Learning Path
This path is designed to move you from concepts to confidence. Each stage has a clear goal, a small set of trusted references, and hands-on practice. You can follow it in order or jump to the section that matches your current level.
Stage 0: Set Up Your Environment
Install Wireshark, a terminal you are comfortable with, and a safe practice setup such as a virtual machine. If you are new to Linux, start with basic file navigation, permissions, and networking commands. This stage is about removing friction so you can learn faster.
Stage 1: Networking Foundations That Security Depends On
Focus on the stack: IP addressing, routing, DNS, TCP, UDP, and HTTP. Learn what a normal connection looks like and what the failure modes look like. Security becomes much easier when you can reason about how data moves.
Stage 2: Visibility and Traffic Analysis
Learn to capture traffic and interpret it. Start with simple protocols and graduate to encrypted traffic where you rely on metadata, flow patterns, and endpoint telemetry. A strong analyst can explain what happened without guessing.
Stage 3: Secure Architecture and Defense Habits
Practice segmentation, least privilege, and safe remote access. Learn how authentication and key management fit together, and how misconfigurations create real attack paths. Build a mental model of where controls should sit and what evidence they produce.
Stage 4: Choose a Specialization Track
Pick one direction for depth: defensive detection engineering, network forensics, cloud networking security, or offensive network tradecraft. JINS will expand these tracks over time with deeper reading lists and lab sequences.
Stage 5: Build a Small Portfolio
Document three to five short case studies. Examples include a Wireshark investigation of a protocol handshake, a Zeek log analysis walk through, a segmentation design for a small company, or a detection rule supported by packet evidence. A portfolio turns learning into proof.
Recommended References
Jump to a Stage
Need Help Choosing a Path?
If you are unsure where to start, send a short note about your background and your goal. We can suggest a sequence and a realistic next step.