Requirements

• Basic knowledge of networking
• security concepts
• and firewall management.
• Familiarity with Check Point security products and previous experience with Check Point security gateways and management solutions

Description

The 156-585: Check Point Troubleshooting course is a comprehensive training program designed for network security professionals who want to acquire a deep understanding of troubleshooting Check Point security systems. Check Point software technologies offer a robust suite of solutions for network security, including firewall protection, VPN, intrusion prevention, and advanced threat prevention. However, with the complex configurations and deployments that typically accompany these solutions, troubleshooting can often become challenging. This course aims to equip network administrators and security engineers with the necessary skills and techniques to effectively diagnose, analyze, and resolve issues that may arise within a Check Point environment.

This course is ideal for IT professionals, system administrators, and support engineers who are responsible for the deployment, management, and troubleshooting of Check Point security devices. It is also beneficial for those who aim to improve their troubleshooting proficiency and advance their careers in network security, particularly with Check Point products. By the end of the course, participants will have the expertise to address security-related issues, diagnose network traffic problems, and implement solutions to restore the integrity of Check Point security configurations.

Key Learning Objectives:

Throughout the 156-585 course, participants will cover various aspects of troubleshooting, including:

1. Understanding Check Point Architecture and Components: A foundational understanding of Check Point's architecture is critical for troubleshooting. This section of the course explores the different components that make up a Check Point environment, including Security Management Servers, Security Gateways, VPNs, and Security Policies. The course will ensure that participants understand how each of these components works together in a network and what role they play in overall security.

2. SmartEvent Troubleshooting: One of the most powerful diagnostic tools in Check Point's suite is SmartEvent. This tool helps security administrators monitor network activities and correlate events. In this section, you will learn how to use SmartEvent for advanced troubleshooting. This includes configuring SmartEvent for optimal log collection, using it to monitor real-time events, and analyzing logs to identify suspicious activities or misconfigurations. You will also explore the techniques of troubleshooting issues related to SmartEvent's deployment and operation.

3. SmartView Tracker and Logging: SmartView Tracker is another essential diagnostic tool that allows administrators to monitor logs and real-time traffic on Check Point devices. This section teaches how to interpret and filter logs effectively to identify root causes of issues. Participants will learn how to troubleshoot firewall policies, VPN issues, and other configurations by analyzing logs generated by Check Point devices. The course emphasizes the importance of log management and its relationship to troubleshooting network security problems.

4. Troubleshooting Security Policies: One of the most common causes of issues in Check Point environments is incorrect or misconfigured security policies. In this section, participants will learn how to troubleshoot security policy issues, including analyzing access control, NAT (Network Address Translation), and firewall rule configurations. The course will guide participants through the process of validating security policies, checking for conflicts, and correcting errors that could impact the performance of the security devices.

5. VPN Troubleshooting: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are a critical component of many Check Point security deployments, and troubleshooting VPN issues can often be complicated. This section of the course focuses on identifying and resolving VPN issues related to site-to-site and remote access configurations. It includes troubleshooting aspects such as incorrect tunnel configurations, IPSec policies, encryption settings, and VPN routing issues. The goal is to provide students with the knowledge needed to resolve common and complex VPN-related problems.

6. Network Address Translation (NAT) Troubleshooting: NAT plays an important role in the operation of network security systems. When it is not configured properly, NAT issues can prevent network traffic from flowing as intended. In this section, the course will cover the most common NAT-related problems in Check Point environments. Students will learn to troubleshoot issues like source NAT, destination NAT, and manual NAT configurations, as well as review the impact that incorrect NAT policies can have on network security.

7. Performance Troubleshooting: Performance issues can sometimes be mistaken for misconfigurations or security breaches. The course will cover troubleshooting techniques to diagnose performance issues that may arise within a Check Point environment. Participants will learn how to monitor device health, review CPU and memory utilization, and detect problems related to system performance. A key aspect of this module is understanding the relationship between security configurations and network performance.

8. Troubleshooting High Availability (HA): High Availability (HA) configurations are widely used to ensure that Check Point security devices are always operational. However, HA configurations can become a source of issues if not set up correctly. This section of the course will teach participants how to diagnose and fix issues related to HA clustering, synchronization, and failover scenarios. It covers techniques for identifying synchronization issues, troubleshooting cluster member failures, and resolving issues that can affect the availability of security services.

9. Troubleshooting Threat Prevention and IPS (Intrusion Prevention Systems): Check Point's threat prevention capabilities, including IPS, antivirus, and anti-bot features, are central to protecting networks from security threats. In this section, students will learn how to troubleshoot issues with threat prevention configurations, including examining IPS logs, reviewing protection profiles, and handling alert management. Students will also gain insight into how to ensure IPS functionality is optimal and how to respond when threats are detected but not prevented.

10. Advanced Troubleshooting Methodologies: For more advanced users, the course delves into the methodologies and best practices used by experienced network engineers to troubleshoot complex Check Point environments. Topics in this section include analyzing packet flows, using CLI-based diagnostic tools, applying expert commands, and interacting with Check Point’s support systems. The course emphasizes the importance of a systematic approach to problem-solving and encourages students to develop troubleshooting strategies that can be applied to any scenario.

Who this course is for:

• Network Administrators
• IT Managers
• Wireless Engineers