Google
Google Network Security Specialization
Google

Google Network Security Specialization

Build Your Network Security Skills. Learn to identify threats and harden, secure, and monitor networks against potential attacks.

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Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 5 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 weeks to complete
at 5 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Learn the foundational knowledge of network functionality and security, from architectural concepts and protocols to how to defend against threats

  • Learn how to utilize industry-standard tools like Wireshark and Splunk to analyze network traffic and investigate security incidents

  • Develop skills to detect and respond to security incidents by monitoring networks, identifying vulnerabilities, and using incident response protocols

  • Learn system hardening techniques to secure networks and cloud environments, preventing future attacks before they can happen

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Taught in English
Recently updated!

September 2025

Advance your subject-matter expertise

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Specialization - 7 course series

Network Architecture

Network Architecture

Course 12 hours

What you'll learn

  • Describe the structure of different computer networks.

  • Illustrate how data is sent and received over a network.

  • Describe physical components of a network and network layer communication.

Network Operations

Network Operations

Course 21 hour

What you'll learn

  • Recognize common network protocols.

  • Identify common network security measures and protocols.

  • Describe the protocol(s) used to transmit and access data over wireless networks.

What you'll learn

  • Describe network intrusion tactics.

  • Explain how to secure a network against intrusion tactics.

  • Investigate security breaches.

  • Troubleshoot basic network issues using appropriate tools and methods.

Security Hardening

Security Hardening

Course 42 hours

What you'll learn

  • Describe OS hardening techniques

  • Explain cloud security practices

  • Describe network hardening techniques

What you'll learn

  • Identify the steps to contain, eradicate, and recover from an incident

  • Explain the lifecycle of an incident.

  • Describe the tools used in the documentation, detection, and management of incidents.

  • Determine the roles and responsibilities of incident response teams.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Cybersecurity
Category: Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
Category: Intrusion Detection and Prevention
Category: Event Monitoring
Category: Computer Security Incident Management
Category: NIST 800-53
Category: Document Management
Category: Cyber Threat Intelligence
Category: Incident Management
Category: Threat Detection
Category: Incident Response
Category: Security Management
Category: Continuous Monitoring

What you'll learn

  • Analyze packets to interpret network communications

  • Use packet sniffing tools to capture and view network communications.

  • Describe how network traffic analysis can help to detect, prevent, and respond to security incidents.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Computer Security Incident Management
Category: Continuous Monitoring

What you'll learn

  • Understand basic syntax, components of signatures and logs in Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS) tools

  • Perform queries in Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools to investigate an event

  • Determine how to read and analyze logs during incident investigation

  • Describe how common intrusion detection system (IDS) tools provide security value

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