS-CCNA)

• Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security v3.0 (IINS)

• MS-MCSA-Windows10 MCSA: Windows 10 Boot Camp (MS-MCSA-Windows10)