Overview

• Total Duration: 8 weeks
• Daily Study Time: 2-3 hours, with the Pomodoro Technique (25-minute study sessions with 5-minute breaks)
• Weekly Review: Conduct a thorough review each week, aligning with the Forgetting Curve to reinforce memory.

Study Goals

• Primary Goal: Master all the key knowledge areas required for the 212-89 certification exam.
• Secondary Goals: Improve knowledge retention, apply learning strategies effectively, and perform self-assessment to identify and strengthen weak areas.

Detailed Study Plan

Week 1: Incident Response Fundamentals

Weekly Objective: Understand the overall Incident Response and Handling Process, including key phases, tasks, and strategies.

Daily Tasks

1. Day 1: Preparation Phase

   • Task: Learn about the Preparation Phase of incident response, focusing on building the response team, defining roles, and gathering tools (SIEM, forensic kits).
   • Objective: Understand how to set up a prepared and well-equipped response team.

2. Day 2: Detection and Analysis

   • Task: Study Detection and Analysis, learning to use tools like SIEM and IDS to detect security incidents, verify false positives, and classify incidents based on severity.
   • Objective: Develop skills for accurate incident detection, classification, and prioritization.

3. Day 3: Containment, Eradication, and Recovery

   • Task: Focus on Containment, Eradication, and Recovery strategies, learning containment measures, eradication techniques, and system restoration methods.
   • Objective: Understand how to contain threats and restore normal operations after an incident.

4. Day 4: Post-Incident Activity

   • Task: Study Post-Incident Activities, including review sessions, reporting, and continuous improvement strategies for incident response.
   • Objective: Learn to perform post-incident reviews to improve future response strategies.

5. Day 5: Weekly Review and Quiz

   • Task: Review all Week 1 material using notes and key highlights. Complete practice questions covering the Incident Response Process to test comprehension.
   • Objective: Reinforce knowledge and self-assess understanding of incident response fundamentals.

Week 2: First Response and Malware Incidents

Weekly Objective: Master the First Response process and understand how to handle Malware Incidents, including detection, isolation, and removal.

Daily Tasks

1. Day 6: Incident Identification and Isolation in First Response

   • Task: Study First Response Identification and Isolation, focusing on steps to identify incidents quickly, categorize them, and document initial findings.
   • Objective: Gain skills to take quick action during the first response phase.

2. Day 7: Malware Detection and Identification

   • Task: Learn Malware Detection and Identification, including using antivirus software and sandbox analysis to recognize different types of malware (e.g., ransomware, spyware).
   • Objective: Develop skills to identify and classify malware effectively.

3. Day 8: Malware Isolation and Removal

   • Task: Focus on Malware Isolation and Removal strategies, including how to quarantine infected devices, delete malicious files, and clean systems.
   • Objective: Master isolation techniques to prevent malware spread.

4. Day 9: Data Recovery and Security Hardening

   • Task: Study Data Recovery and Security Hardening post-malware removal, focusing on restoring data from backups and reinforcing systems with patches and security configurations.
   • Objective: Understand how to ensure system resilience after malware incidents.

5. Day 10: Weekly Review and Quiz

   • Task: Review First Response and Malware Incidents content, perform a quiz, and go over errors to identify weak points.
   • Objective: Confirm understanding of quick response actions and malware incident management.

Week 3: Email Security Incidents

Weekly Objective: Learn how to manage Email Security Incidents, focusing on phishing detection, email isolation, and preventive measures.

Daily Tasks

1. Day 11: Detecting Malicious Emails

   • Task: Study techniques to Detect Malicious Emails through email gateways, filters, and header analysis to identify phishing emails and malicious attachments.
   • Objective: Gain skills in identifying email threats.

2. Day 12: Email Isolation and Prevention

   • Task: Learn Email Isolation and Prevention strategies to quarantine suspicious emails and prevent employees from opening harmful links or attachments.
   • Objective: Understand isolation processes to secure email communications.

3. Day 13: Forensics and Tracking

   • Task: Focus on Forensics and Tracking techniques to extract email logs, analyze headers, and use sandboxes to understand the origin and behavior of malicious emails.
   • Objective: Master email forensics skills.

