iii Information security is among the top concerns of IT professionals. The prevalence of Internet-ready devices, combined with the ease of connectivity, has made digi- tal attacks far more prevalent than traditional threats to businesses. Consider how many times you have heard of a data breach or compromised user data in the last few years. It is estimated that cybercrime will cost businesses over $6 trillion by 2021. As such, it is imperative for IT professionals to understand how to prevent network breaches and loss of data. Equally important is the knowledge, skills, and ability to assess the security posture of an enterprise environment implement identity and access controls adhere to applicable laws and policies and use appropriate tools or utilities to identify, analyze, and respond to incidents by implementing or recom- mending solutions. Security Essentials prepares learners with the skills and information needed to work as a security professional. More than just a test-prep book, Security Essentials presents technical topics in an easy-to-read, relatable format. Each chapter’s learn- ing outcomes align directly to the top-level headings, chapter summary points, and review questions. This alignment ensures valuable information is learned, relearned, and reinforced as users progress through the text. Coverage of topics includes the following: ■ ■■ overview of data security ■■ threats, attacks and vulnerabilities ■■ implementation of security controls and protocols ■■ governance, risk, and compliance ■■ operations and incident response ■■ digital forensics ■■ secure network architecture and design ■■ secure network protocols and administration ■■ wireless device security ■■ cloud security ■■ secure mobile solutions ■■ secure application development ■■ secure systems policy enforcement ■■ device hardening ■■ cryptography ■■ public key infrastructure ■■ incident response ■■ business continuity ■■ data sanitization ■■ management through a command-line interface ■ employment and soft skills In addition to the textbook, hands-on learning opportunities are available by using the supplemental Study Guide and Lab Manual. These valuable ancillary prod- ucts improve the user’s level of preparation for earning an industry-recognized certi- fication as well as serve as a reference when studying for the exam. Preface