Cybersecurity Essentials
COURSE OVERVIEW
🔐 Learn to Defend, Detect, and Understand the Digital Battlefield
In an interconnected world where critical services, healthcare, and enterprise commerce depend entirely on resilient networks, cybersecurity has become the foundational pillar of organizational trust.
Cybersecurity Essentials Using Windows & Linux is an intensive 8-week, hands-on training program engineered to bridge the gap between core computer concepts and active security operations.
Whether you are a newcomer to Canada building in-demand vocational credentials, an IT professional upgrading your technical stack, or a motivated career changer taking your first steps into tech, this course demystifies the digital threat landscape.
Through plain-language instruction, empathetic coaching, and psychologically safe classroom environments, you will move from tech intimidation to practical defensive confidence. Guided by experienced industry practitioners, you will explore both sides of the cyber equation, understanding how adversaries identify vulnerabilities and mastering how security analysts protect enterprise infrastructure. Rather than memorizing abstract theories, you will spend time learning the theory and the rest of the session in guided virtual labs: sniffing live traffic in Wireshark, auditing Windows Event Viewer logs, probing network perimeters with Nmap, and configuring defensive firewalls across Windows 11 and Parrot Linux. You will culminate your journey by designing and securing an end-to-end Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) network, publishing your audit-ready security blueprint to a live GitHub Portfolio that demonstrates verified, job-ready capabilities to Canadian employers.
Whether you’re changing careers, upgrading your IT skills, or exploring cybersecurity for the first time, this course gives you real tools, real labs, and real confidence.
🧰 HANDS-ON LABS AND TOOLS
You’ll learn by doing in a guided, instructor-led environment.
All labs use pre-configured virtual machines and cloud-based practice environments.
🧰 Master Tools and Laboratory Environments
Cisco Packet Tracer: Build and simulate network topologies, configure routers and switches, design subnets, and visualize packet flow across networks.
Windows 11 Virtual Machine: Explore essential security features including Windows Defender, Event Viewer, User Account Control (UAC), and system service auditing.
Parrot Security Linux Virtual Machine: Develop Linux administration skills through command-line navigation, file permission management (chmod/chown), and hands-on use of security-focused tools.
Wireshark: Capture and analyze network traffic, inspect TCP/IP communications, and compare secure versus non-secure web protocols (HTTPS vs. HTTP).
Nmap & Zenmap: Perform network discovery, service enumeration, port scanning, vulnerability assessment, and network mapping.
OpenVAS & Wazuh SIEM: Conduct enterprise-grade vulnerability assessments and gain experience with centralized security monitoring and log management.
VirusTotal & URLScan.io: Safely investigate suspicious files, URLs, and hashes using cloud-based threat intelligence platforms.
🧠 Capstone Project
In your final project, you’ll come up with a business concept (including what problem they solve, and the solution they provide) and then design and secure their Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) network. You will publish your results as a professional GitHub Portfolio—a tangible showcase of your skills and business understanding for employers.
🚀 Career Pathways
Graduates are prepared for entry-level roles such as:
Cybersecurity Technician: Frontline network defense, hardware triage, and end-user access control.
• SOC Analyst (Tier 1): Log monitoring, alert investigation, and incident triage in security operations.
• Risk & Compliance Assistant: Auditing compliance against PIPEDA, PHIPA, and organizational security policies.
• IT Support -> Cyber Transition: Level 1/2 helpdesk specialists leveling up into dedicated security positions.
🧩 Why Study with Skills for Change?
Employer-Focused Curriculum: Built from real-world frameworks used by security operations teams.
Guided by Experts: Taught by instructors and practitioners
Portfolio-Based Learning: Leave with proof of skill—not just a certificate.
Accessible for All: Friendly delivery, clear visuals, and step-by-step labs.
📅 Enroll in the Next Cohort
Seats are limited.
Join us and learn how to think, act, and operate like a cybersecurity professional.
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🗓️ Course Format
Duration: 8 Weeks
Delivery Mode: Virtual - Instructor-Led with Virtual Labs
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
8-WEEK COURSE SYLLABUS WITH INTEGRATED TOOLS
WEEK 1: Cybersecurity Foundations & Password Defense
• Core Concepts: CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability), threat actors, attack surfaces, and newcomer digital scam defense.
• Tools & Software: Bitwarden/KeePass, HaveIBeenPwned, 2FA/MFA Authenticators, Web Browser.
• Hands-on Labs: Lab 1.1: Multi-Factor Authentication & Vault Setup; Lab 1.2: Phishing Header & Domain Spoofing Analysis.
