Project Overview
The project aimed to build foundational and advanced capacity in network security and monitoring among IT technicians of Afghan public universities. Conducted in two intensive 5-day training phases, coordinated by MoHE and Shaheed Rabbani Education University, the workshop covered network threats, security tools, protocols, and mitigation techniques for campus infrastructure protection.
🏛️ Critical Infrastructure Protection
This training was essential for strengthening cybersecurity capabilities across Afghanistan's higher education sector, providing IT technicians with practical skills to protect university networks and systems.
Training Phases & Curriculum
December 2019 - Foundation Training
Initial 5-day intensive workshop covering network security fundamentals, threat identification, and basic security tools deployment for university IT staff.
February 2020 - Advanced Training
Advanced 5-day workshop focusing on sophisticated security protocols, monitoring techniques, and hands-on implementation of enterprise security solutions.
Pre & Post Training Evaluation
Comprehensive assessment program measuring knowledge gains in secure practices, tool awareness, and network monitoring capabilities.
📊 Training Effectiveness Results
Significant Knowledge Improvement: Post-test scores showed major gains in VPN awareness, IDPS understanding, and modern security protocol implementation.
Security Tools & Technologies
Network Analysis
Wireshark packet analysis, network traffic monitoring, and protocol inspection techniques
Intrusion Detection
Snort IDPS deployment, rule configuration, and real-time threat detection systems
Firewall Management
PFSense configuration, firewall rules, and network segmentation strategies
VPN & Encryption
Secure VPN deployment, 802.11 wireless security, and encryption protocols
DNS Security
DNSSEC implementation, secure DNS configuration, and domain protection
VLAN Management
Network segmentation, VLAN configuration, and traffic isolation techniques
🖥️ Free & Open Source Security Tools
Promoting FOSS adoption to reduce reliance on cracked software and enhance security:
Key Achievements & Impact
🎯 Capacity Building Success
- 49 IT Technicians Trained: From 25 public universities and Ministry of Higher Education
- FOSS Tool Adoption: Participants trained in Security Onion, PFSense, and Kali Linux
- Bandwidth Optimization: Strategies implemented for campus usage optimization and content blocking
- Security Protocol Enhancement: Significant improvement in VPN, IDPS, and modern security awareness
📋 Policy & Standards Development
MoHE Policy Initiative: Ministry pledged to draft standardized security policy with university input for nationwide implementation.
Facebook Community: Trainer support group created for post-training collaboration, updates, and knowledge sharing among participants.
✅ Participant Satisfaction
100% Positive Feedback: All participants rated the workshop as useful and relevant, with majority requesting longer duration and follow-up phases for advanced topics.
Partner Organizations
Coordinated by the Ministry of Higher Education and Shaheed Rabbani Education University with strong institutional partnerships:
MoHE
Ministry of Higher Education
Lead Coordinator - Afghanistan
SREU
Shaheed Rabbani Education University
Training Host
AfgREN
Afghanistan Research and
Education Network
KPU
Kabul Polytechnic
University
Challenges & Future Directions
⚠️ Implementation Challenges
- Training Duration: Participants recommended more time for advanced cybersecurity topics
- Economic Constraints: Local bank policies and exchange rates disrupted equipment budgeting
- Infrastructure Limitations: Weak internet bandwidth hindered some practical lab exercises
- Resource Procurement: Currency fluctuations affected equipment acquisition timelines
🚀 Future Development Plans
Advanced Training Phase: Second-round workshop planned on advanced cybersecurity topics with extended sessions.
National Security Policy: Standard network security policy in development with MoHE for all public universities.
Online Learning Access: Trainers to provide participants with advanced security MOOCs and webinar access.
Knowledge Hub Expansion: Facebook support group to evolve into national IT security knowledge sharing platform.
Sustainable Development Goals
This network security capacity building project contributes to strengthening Afghanistan's higher education infrastructure: