To get started, you'll need the following:

• Cisco IOS Router 3725 or another IOS router with the Zone-Based Policy Firewall and IPS capabilities
• Cisco IOS Switch 2960
• Cisco ASA 5505 or higher
• Cisco Configuration Professional (CCP) will provide a GUI during the configuration process on the IOS router
• Java Runtime Environment
• Any modern web browser, preferably Internet Explorer

If you're unable to get the physical hardware equipment, you can use a network simulator such as GNS3 (https://www.gns3.com/) and use the IOS images. Cisco Packet Tracer (https://www.netacad.com/) can also be used; however, the appliances in Cisco Packet Tracer does not support all the features and commands needed for CCNA security training.

There are a number of text conventions used throughout this book.

CodeInText: Indicates code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles. Here is an example: "On the victim's end, for every SYN packet received, it must reply with a SYN/ACK packet."

A block of code is set as follows:

vlan 200
  private-vlan primary
  private-vlan association 201
!
vlan 201
  private-vlan isolated

When we wish to draw your attention to a particular part of a code block, the relevant lines or items are set in bold:

vlan 200
  private-vlan primary
  private-vlan association 201
!
vlan 201
  private-vlan isolated

Any command-line input or output is written as follows:

Router1(config)#aaa accounting exec default start-stop group tacacs+
Router1(config)#aaa accounting commands 15 default start-stop group tacacs+
Router1(config)#aaa accounting network default start-stop group tacacs+

Bold: Indicates a new term, an important word, or words that you see onscreen. For example, words in menus or dialog boxes appear in the text like this. Here is an example: "Once again, navigate to Configuration | Device Setup | Routing | Static Routes on the ASDM. Click on Add."