Mastering Linux PAM Online Course
Mastering Linux PAM Online Course
This course is designed to provide a step-by-step understanding of Linux Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM), a powerful authentication system that controls access to Linux services. PAM allows administrators to manage authentication without modifying application code, making it a crucial tool for securing user logins, SSH access, sudo privileges, and other authentication mechanisms. The course starts with setting up a Linux environment using VirtualBox and installing CentOS 7 and 8. You will then explore how PAM works, understand its configuration files, and learn to manage authentication modules. You will also dive into PAM-aware services and stacks, ensuring you gain practical knowledge of controlling and verifying authentication processes in Linux. By the end of this course, you will have a strong foundation in PAM security administration and be able to configure and manage authentication policies on Linux servers.
Key Benefits
- Understand how PAM controls authentication in Linux
- Learn how to install and configure Linux for PAM testing
- Explore PAM configuration files and understand their structure
- Manage user authentication and access through PAM-aware services
- Secure Linux servers using PAM authentication mechanisms
- Gain practical skills for Linux system security and administration
Target Audience
- Linux administrators managing authentication systems
- Cybersecurity professionals focusing on Linux security
- IT professionals working with Linux-based infrastructure
- Beginners interested in learning authentication and access control
- Anyone preparing for Linux security certifications
Learning Objectives
- Understand what PAM is and how it secures Linux authentication
- Set up a Linux virtual machine for PAM configuration
- Explore PAM configuration files and their components
- Manage authentication policies using PAM modules
- Learn how PAM-aware services interact with authentication mechanisms
- Verify and configure user access controls using PAM settings
Course Outline
The Mastering Linux PAM Exam covers the following topics -
Module 1 - Introduction to PAM Security
- Overview of the course and what to expect
- Introduction to Linux PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules)
- Understanding the purpose and significance of PAM in security
Module 2 - Setting Up a Linux Virtual Environment
- Downloading and installing VirtualBox for virtualization
- Creating and configuring a virtual machine for Linux
- Installing CentOS 7 and 8 to work with PAM
Module 3 - Understanding PAM Configuration Files
- What is PAM and how does it work?
- The role of PAM in Linux authentication
- Understanding the structure of PAM configuration files
- Exploring the different columns in a PAM file
Module 4 - Deep Dive into PAM Configuration Components
- Module Interface: Understanding how PAM interacts with authentication modules
- Control Flags: Learning how to define authentication rules in PAM
- Modules: Configuring authentication and access policies
Module 5 - Managing Authentication with PAM
- How PAM controls user account access
- Exploring PAM-aware services and authentication stacks
- Verifying and troubleshooting PAM-based authentication
