Network Security Skill Assessment

Written by Coursera • Updated on

Test your network security skills with this quick assessment. Answer 10 multiple-choice questions to get your score, then check the Scoring Guide to find your level and recommended learning path.

Network Security Skill Assessment

Network Security Quiz

1. What is the purpose of a VLAN?

To speed up network traffic
To segment networks logically for security and management
To connect to the internet
To store network configurations

2. Which of these is a characteristic of a stateful firewall?

It blocks all traffic
It tracks the state of network connections and makes decisions based on context
It only works with IPv4
It operates at Layer 7 only

3. What is the main purpose of implementing Network Address Translation (NAT)?

To make networks faster
To hide internal IP addresses and conserve public IP addresses
To encrypt data
To block malware

4. In the context of wireless security, what is the difference between WPA2 and WPA3?

No difference
WPA3 offers stronger encryption and protection against brute force attacks
WPA2 is faster
WPA3 works only with newer devices

5. What is a DMZ in network security?

A type of encryption
A subnet that separates untrusted external networks from internal networks
A backup system
A monitoring tool

6. What is the purpose of an IDS/IPS system?

To speed up network traffic
To detect and/or prevent suspicious network activity and potential attacks
To manage user accounts
To store network logs

7. What is a Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack?

A physical security breach
An attack where the attacker secretly intercepts and relays messages between two parties
A virus type
A hardware failure

8. What is the purpose of network segmentation?

To increase network speed
To limit the scope of security breaches and improve access control
To save bandwidth
To reduce costs

9. What is a Zero Trust security model?

A model without security
A security model that assumes no user or device is trusted by default
A model for testing networks
A cost-saving approach

10. What is the purpose of an SSL/TLS certificate?

To speed up websites
To encrypt communications and verify server identity
To compress data
To block hackers

Scoring Guide & Course Recommendations

0-30: Beginner Level

40-70: Intermediate Level

80-100: Advanced Level

  • Skill Level: Experienced Security Professional

  • Recommended Coursera Courses:

    1. Advanced Network Security by LearnQuest

      • Securing cloud and hybrid networks

      • Advanced threat hunting and incident response

    2. Advanced Cybersecurity by LarnKarts

      • Advanced attack mitigation

      • Cloud and mobile security

Skills Covered by Level

Beginner Level

  • Network fundamentals

  • Basic security concepts

  • Firewalls

  • Encryption basics

  • Security protocols

  • Basic threat recognition

Intermediate Level

  • VPN implementation

  • IDS/IPS configuration

  • Network monitoring

  • Security policies

  • Incident response

  • Vulnerability assessment

Advanced Level

  • Security architecture

  • Zero Trust implementation

  • Threat hunting

  • Security automation

  • Compliance frameworks

  • Advanced forensics

Career Paths

Key Technologies to Learn

  • Firewalls (Cisco, Palo Alto)

  • IDS/IPS Systems

  • SIEM tools

  • VPN technologies

  • Network monitoring tools

  • Security automation tools

Certifications to Consider

  • CompTIA Security+

  • Cisco CCNA Security

  • CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)

  • CISSP

  • CISM

  • OSCP

Updated on
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Coursera

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