Project Overview
The "Workshop on Advanced Network/System Administration and Security" was initiated to build advanced technical capacity among engineers and IT administrators from National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in Asia. Organized by IICT, BUET in collaboration with BdREN, this comprehensive workshop focused on cybersecurity, DNSSEC, email security, web hosting, and system virtualization using open-source tools.
Security Technologies Covered
🔒 DNSSEC Implementation
DNS Security Extensions for secure domain name resolution
📧 Email Security
Secure email configuration and spam filtering systems
🛡️ SSH Hardening
Advanced SSH security configurations and best practices
🌐 Web Server Security
Apache web security and SSL/TLS implementation
📦 LXC/LXD Virtualization
Linux containerization for secure service deployment
🔍 System Monitoring
Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems
Workshop Activities
Interactive Training Sessions
3-day intensive workshop in December 2019 covering SSH hardening, secure email configuration, web server administration, and containerization with hands-on practice.
Live Demonstration Labs
Practical exercises including DNSSEC implementation, email spam filtering, Apache web security, and Linux containerization with guided supervision.
Cross-Border Collaboration
39 participants from Bangladesh and 8 regional NRENs, enhancing peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and regional networking.
Comprehensive Resources
Resource packs with printed manuals, downloadable slides, demo scripts, and session recordings for continuous learning and replication.
Feedback & Evaluation
Visual survey forms measuring satisfaction in content relevance, instruction quality, logistics, and practical applicability.
Knowledge Dissemination
Outputs shared via BUET and BdREN websites, social media, event banners, press coverage, and certificates for participants.
Key Outcomes & Impact
The workshop successfully enhanced the technical capacity of 39 NREN engineers with practical expertise in open-source security tools and secure service deployment. Key achievements include:
Technical Achievements
- DNSSEC Integration: Participants deployed DNSSEC with test zones, contributing to wider DNS security implementations
- Virtualization Adoption: Engineers embraced LXC/LXD container-based virtualization for cost-effective infrastructure management
- Security Hardening: Practical implementation of SSH hardening and email security configurations
- Web Security: Advanced Apache web server security and SSL/TLS implementation
Network & Collaboration
The cross-border format established technical rapport among regional NRENs for continued collaboration. 94% of attendees expressed satisfaction with workshop design and endorsed similar future programs. Training resources are now publicly accessible through institutional portals for reuse.
Partner Organizations
Led by Institute of Information and Communication Technology (IICT), BUET in collaboration with BdREN, featuring extensive regional partnerships:
IICT, BUET
Lead Organizer
BdREN
Bangladesh
LEARN
Sri Lanka
NREN
Nepal
PREGINET
Philippines
DrukREN
Bhutan
ThaiREN
Thailand
LERNET
Laos
MYREN
Malaysia
Challenges & Future Directions
Identified Challenges
- Gender Inclusion: Limited female participation - future initiatives will ensure better inclusivity strategies
- Language Barriers: Technical instruction occasionally required simplified terms for non-native English speakers
- Technical Compatibility: Heterogeneous laptops and OS versions led to minor compatibility issues
- Duration Constraints: 3-day format limited deeper exploration of advanced automation topics
Future Plans
Replication Strategy: Partner institutions will replicate training modules for local technical teams. The workshop's alumni network will promote information sharing across participating countries.
Advanced Tracks: Proposed follow-up programs will introduce cloud-based orchestration and DevOps security automation with dedicated resource repositories for public access.
Sustainable Development Goals
This project contributes significantly to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals: