CS 464/564: Networked Systems Security is a course focused on understanding the security mechanisms, protocols, and tools needed to protect networked systems from cyber threats, including man-in-the-middle attacks, denial of service, and malware, as well as countermeasures like firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection systems.

In my Networked Systems Security course, I collaborated with a small team on a final project focused on building and testing a network intrusion detection system (NIDS) to identify potential security threats. This project took place during the Spring semester in a lab environment designed to simulate network attacks. I was responsible for coding certain detection rules and configuring our NIDS to monitor network traffic effectively. This project was critical in deepening my understanding of network defense mechanisms and highlighted the importance of proactive monitoring in cybersecurity—an essential skill for my future professional goals.

In the Networked Systems Security project, I gained practical skills in network monitoring and threat detection, honing technical expertise in configuring network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) and writing detection rules. This experience emphasized the value of attention to detail, as each rule configuration impacted the system’s ability to identify threats accurately. Additionally, the collaborative nature of this project helped me refine my teamwork skills, as we frequently shared insights and tackled challenges together. These skills directly align with my goal of working in cybersecurity, where network defense and team collaboration are critical.

(Taylor, 2020)

Taylor, C. (2020). NIDS. CuberHoot. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://cyberhoot.com/cybrary/network-based-intrusion-detection-system-nids/.