10 Best Pfsense Courses and Certifications Online

Pfsense, an open-source firewall and routing platform, has been gaining increasing popularity in recent years due to its robust security features and customizable functionality. As a result, there has been a growing demand for online courses that provide comprehensive training on Pfsense installation, configuration, and management. In this article, we will explore some of the top-rated online courses that aim to equip learners with the necessary skills and knowledge to become proficient in Pfsense.

Here’s a look at the Best Pfsense Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

10 Best Pfsense Courses and Certifications Online

1. Crash Course: Manage Network Security With pfSense Firewall by TetraNoodle Team, Manuj Aggarwal (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

The “Crash Course: Manage Network Security With pfSense Firewall” is a course taught by the TetraNoodle Team and Manuj Aggarwal. It is designed to help learners protect their network using an open source firewall. The course covers features such as Failover, Load Balancer, OpenVPN, IPSec, and Squid.

Firewalls act as a shield between a computer and the internet. They filter packets of information to block or allow data according to a set of rules. They are essential in protecting against cyber threats such as hackers, keyloggers, and Trojans.

Basic firewalls included in operating systems may not provide adequate protection as they only monitor incoming traffic. A good firewall should also monitor outgoing traffic to keep private information safe. pfSense is a highly versatile, open source routing and firewall software that is trusted by thousands of enterprises.

The course covers the installation, configuration, and deployment of pfSense. Learners will gain an understanding of key features and advantages as well as how to create and manage firewall rules. They will also learn how to configure pfSense for failover and load balancing across multiple WAN connections and how to use it as a Squid proxy server.

Acquiring skills in IT and security can lead to lucrative career opportunities. This course is designed to provide learners with the knowledge and experience needed to become skilled in these technologies.

2. Security: Manage Network Security With pfSense Firewall by TetraNoodle Team, Manuj Aggarwal (Udemy)

The “Security: Manage Network Security With pfSense Firewall” course by TetraNoodle Team and Manuj Aggarwal teaches individuals how to use an open source firewall to protect their network. The course covers features such as Failover, Load Balancer, OpenVPN, IPSec, and Squid. Firewalls are important for both personal and corporate use as they prevent cyber threats such as hackers, keyloggers, and Trojans from attacking through unpatched security holes. Firewalls act as a barrier between a computer and the internet by filtering incoming and outgoing data packets to prevent unauthorized access and protect private information. While basic firewalls may only monitor incoming traffic, a good firewall will monitor traffic in both directions. pfSense is a highly versatile, open source routing and firewall software that contains all of the features found in commercial firewall solutions and more. This course teaches individuals how to install, configure, and deploy pfSense, as well as how to create and manage firewall rules, configure failover and load balancing across multiple WAN connections, set up remote connectivity using OpenVPN and IPSec, and integrate pfSense as a Squid proxy server. The course is ideal for IT engineers and professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and experience in network security technologies.

3. Mastering pfSense by Jay Singh (Udemy)

The Mastering pfSense course, led by instructor Jay Singh, offers a hands-on experience for students to learn about the open source firewall pfSense. The course is designed for beginner IT enthusiasts and anyone interested in learning about the pfSense firewall.

The course provides a clear understanding and demonstration of pfSense in a virtual environment, where students can practice with real-world scenarios. Testing is done after every configuration with clear explanations provided where possible.

In addition to its firewall feature, pfSense can also act as a router, DHCP server, DNS server, VPN server, captive portal, and more through third-party packages. The course covers these features and their applications.

The course includes various sections, such as Getting Started with this Course, pfSense Lab Setup, pfSense Installation, Exploring pfSense WebGUI, pfSense Administration, User Management, DHCP Server Configuration, Captive Portal, Firewall Fundamentals, Rules and NAT Rules, VPN Configuration And Testing, Package Manager (HTTP and HTTPS Web Filtering with Squid and SquidGuard), Backing up, Upgrading and Restoring pfSense, and What is next?

It is important to note that this is a beginner’s level course created in a virtual, non-production environment. Students should test all required security measures before deploying any demonstrated settings in a production environment. The instructor commits to regular updating and answering all questions related to the course.

4. pfSense Fundamentals – Secure Networks With pfSense Firewall by Ted LeRoy (Udemy)

Course Title: pfSense Fundamentals – Secure Networks With pfSense Firewall

The pfSense Fundamentals course is designed to equip learners with the knowledge and skills needed to secure their home or business networks using the free, enterprise-grade pfSense Firewall. The course is led by experienced instructor Ted LeRoy, and is suitable for learners of all skill levels.

The course is structured into several sections, including an introduction to firewalls, a refresher on firewall concepts, pfSense installation, creating a virtual lab, pfSense initial setup, pfSense firewall configuration, using pfBlockerNG, implementing Snort IDS/IPS, deploying Suricata IDS/IPS, setting up a DMZ, and performing maintenance on the pfSense firewall.

Throughout the course, learners will gain hands-on experience through practical exercises and lab activities, allowing them to become proficient in using the pfSense Firewall to secure their networks. By the end of the course, learners will have a solid understanding of how to configure and manage a pfSense Firewall in a variety of settings.

5. pfSense for Dummies : Setup and Configure your own firewall by Abhilash Nelson (Udemy)

This course, “pfSense for Dummies: Setup and Configure your own Firewall,” is taught by Abhilash Nelson. The course covers how to set up the pfSense open source firewall in both an actual and virtual scenario. The course includes 32 sessions that cover topics such as firewall concepts, advantages of pfSense, installing pfSense, configuring captive portal, and website blocking functionality. The course also covers advanced system configuration options and administrative options. The course provides a course completion certificate that can be included in a Network Administration portfolio.

