NixOS for Cybersecurity
Secure, Reproducible Computing Environments
Export:
NixOS for Cybersecurity
Building secure, reproducible computing environments
Course Overview
This 4-week course introduces cybersecurity professionals and enthusiasts to NixOS as a powerful platform for building secure, reproducible computing environments. Through hands-on exercises and real-world scenarios, you’ll learn how to leverage NixOS’s unique approach to system configuration to enhance security posture, create consistent testing environments, and implement robust security controls.
Course Details
Duration: 4 weeks (8 sessions)
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites: Basic Linux knowledge, familiarity with command line interfaces, and understanding of fundamental security concepts
Format: Online instructor-led with hands-on labs
Next Start Date: September 5th, 2025
Cost: 1,200 EUR (Early bird discount: 950 EUR until August 1st)
Why NixOS for Security?
- Reproducible builds - consistent security across environments
- Declarative configuration - auditable, version-controlled security
- Atomic upgrades - reliable system updates and rollbacks
- Immutable infrastructure - protection against configuration drift
- Isolated packages - enhanced system stability and security
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand and apply NixOS’s declarative approach to system configuration
- Build secure, reproducible computing environments for security operations
- Implement system hardening techniques using NixOS configuration
- Create isolated testing networks and sandboxed environments
- Deploy consistent security tooling across multiple systems
- Develop, version, and share security-focused NixOS configurations
Course Structure
Week 1: NixOS Fundamentals for Security
- Introduction to NixOS and its security benefits
- The Nix package manager and store concepts
- Declarative configuration with configuration.nix
- Setting up a basic secure NixOS system
- Hands-on lab: Creating your first secure configuration
Week 2: System Hardening with NixOS
- Firewall configuration and network security
- User security settings and privilege management
- Service minimization and hardening
- Implementing mandatory access controls (AppArmor, SELinux)
- Hands-on lab: Hardening a NixOS system
Week 3: Network Isolation and Sandboxing
- Container isolation and security
- Network namespaces for security testing
- VPN and tunnel management
- Service sandboxing with systemd
- Hands-on lab: Creating isolated testing environments
Week 4: Deployment and Real-World Applications
- Version-controlled security configurations
- Multi-system deployment with NixOps
- Cloud deployment strategies
- Real-world security scenarios and solutions
- Hands-on lab: Building a complete security lab
Practical Applications
Learn how to apply NixOS in real-world cybersecurity scenarios:
Incident Response
Create reproducible forensics environments that ensure consistent evidence analysis and documentation:
- Identical analysis workstations for team members
- Pre-configured forensic tools with precise version control
- Reproducible evidence handling procedures
- Isolated environments for malware analysis
Penetration Testing
Deploy consistent testing environments across engagements:
- Client-specific tool configurations
- Isolated test networks for safe exploitation
- Reproducible testing environments for validation
- Standardized reporting tools and workflows
Security Research
Create environments for reproducible vulnerability research:
- Exact environment recreation for vulnerability verification
- Version-controlled research configurations
- Collaborative security research environments
- Publication-ready proof-of-concept setups
SOC Operations
Standardize security operations with consistent environments:
- Uniform analyst workstations with identical tools
- Automated threat hunting configurations
- Integrated SIEM connections and dashboards
- Quick environment recovery and updates
What Sets This Course Apart
Practical Focus
Hands-on exercises that apply directly to real-world security operations and challenges.
Infrastructure as Code
Learn to implement security as code with version-controlled, auditable system configurations.
Modern Approach
Cutting-edge techniques that align with the latest in DevSecOps and secure infrastructure practices.
Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for:
- Security professionals looking to enhance their infrastructure security skills
- System administrators seeking to implement more secure and reproducible environments
- DevSecOps practitioners wanting to improve security integration
- Penetration testers looking for consistent testing environments
- IT professionals interested in modern approaches to system security
Prerequisites
Participants should have:
- Basic Linux knowledge and command line experience
- Fundamental understanding of cybersecurity concepts
- Familiarity with version control systems (Git)
- Basic networking knowledge
No prior NixOS experience is required.
Instructors
Alin Mechenici
Lead Instructor
Cybersecurity consultant with over 10 years of experience in secure infrastructure design and implementation. Specializes in hardened systems and reproducible security environments.
Guest Instructors
Industry Experts
Throughout the course, you'll learn from guest instructors who are active in the NixOS and security communities, providing real-world perspectives on implementing secure infrastructure.
Registration Information
Enroll in NixOS for Cybersecurity
Next cohort begins September 5th, 2025
- Early Bird Price: 950 EUR (until August 1st)
- Regular Price: 1,200 EUR
- Group Discount: 15% off for 3+ participants from the same organization
- Format: 8 sessions over 4 weeks (2 sessions per week)
- Class Size: Limited to 20 participants for optimal interaction
Student Testimonials
"This course completely changed how I approach security infrastructure. The reproducible environments have made our security testing much more reliable and consistent."
"As a penetration tester, having reproducible environments is crucial. This course gave me the skills to create consistent testing setups that I can version control and share with my team."
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions
- Do I need prior experience with NixOS?
- No, this course is designed to teach NixOS from the ground up with a security focus. Basic Linux knowledge and command line familiarity are sufficient prerequisites.
- What equipment do I need?
- A computer capable of running virtual machines (minimum 8GB RAM, 50GB free disk space recommended). We'll provide detailed setup instructions before the course begins.
- How hands-on is this course?
- Very hands-on! Each session includes practical exercises, with approximately 60% of course time devoted to labs and exercises.
Additional Information
- Will I receive certification?
- Yes, participants who complete the course and all required lab work will receive a chen.ist Academy certification of completion.
- Are the sessions recorded?
- Yes, all sessions are recorded and available to enrolled participants for 6 months after the course ends.
- Where can I learn more about NixOS?
- Check out our NixOS for Cybersecurity keynote for an overview of the concepts covered in this course.
Ready to master secure system configuration?
Enroll in our NixOS for Cybersecurity course and transform your approach to security infrastructure.
Register for the CourseCitation
@online{mechenici2025,
author = {Mechenici, Alin},
title = {NixOS for {Cybersecurity}},
date = {2025-05-15},
url = {https://chen.ist/academy/courses/nixos-cybersecurity/},
langid = {en}
}