4. Day 14: User Training and Email Security Policies

   • Task: Study User Training and Email Security Policies like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and learn to train users on phishing recognition.
   • Objective: Gain understanding of how to educate users to avoid email-based threats.

5. Day 15: Weekly Review and Quiz

   • Task: Review and practice email security concepts through quizzes and practice questions.
   • Objective: Reinforce knowledge of email incident detection, isolation, and prevention.

Week 4: Network Level Incidents

Weekly Objective: Understand network-level threats, focusing on DDoS, session hijacking, and containment methods.

Daily Tasks

1. Day 16: Network Monitoring and Detection

   • Task: Study Network Monitoring and Detection with IDS and traffic analysis tools (e.g., NetFlow, Wireshark) to detect abnormal traffic.
   • Objective: Develop skills in recognizing network-level anomalies.

2. Day 17: Analyzing Attack Patterns

   • Task: Learn to Analyze Attack Patterns of DDoS, sniffing, and hijacking attacks to determine sources and methods.
   • Objective: Understand how to analyze and classify network attack patterns.

3. Day 18: Defensive and Containment Measures

   • Task: Study Defensive Measures using firewalls, IPS, and ACLs to restrict abnormal traffic and contain attacks.
   • Objective: Master containment and defense techniques for network threats.

4. Day 19: Restoring Normal Network State

   • Task: Focus on Network Restoration by clearing affected devices, updating configurations, and restoring normal traffic.
   • Objective: Learn how to restore network functionality post-attack.

5. Day 20: Weekly Review and Quiz

   • Task: Review network incident handling techniques and practice relevant quiz questions.
   • Objective: Test and reinforce network incident management skills.

Week 5: Application Level Incidents

Weekly Objective: Understand application-level threats, particularly in web applications, and learn effective detection, isolation, and remediation techniques for securing applications.

Daily Tasks

1. Day 21: Detecting Application Vulnerabilities

   • Task: Learn about Application Vulnerability Detection using tools like OWASP ZAP to scan for vulnerabilities (e.g., SQL Injection, XSS, CSRF).
   • Objective: Develop skills to identify common application vulnerabilities and understand their impact on security.

2. Day 22: Application Attack Isolation

   • Task: Study Application Attack Isolation techniques, such as limiting SQL query lengths, blocking irregular POST requests, and restricting access to vulnerable application parts.
   • Objective: Gain knowledge on isolating potential vulnerabilities to prevent exploitation.

3. Day 23: Application Remediation and Secure Coding

   • Task: Focus on Application Remediation through secure coding practices. Learn to apply parameterized SQL statements, input/output validation, and session management techniques.
   • Objective: Understand secure coding best practices that reduce application vulnerabilities.

4. Day 24: Web Application Firewalls and Access Control

   • Task: Study Web Application Firewalls (WAF) and access control techniques, including setting up a WAF to filter malicious requests and implementing least-privilege access controls.
   • Objective: Learn how to strengthen application security by filtering traffic and controlling user access.

5. Day 25: Weekly Review and Quiz

   • Task: Review all content covered this week, including vulnerability detection, isolation, and secure coding practices. Complete practice questions on application security.
   • Objective: Reinforce knowledge of application-level incident management and test comprehension.

Week 6: Cloud Security Incidents

Weekly Objective: Understand how to manage security incidents in cloud environments, including monitoring, permission management, and configuration auditing.

Daily Tasks

1. Day 26: Cloud Monitoring and Detection

   • Task: Study Cloud Monitoring and Detection methods using tools like AWS CloudTrail and Azure Monitor to track activities and detect unusual operations.
   • Objective: Develop skills in detecting potential security incidents within cloud environments.

2. Day 27: Permissions and Access Control Audits

   • Task: Learn to conduct Permissions and Access Control Audits in cloud environments, applying the principle of least privilege and verifying user roles.
   • Objective: Understand how to audit and manage cloud permissions to prevent unauthorized access.

3. Day 28: Cloud Configuration Audits and Best Practices

   • Task: Study Configuration Audits for cloud instances, learning how to secure open ports, enable encryption, and conduct regular security checks on cloud resources.
   • Objective: Gain the skills needed to review and secure cloud configurations effectively.

