Multi-Layered Security Architecture
Our security foundation combines physical isolation, logical segmentation, and advanced network controls to create an impenetrable “sanitized sandbox” environment that showcases modern network security principles.
Network Architecture
Network Architecture & VLAN 666 Isolation
VLAN 666 Configuration
Security Controls
Monitoring & Analytics
VLAN 666 Configuration
Security Controls
Monitoring & Analytics
Cost-Effective Infrastructure
Defense-in-Depth Security Layers
Physical Isolation
Dedicated Cisco/HP switch with single uplink port, housed in lab premises
- 24-port managed switch dedicated exclusively to lab
- Single CAT6 uplink to distribution layer switch
- Physical port security prevents unauthorized connections
- Switch located within lab for direct supervision
VLAN Segmentation (802.1Q)
VLAN 666 creates complete broadcast domain isolation
- 802.1Q VLAN tagging on distribution switch port
- Separate broadcast domain prevents ARP/discovery
- No inter-VLAN routing without firewall approval
- Private VLAN (PVLAN) for internal workstation isolation
Stateful Firewall Control
Fortinet/SonicWall with Default Deny policy implementation
- All traffic forced through single gateway chokepoint
- Stateful packet inspection with session tracking
- Application-layer filtering (Layer 7 inspection)
- Real-time logging and traffic analysis capabilities
Network Access Control (NAC)
802.1X authentication and endpoint security
- Student device authentication before network access
- MAC address filtering and device registration
- Endpoint compliance checking (antivirus, patches)
- Automatic quarantine for non-compliant devices
Application Layer Security
Deep packet inspection and application-aware filtering
- Layer 7 application identification and control
- SSL/TLS inspection and certificate validation
- Web application firewall (WAF) protection
- Content filtering and malware detection
Endpoint Detection & Response
Advanced threat detection on individual workstations
- Real-time behavior analysis and anomaly detection
- Automated incident response and containment
- File integrity monitoring (FIM)
- Host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS)
Security Information & Event Management
Centralized logging, correlation, and threat intelligence
- Real-time log aggregation from all security layers
- Advanced correlation engine for threat detection
- Security orchestration and automated response
- Compliance reporting and audit trail generation
Governance, Risk & Compliance
Policy enforcement, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance
- Automated policy compliance monitoring
- Risk assessment and vulnerability management
- Regulatory compliance reporting (ISO 27001, NIST)
- Continuous security posture assessment
Detailed Technical Implementation
Comprehensive hardware specifications, software stack, and security protocols designed for optimal educational outcomes
Hardware Requirements
Cisco Catalyst 2960-X or HP ProCurve 2530-24G
24 Fast Ethernet ports + 4 SFP+ uplinks
VLAN support, 802.1X authentication
20 x Raspberry Pi 4B (8GB RAM) with USB3 SSDs
Dual-boot: Raspberry Pi OS + Kali Linux ARM
Docker containers for isolated environments
2 x Raspberry Pi Cluster (Server nodes)
Kubernetes for container orchestration
Open-source vulnerable apps (DVWA, WebGoat)
Network Configuration
VLAN 666: 192.168.66.0/24 (Cyber Lab)
Gateway: 192.168.66.1 (Firewall interface)
DHCP: 192.168.66.100-200 (Student devices)
Primary VLAN: 666 (Cyber Lab)
Isolated VLAN: 667 (Student ports)
Promiscuous port: Uplink to firewall
Primary: College DNS (10.0.1.10)
Secondary: Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)
Local DNS for lab services
Security Protocols & Standards
- • 802.1X with RADIUS authentication
- • Active Directory integration for user management
- • Multi-factor authentication for admin access
- • Guest network isolation for visitors
- • Syslog server for centralized logging
- • SNMP monitoring of all network devices
- • Netflow analysis for traffic patterns
- • Security Information Event Management (SIEM)
Compliance & Industry Standards
- IEEE 802.1Q (VLAN tagging)
- IEEE 802.1X (Port authentication)
- IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet standards)
- RFC 3069 (VLAN aggregation)
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework
- ISO 27001 security controls
- SANS Critical Security Controls
- OWASP security guidelines
- NICE Cybersecurity Framework
- CAE-CD curriculum guidelines
- CompTIA Security+ alignment
- CEH practical requirements
100% Isolation
Physical and logical separation ensures zero production network risk
Implementation: Dedicated switch, VLAN 666, Private VLAN isolation
Enterprise VLAN
Demonstrates advanced network segmentation capabilities
Technology: 802.1Q tagging, PVLAN, Inter-VLAN routing control
Stateful Firewall
Single gateway with comprehensive traffic monitoring
Features: Deep packet inspection, application filtering, real-time logging
Access Control
802.1X authentication and endpoint compliance
Security: RADIUS auth, MAC filtering, device compliance checks
Strategic Infrastructure Benefits
This cybersecurity lab delivers transformative value across technology demonstration, risk mitigation, and institutional excellence
Technology Showcase
Demonstrates the college's modern network infrastructure capabilities and security best practices
Zero Risk Implementation
Proves that advanced cybersecurity education can coexist safely with production systems
Implementation Timeline & Technical Specifications
A carefully orchestrated 12-week deployment combining infrastructure setup, security implementation, and comprehensive testing
Note: This timeline commences after MITS system administrators have implemented the dedicated VLAN infrastructure and network isolation. The 12-week schedule assumes core networking prerequisites are already in place.