WEEK 2: Networking Basics, Traffic Analysis & Packet Flow
• Core Concepts: IP addresses (IPv4/v6), MAC addresses, ports, DNS/DHCP, Wi-Fi vulnerabilities, and VPN tunnels.
• Tools & Software: Cisco Packet Tracer, Wireshark, CLI (ping, traceroute, nslookup, netstat, arp).
• Hands-on Labs: Lab 2.1: SOHO Network Construction in Packet Tracer; Lab 2.2: Live Traffic Sniffing (HTTP vs. HTTPS) in Wireshark.
WEEK 3: Operating System Hardening (Windows 11 & Linux CLI)
• Core Concepts: OS architecture, Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP), Windows Defender, and Linux terminal commands.
• Tools & Software: Windows 11 VM, Parrot Security Linux VM, Linux Bash Shell.
• Hands-on Labs: Lab 3.1: Windows Service & Registry Hardening; Lab 3.2: Linux Navigation, User Management & Permissions (chmod/chown).
WEEK 4: Threat Intelligence & Vulnerability Scanning (Red Team Intro)
• Core Concepts: Cyber Kill Chain, MITRE ATT&CK, social engineering tactics, CVE databases, and ethical reconnaissance.
• Tools & Software: Nmap, Zenmap, VirusTotal, URLScan.io, TryHackMe.
• Hands-on Labs: Lab 4.1: Active Port Scanning & OS Fingerprinting with Nmap; Lab 4.2: Triage of Malicious Links with URLScan/VirusTotal.
WEEK 5: Network Defense, Firewalls & Cryptography (Blue Team Defense)
• Core Concepts: Stateful firewalls, Access Control Lists (ACLs), symmetric/asymmetric encryption, and SSL/TLS PKI certificates.
• Tools & Software: Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security, Linux UFW, Browser Certificate Viewer.
• Hands-on Labs: Lab 5.1: Port-Filtering Firewall Rules on Windows & Linux; Lab 5.2: Cryptographic Checksum Verification (MD5/SHA-256).
WEEK 6: Detection, Event Logs & SIEM Architectures
• Core Concepts: Event IDs (logons, account changes), security monitoring, baseline vs. anomalies, and SIEM dashboards.
• Tools & Software: Windows Event Viewer, Sysinternals Suite (Process Explorer, TCPView), OpenVAS / Wazuh.
• Hands-on Labs: Lab 6.1: Forensic Triage of Brute-Force Logins in Event Viewer; Lab 6.2: Automated Vulnerability Auditing with OpenVAS/Wazuh.
WEEK 7: Incident Response, Canadian Governance & Privacy
• Core Concepts: Incident Response Lifecycle (NIST SP 800-61), Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA, Ontario PHIPA), and risk matrices.
• Tools & Software: NIST Incident Response Worksheets, Qualitative Risk Matrix, ChatGPT Policy Assistant.
• Hands-on Labs: Lab 7.1: Ransomware Tabletop Simulation for a Medical/Accounting Clinic; Lab 7.2: 5x5 Enterprise Risk Matrix & Policy Drafting.
WEEK 8: Capstone SOHO Defense, GitHub Portfolio & Career Launch
• Core Concepts: Certification roadmaps (Cisco CCST, CompTIA Security+, Google), Canadian tech job search, and technical interviewing.
• Tools & Software: GitHub Pages, Markdown, Git, Cisco Packet Tracer.
• Hands-on Labs: Capstone Project: Designing and securing an end-to-end SOHO network for a business concept, hosted on live GitHub Pages.
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Basic knowledge of computers
Intermediate level of English in reading, writing and speaking (CLB6 and higher)
No coding required
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CAD $700 (includes all lab environments and resources)
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With more than 25 years of experience in enterprise security, Constantine Rhaich'al has built a distinguished career helping organizations strengthen their cybersecurity, risk management, and governance practices. His professional journey spans leadership roles at Microsoft, Compaq, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Synod IntelliCare providing deep insight into the evolving cybersecurity landscape across technology, healthcare, and government sectors.
A recognized expert in security governance and compliance, Constantine brings extensive knowledge of frameworks and regulations including the EU AI Act, NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) 1.0, ISO/IEC 42001, PHIPA, and HIPAA. Throughout his career, he has designed, implemented, and advised on the very systems, policies, and security controls that today's cybersecurity professionals are tasked with protecting.
Beyond technical expertise, Constantine has worked directly with Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), healthcare executives, and government leaders to address real-world cyber threats, manage risk, and enhance organizational resilience. Drawing from decades of frontline experience, he brings practical, industry-relevant insights into the classroom, ensuring students gain a clear understanding of the challenges, tools, and strategies used by cybersecurity professionals every day.
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Training model: online
Course length: 8 weeks, 40hrs