CND: Certified Network Defender

Difficulty 5/10
Cost ~$450 \- $650 USD
Duration 4 Hours
Format 100 Multiple Choice Questions

EC-Council’s CND focuses on the "Blue Team" aspect of network security, teaching administrators how to protect, detect, and respond to threats effectively. It covers secure network design, firewall configuration, intrusion detection (IDS/IPS), and response protocols, focusing on the defense of the perimeter and internal assets. The course emphasizes the importance of network segmentation, VPN security, and the continuous monitoring of network traffic for anomalies. It is designed to bridge the gap between IT networking and cybersecurity operations, making it ideal for Network Administrators transitioning into security roles. The certification ensures the holder can harden a network infrastructure before an attack occurs.