Build job-ready cybersecurity skills through practical experience in vulnerability assessment and incident response using OpenVAS.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

Install and configure OpenVAS in a Linux environment, setting up scan targets and running initial vulnerability assessments.
Interpret and analyze OpenVAS scan results, applying CVSS scoring to assess and prioritize vulnerabilities.
Evaluate risks based on asset value, exploitability, and impact to develop effective remediation plans.
Detect and contain active threats by correlating system logs, indicators of compromise, and OpenVAS results.
Produce structured, professional post-incident reports integrating threat intelligence and policy recommendations.
Simulate a complete incident response lifecycle using OpenVAS, from detection and containment to remediation and reporting.

Designed for cybersecurity professionals and aspiring ethical hackers, this 4-week course immerses you in realistic scenarios where you’ll install and configure OpenVAS, run vulnerability scans, interpret CVSS scores, and identify security gaps across networked systems.

You’ll analyze system and network logs, correlate scan results with attack frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, and apply containment strategies to mitigate active threats. Moving beyond detection, you’ll learn to prioritize risks, plan effective remediation, and document findings in structured, evidence-based reports.

The course concludes with a full incident response simulation where you’ll apply OpenVAS to detect, contain, and remediate an attack scenario while producing a professional-grade incident report.

Through guided labs, assignments, and a final project, you’ll gain real-world skills that strengthens your cybersecurity portfolio and prepares you for roles in vulnerability management and incident response.

Recommended Skills Prior to Taking this Course

Working knowledge of networking, operating systems (especially Linux), and cybersecurity concepts is helpful, but you don’t need to be an expert to get started.

Course Syllabus

Module 1: Installation and Configuration of OpenVAS

Module Summary and Learning Objectives
Understanding Vulnerability Assessment and its Role in Defense
What is OpenVAS and How Does it Work
GVM Core Concepts and Terminology
OpenVAS Architecture and Components
Comparison: OpenVAS vs Nessus vs Qualys
Step-by-Step OpenVAS Setup Explained
Feed Synchronization, GVM Services and Startup Logic
Navigating the OpenVAS Dashboard: A Guided Tour
GVM Overview
Configuring Scan Targets and Credentials in OpenVAS
Understanding GVM Daemon Dependencies

Module 2: Vulnerability Analysis and Remediation Planning

Module Summary and Learning Objectives
Anatomy of an OpenVAS Report: Key Metrics and Tags
Common Vulnerabilities Identified by OpenVAS
CVSS in Practice: Interpreting Real-World Scores
CVSS Scoring Explained
Vulnerability Lifecycle Management
Ranking Risk: Asset Context, CVSS, and Exploitability
Patching vs Mitigation: Choosing the Right Response
Mitigation Planning for Enterprise Environments
Using Asset Value and Threat Intelligence to Prioritize Fixes

Module 3: Threat Detection and Incident Containment

Module Summary and Learning Objectives
How Vulnerability Data Supports Threat Hunting
OpenVAS Alerts and Real-Time Threat Intelligence
Correlating Logs and Scans to Identify Anomalies
Network Behavior and Anomalies
Mapping Scan Results to MITRE ATT&CK Tactics
Containment Strategies
Response Strategy: When and How to Isolate a Host
When to Disconnect or Reimage a Host
Key Tools and Techniques for Threat Containment

Module 4: Post-Incident Analysis, Final Project, Final Exam, and Course Wrap-Up

Module Summary and Learning Objectives
Writing and Structuring a Post-Incident Report
Integrating Threat Intelligence into After-Action Reports
Turning Lessons Learned into Policy Improvements
Best Practices for Report Writing
Final Project
Final Graded Quiz
Course Wrap-Up and Next Steps

OpenVAS for Vulnerability Assessment and Incident Response

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