Phase-wise Implementation (12 weeks)
Weeks 1-2: Lab Infrastructure Setup
Physical switch installation, lab firewall configuration, initial security policies (VLAN already provisioned by IT)
Weeks 3-6: Hardware Deployment
Workstation setup, server installation, software licensing
Weeks 7-10: Security Testing
Penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, compliance audit
Weeks 11-12: Go-Live
Faculty training, student orientation, operational handover
Core Technical Components
Network Infrastructure
• Managed Layer 3 switch with VLAN support
• Enterprise firewall with DPI capabilities
• Structured cabling and patch management
• Network monitoring and SNMP integration
Student Workstations
• High-performance desktops for security tools
• Dual-boot Linux/Windows environments
• Virtualization-capable hardware specs
• Dedicated network isolation per workstation
Server Infrastructure
• Hypervisor hosts for lab environments
• Centralized storage with backup systems
• Authentication and directory services
• Container orchestration platform
Security & Monitoring
• SIEM platform for threat detection
• Network traffic analysis tools
• Vulnerability scanners and assessment tools
• Incident response and forensics capabilities
Controlled Internet Gateway
A single, defensible chokepoint governs all network traffic. Every connection is subject to strict "Default Deny" policies, ensuring complete control and visibility over lab communications.
Ingress (Inbound) Policy
BLOCK ALL UNSOLICITED CONNECTIONS
- • No external scanning or reconnaissance possible
- • Prevents lab from being used as attack staging ground
- • Stateful firewall allows return traffic for legitimate sessions
- • Aligns with NIST recommendations for perimeter security
Egress (Outbound) Policy
ALLOW ONLY APPROVED DESTINATIONS
- • Principle of least privilege enforcement
- • Granular, auditable allow-list approach
- • Educational platforms and tools only
- • All other traffic blocked and logged
Detailed Egress Rule Set (VLAN 666)
| Rule | Description | Source/Destination | Protocol | Risk/Monitoring | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Allow DNS lookups to trusted resolvers for domain name resolution Essential for basic internet functionality and domain resolution - DoH/DoT capabilities included Supports both traditional DNS and DNS-over-HTTPS for secure resolution | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: College_DNS_Servers (10.0.1.10-12), Google_DNS (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4), Cloudflare_DNS (1.1.1.1) | UDP/53, TCP/53 | Low Risk Query logging enabled, suspicious domain alerts configured | Allow |
2 | Allow access to TryHackMe educational platform with full CDN support Primary educational platform - includes VM access, progress tracking, and interactive content WebSocket support for real-time lab interactions, AWS CDN whitelisting for content delivery | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: *.tryhackme.com, tryhackme-images.s3.amazonaws.com, tryhackme-labs.s3.amazonaws.com | TCP/443, WebSocket/443 | Low Risk Connection time tracking, educational progress monitoring | Allow |
3 | Allow access to Hack The Box platform with VPN tunnel support Professional penetration testing training environment with isolated lab access OpenVPN tunnel for lab machine access, separate routing for HTB lab network | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: *.hackthebox.com, *.hackthebox.eu, hackthebox-vpn-servers (10.10.0.0/16) | TCP/443, OpenVPN/1194, TCP/80 | Medium Risk VPN connection logs, lab activity tracking, time-based access controls | Allow |
4 | Allow comprehensive GitHub ecosystem access for development and tool acquisition Essential for open-source security tools, course materials, and version control operations Full Git protocol support, container registry access, API endpoints for automation | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: github.com, *.githubusercontent.com, api.github.com, codeload.github.com, ghcr.io | TCP/443, TCP/22 (SSH), TCP/9418 (Git) | Low Risk Repository access logging, large file download alerts, authentication tracking | Allow |
5 | Allow comprehensive Linux distribution repositories and security tool sources Operating system updates, security patches, and specialized cybersecurity tool installation Repository signature verification, package integrity checking, automatic security updates | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: archive.ubuntu.com, security.ubuntu.com, http.kali.org, kali.download, parrotsec.org | TCP/80, TCP/443 | Low Risk Package installation logs, security update tracking, bandwidth monitoring | Allow |
