Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

May include but is not limited to people and technology interaction, storage and recovery of data, access to internal network, passwords/logons, access control lists, firewalls, black-hat hacking/cracking, confidentiality, integrity, availability, the perceived value of information to competitors and the malicious nature of internet crackers and an increase in internet usage

May include but is not limited to internal departments, external organisations, individual people and internal employees

May include eavesdropping, manipulation, impersonation, penetration, denial of service and by-pass, hackers, viruses using logging

May include hardware appliances, proxy servers, individual PC solution, and varying functionality, including network address translation (NAT)/IP masquerading, routing to specific machines.

May include but is not limited to databases, applications, servers, operating systems, gateways, application service provider and ISP

May include theft, viruses, standards (including archival, back-up, network), privacy, audits, alerts and usually relates directly to the security objectives of the organisation.

May include enterprise email strategy and capabilities; cross platform authentication needs; application integration security issues; message confidentiality, integrity and non-repudiation requirements; e-commerce requirements.

May include strong authentication, strong encryption, remote access integration, secure tunnelling, IP routing, firewalls, scalability and redundancy

May include but not limited to large and small LANs, national WANs, VPNs, the internet, the use of the PSTN for dial-up modems only, private lines, data and voice.

May include but is not limited to workstations, personal computers, modems and other connectivity devices, networks, remote sites, servers, DSL modems

May include but is not limited to commercial software applications; organisation-specific software, packaged software, in-house or customised software.

May include incident response procedures, network intrusion detection systems, forensic procedures, training and awareness raising policy.

May include:
Application/web servers
BEA Weblogic servers
IBM VisualAge and WebSphere
Novell NDS servers
Email servers
File and print servers
FTP servers
Firewall servers
Proxy/cache servers

May include but are not limited to commercial software applications; organisation-specific software; word processing, spreadsheet, database, graphic, communication packages and presentation functionalities.
May include presentation applications contained in Microsoft Office, Lotus Suite, Claris Works, Star Office or other similar applications

Physical security perimeter, system security perimeter, application security perimeter, data security perimeter

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Critical aspects of evidence
Assessment must confirm the ability to develop, implement and maintain a network security shield for VPNs, LANs and WLANs.

Knowledge and skills
Security threats, including eavesdropping, data interception, data corruption, data falsification
Authentication issues
Organisational issues surrounding security
Security perimeters and their functions
Types of VPNs, including site-to-site, user-to-site internet traffic and extranets
Function and operation of virtual private networking (VPN) concepts, including encryption, firewalls, packet tunnelling and authentication
Common VPN issues, including quality of service (QOS) considerations, bandwidth, dynamic security environment
Network protocols and operating systems
Cryptographic check summing
LAN and WAN solutions
TCP/IP protocols and applications
Basic auditing and penetration testing techniques
EDI security specifications, such as S/MIME and the use of XML/EDI
Screened subnets
Virus detection software
Audit and intrusion detection systems
Australian Computer Society Code of Ethics
Ability to develop basic policies and procedures
Ability to undertake a basic network security risk assessment
Design, development and implementation of various VPN solutions
Implementing LAN and WAN solutions
Cost-benefit analysis

Assessment guidance
The purpose of this unit is to define the standard of performance to be achieved in the workplace. In undertaking training and assessment activities related to this unit, consideration should be given to the implementation of appropriate diversity and accessibility practices in order to accommodate people who may have special needs. Additional guidance on these and related matters is provided in ICA05 Section 1.
Competency in this unit should be assessed using summative assessment to ensure consistency of performance in a range of contexts. This unit can be assessed either in the workplace or in a simulated environment. However, simulated activities must closely reflect the workplace to enable full demonstration of competency.
Assessment will usually include observation of real or simulated work processes and procedures and/or performance in a project context as well as questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills. The questioning of team members, supervisors, subordinates, peers and clients where appropriate may provide valuable input to the assessment process. The interdependence of units for assessment purposes may vary with the particular project or scenario.

In the case of this unit, it could be assessed in a holistic manner with:

ICAA5056B Prepare disaster recovery and contingency plans

Resources

To demonstrate competency in this unit the person will require access to:

Network technical requirements
Network infrastructure, including servers and security hardware and software

Industry/vendor training
May include CISCO, Microsoft, IBM, Redhat

Role context
The breadth, depth and complexity covering planning and initiation of alternative approaches to skills or knowledge applications across a broad range of technical and/or management requirements, evaluation and coordination would be characteristic.
The demonstration of competency may also require self-directed application of knowledge and skills, with substantial depth in some areas where judgement is required in planning and selecting appropriate equipment, services and techniques for self and others.
Applications involve participation in development of strategic initiatives as well as personal responsibility and autonomy in performing complex technical operations or organising others. It may include participation in teams including teams concerned with planning and evaluation functions. Group or team coordination may also be involved.

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating theoretical concepts, with substantial depth in some areas
Analyse and plan approaches to technical problems or management requirements
Transfer and apply theoretical concepts and/or technical or creative skills to a range of situations
Evaluate information, using it to forecast for planning or research purposes
Take responsibility for own outputs in relation to broad quantity and quality parameters
Take some responsibility for the achievement of group outcomes
Maintain knowledge of industry products and services