JUSTIFICATION AND OVERVIEW:
In today’s data-driven operational environments, understanding how to interpret and analyse digital traffic at scale is critical for intelligence gathering, forensic investigation, network defense, and proactive threat hunting. Whether during the aftermath of a breach, the tracing of adversary command and control channels, or while monitoring secure communications for anomaly detection, Packet Capture (PCAP) files remain a goldmine of actionable intelligence.
Despite the volume of data involved, few personnel are trained to efficiently extract insights from PCAPs or correlated telemetry at scale. This course fills that gap by demystifying network data, teaching foundational analysis techniques, and enabling frontline operators, analysts, and technical investigators to identify threats, reconstruct events, and communicate findings clearly to decision-makers.
This Basics of Data Analysis– Reading PCAPs & Data at Scale course is designed with accessibility and scalability in mind. It introduces students to core concepts in packet-based traffic analysis, filtering and interpreting raw network data, and handling bulk telemetry data from sensors, endpoints, or SIEM platforms. Delivered by experienced forensic analysts and network defenders, it uses a blended methodology of guided walkthroughs, real-world scenarios, and hands-on practical exercises.
This course is applicable to cybercrime units, military intelligence sections, government red/blue teams, and operational analysts seeking to build a stronger technical foundation in data interpretation and evidence-based decision-making.
BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT:
This course equips participants with the ability to read and understand PCAPs, interpret patterns in large datasets, and develop data-driven assessments for cybersecurity operations, incident response, and intelligence collection—no prior advanced coding or packet analysis experience required.
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:
Students are not required to have any specific experience before participating in this course. A strong technical aptitude is strongly recommended or equivalent training, will lay a robust groundwork for this course.
INDICATIVE COURSE CONTENT:
Module 1: Introduction to Network Data & Packet Capture Files
• What is a PCAP? Common sources of capture
• Overview of network protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, TLS)
• Tools of the trade: Wireshark, Zeek, Tshark, tcpdump
Module 2: Core Skills in Packet Analysis
• Understanding the 5-tuple and flow characteristics
• Filtering, tagging, and tracing conversations
• Detecting anomalies and malicious traffic signatures
Module 3: Interpreting Data at Scale
• Working with large PCAP files
• Introduction to bulk data processing tools (ELK Stack, Jupyter Notebooks)
• Extracting meaningful context from log and telemetry sources
Module 4: Practical Hands-On Scenarios
• Reconstructing events from a captured intrusion
• Identifying data exfiltration patterns
• Following the attacker’s path from initial access to command and control
Module 5: Operational Reporting & Intelligence
• Converting packet data into actionable intelligence
• Report writing, visualisations, and evidence preservation
• Working with technical and non-technical stakeholders