6 | Allow Python ecosystem access for security scripting and automation Python libraries for security automation, data analysis, and custom tool development Package signature verification, dependency resolution, virtual environment support | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: pypi.org, files.pythonhosted.org, pypi.python.org, pythonhosted.org | TCP/443 | Low Risk Package installation tracking, security library usage analysis | Allow |
7 | Allow access to specialized cybersecurity training platforms and resources Supplementary educational content, certification preparation, and industry training materials Video streaming optimization, progress tracking, certificate verification | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: cybrary.it, pluralsight.com, coursera.org, udemy.com, sans.org | TCP/443 | Low Risk Learning progress tracking, content access logging | Allow |
8 | Allow access to vulnerability databases and security intelligence feeds Current vulnerability research, CVE database access, and security intelligence gathering API access for automated vulnerability scanning, threat intelligence integration | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: nvd.nist.gov, cve.mitre.org, exploit-db.com, vuldb.com | TCP/443 | Low Risk Research activity logging, database query tracking | Allow |
9 | Allow Docker and container ecosystem access for lab environment management Container-based lab environments, tool deployment, and isolated testing scenarios Container registry access, image verification, multi-architecture support | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: registry-1.docker.io, auth.docker.io, production.cloudflare.docker.com, quay.io | TCP/443 | Medium Risk Container deployment tracking, image pull logging, resource usage monitoring | Allow |
10 | Allow time synchronization for accurate logging and certificate validation Accurate timestamps for security logging, certificate validation, and forensic analysis Multiple NTP sources for redundancy, chrony/ntpd compatibility | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: pool.ntp.org, time.nist.gov, time.google.com | UDP/123 (NTP) | Low Risk Time drift monitoring, synchronization status tracking | Allow |
11 | Allow access to certificate authorities for SSL/TLS validation Certificate revocation checking, OCSP validation, and PKI infrastructure access OCSP stapling support, CRL distribution points, certificate transparency logs | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: ocsp.digicert.com, crl.digicert.com, ocsp.sectigo.com, letsencrypt.org | TCP/80, TCP/443 | Low Risk Certificate validation logging, revocation check tracking | Allow |
12 | EMERGENCY OVERRIDE: Faculty supervisor can temporarily allow specific destinations Educational flexibility for special projects or emerging training requirements Time-limited rules (max 7 days), automatic expiration, supervisor authentication required | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: SUPERVISOR_SPECIFIED_ONLY | AS_REQUIRED | Variable Risk Enhanced logging during override period, supervisor approval tracking | Allow (Temporary) |
13 | DEFAULT DENY: Block all other outbound traffic with comprehensive logging Zero-trust security posture - every denied connection provides security intelligence Deep packet inspection, behavioral analysis, anomaly detection, real-time alerting | From: VLAN_Cyber_Lab (192.168.66.0/24) To: Any | Any | N/A Risk Full packet capture for denied connections, threat intelligence correlation, automated incident response | Deny (Log + Alert) |
Advanced Security Monitoring & Implementation
Our comprehensive monitoring framework provides real-time visibility, threat detection, and automated response capabilities.
Deep Packet Inspection
Real-time traffic analysis with behavioral pattern recognition and anomaly detection
Threat Intelligence Integration
Automatic correlation with global threat feeds and malware signature databases
Automated Incident Response
Immediate blocking and alerting for suspicious activities with forensic data collection
Firewall Technology Stack
Security Capabilities
Compliance Standards
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
Full alignment with Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover functions
ISO 27001/27002
Information security management system controls implementation
OWASP Security Guidelines
Web application security and secure coding practices
Operational Procedures
Daily Operations
Automated rule updates, log analysis, and health monitoring
Weekly Reviews
Traffic pattern analysis, rule effectiveness assessment, security updates
Monthly Audits
Comprehensive security posture review, compliance verification
Incident Response Procedures
Immediate Isolation
Automatic network segmentation and traffic blocking within 30 seconds of threat detection
Forensic Collection
Automatic preservation of network traffic, system logs, and volatile memory for analysis
Stakeholder Notification
Immediate alerts to lab supervisor, IT department, and academic leadership
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