4. Day 29: Isolating Affected Cloud Resources

   • Task: Focus on Isolating Cloud Resources in case of a security incident, including how to quarantine compromised instances and restrict network access.
   • Objective: Learn methods for isolating and containing cloud security threats.

5. Day 30: Weekly Review and Quiz

   • Task: Review all cloud security concepts covered this week. Complete practice questions to test knowledge on cloud monitoring, permissions, and configuration management.
   • Objective: Reinforce understanding of cloud security incident management and test retention of key concepts.

Week 7: Insider Threats

Weekly Objective: Master the concepts and methods for identifying and managing insider threats through monitoring, access control, and training.

Daily Tasks

1. Day 31: Monitoring Insider Behavior

   • Task: Study User Behavior Analytics (UBA) for detecting insider threats by monitoring non-standard login times, bulk data downloads, and unauthorized access attempts.
   • Objective: Develop skills for identifying unusual user behavior that may indicate an insider threat.

2. Day 32: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

   • Task: Learn Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) principles to assign minimum privileges based on job roles and restrict access to sensitive information.
   • Objective: Understand how to implement RBAC effectively to prevent unauthorized access.

3. Day 33: Insider Threat Training and Compliance Policies

   • Task: Focus on Training and Compliance policies to educate employees on insider threats, security responsibilities, and data protection practices.
   • Objective: Learn to design training programs and establish compliance policies that minimize insider risks.

4. Day 34: Post-Incident Review for Insider Threats

   • Task: Study the Post-Incident Review process to analyze insider incidents, identify root causes, and implement improved security measures.
   • Objective: Gain knowledge in conducting reviews and continuous improvement to prevent similar incidents in the future.

5. Day 35: Weekly Review and Quiz

   • Task: Review all insider threat management concepts and complete quiz questions to test understanding of UBA, RBAC, and insider threat prevention.
   • Objective: Ensure mastery of insider threat concepts and assess knowledge retention.

Week 8: Endpoint Security Incidents and Comprehensive Review

Weekly Objective: Complete the study of endpoint security incidents and conduct a full review of all topics in preparation for the certification exam.

Daily Tasks

1. Day 36: Endpoint Isolation Techniques

   • Task: Study Endpoint Isolation methods, including network disconnection, quarantine modes, and virtual isolation to contain compromised devices.
   • Objective: Develop skills to quickly isolate infected endpoints and prevent malware spread.

2. Day 37: Forensic Analysis of Endpoints

   • Task: Learn Forensic Analysis techniques for endpoints, using Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools to trace the origin of threats and examine system logs.
   • Objective: Gain expertise in forensic analysis to understand endpoint threats and identify necessary response actions.

3. Day 38: Threat Removal and System Repair

   • Task: Study Threat Removal and System Repair by running anti-malware scans, repairing system files, and updating system patches.
   • Objective: Understand how to effectively clean endpoints and restore functionality after an incident.

4. Day 39: Endpoint Security Management and Monitoring

   • Task: Focus on Endpoint Security Management and Monitoring, including deploying EDR, encryption, firewalls, and automated patch management to secure endpoints.
   • Objective: Learn how to implement continuous monitoring and management to protect endpoints from future threats.

5. Day 40: Comprehensive Review and Practice Exam

   • Task: Conduct a full review of all knowledge areas from previous weeks. Take a complete practice exam to assess readiness for the certification test.
   • Objective: Reinforce knowledge across all domains and simulate the exam experience to identify any remaining weak areas.

Summary of Learning Methods

1. Pomodoro Technique: Use 25-minute focused study sessions with 5-minute breaks daily to optimize focus and prevent fatigue.
2. Forgetting Curve Review: Conduct weekly reviews to revisit and reinforce knowledge of previous weeks’ content, aligning with memory reinforcement strategies.
3. Weekly Quizzes and Practice Exams: Test understanding at the end of each week to track progress, identify gaps, and apply knowledge in a simulated test environment.

Following this comprehensive 8-week study plan with structured goals and tasks will help ensure mastery of 212-89 exam topics. Stay consistent, focus on each task, and use periodic reviews to solidify retention and readiness for certification. Good luck!