6. The pfSense Fundamentals Bootcamp 2022 by Stefan Rosanitsch (Udemy)

The pfSense Fundamentals Bootcamp 2022 is a hands-on course that aims to teach individuals how to secure their home network or business using the pfSense firewall with confidence. The course is taught by Stefan Rosanitsch, an officially certified pfSense professional who has years of experience in using and teaching about pfSense. The course covers all the basic functions of a pfSense firewall and provides individuals with the knowledge to operate it in both home and business environments.

To participate in the course, individuals do not require a physical appliance as a computer with 8GB of RAM is enough to run a virtual machine with pfSense. The course is regularly updated to ensure compatibility with the latest version of pfSense, and Stefan pays extra attention to topics that people struggle with the most.

The course is designed to be fun and engaging, with Stefan incorporating lame dad jokes to keep individuals motivated. It covers various topics, including installing pfSense, configuring DHCP and DNS resolver, setting up firewall rules, backing up and restoring configurations, troubleshooting tips, and more. Additionally, there are optional sections for setting up OpenVPN, Squid Proxy & ClamAV, and VLAN configuration.

In conclusion, the pfSense Fundamentals Bootcamp 2022 is an excellent course for individuals looking to learn how to use and operate the pfSense firewall. The course is comprehensive, regularly updated, and taught by an officially certified pfSense professional with years of experience.

7. Hands-On pfSense 2.x for Firewalls and Routers by Packt Publishing (Udemy)

The course “Hands-On pfSense 2.x for Firewalls and Routers” is offered by Packt Publishing and aims to teach elite network security with open-source software. The course is centered around pfSense, an open-source security suite based on OpenBSD, which is widely used by top-notch network security professionals to provide versatile network control with advanced traffic routes, firewalls, and monitoring tools. The course covers topics such as installation and configuration of core pfSense services, network segregation, securing, monitoring, and maintaining networks with pfSense. Advanced topics include custom firewall rules, automated blocking, virtual private networks, among others. By the end of the course, participants will be confident using pfSense to secure physical and virtual networks with the industry’s most exciting network perimeter defense system.

The course instructor, Jason White, is a freelance cloud security consultant with 25 years of experience in remote network administration and a lifetime spent writing code in various languages, such as BASICA, Bash, C, PHP, JavaScript, and others. Jason has a passion for teaching and enjoys turning difficult technical topics into easy-to-understand analogies in a fun and entertaining way. He is also a member of MENSA, a society for people with high IQs, and enjoys using his unique gifts to provide solutions, insight, and education to aspiring intellects.

The course is divided into several sections, starting with an introduction that covers understanding pfSense features, GUI, and vocabulary. The basics section covers global configuration and basic networking, followed by managing multiple networks, firewalls, and network address translation. The maintenance essentials section covers necessary actions to keep the network secure and maintainable. The secure remote access section covers methods of remote access to the network while maintaining security. Finally, the elite topics section covers advanced topics such as custom firewall rules, automated blocking, virtual private networks, and more. Each section is designed to provide in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with pfSense to secure physical and virtual networks.

8. Beginners Are Building Their Own Fortune500 Grade Firewalls! by Brian Franklin (Udemy)

The course entitled “Beginners Are Building Their Own Fortune500 Grade Firewalls!” is instructed by Brian Franklin. The course teaches how to turn a regular PC into a corporate grade firewall using free PfSense firewall software. The course is designed for beginners and walks through each step of installation and configuration in a simple, easy-to-understand manner. The course is not theoretical or generic, but instead based on real-life experience installing firewalls for clients. Additional lectures will cover intermediate and advanced topics, and the course includes bonus information to further deepen understanding.

The course instructor, Brian, has extensive experience configuring and installing over 100 routers and firewalls, ranging in price from $50 to over $100,000. He has found that PfSense firewall software is a great option for protecting client networks and wants to share his knowledge and experience with others. The course avoids technical jargon and focuses on the necessary steps to get the PfSense firewall up and running in the shortest amount of time possible.

The course content includes an introduction to PfSense, a low-budget equipment list, software downloads, equipment setup and review, PfSense installation, preliminary configuration, and configuration with a screen-by-screen walk-through. The course also covers the power of PfSense and includes bonus information to deepen understanding.

The course is not theoretical or generic, but instead based on real-life experience installing firewalls for clients. Additional lectures will cover intermediate and advanced topics, and the course includes bonus information to further deepen understanding. The course is designed for those who install firewalls or are firewall hobbyists. A 30-day money-back guarantee is offered to ensure satisfaction.

9. Pfsense on GNS3 for LABS Emulation by Maher Haddad (Udemy)

Course Title: Pfsense on GNS3 for LABS Emulation
Course Instructors: Maher Haddad

This course is designed to teach students how to emulate Pfsense LABS using GNS3 software. Pfsense is a BSD-based software that is used for routing, firewalling, VPN, and more. The instructor will guide students step-by-step on how to install Pfsense on a single computer machine and connect their real PC to the Pfsense virtual router for configuration. The course will also cover how to connect the Pfsense router to the internet. By the end of the course, students will be able to deploy a similar scenario on their PC.

The course is free of charge and requires only a PC and internet connection. The software used in the course is also free. Although the course will not cover Pfsense configuration, future courses will provide detailed instruction on router configuration.

The course includes sections on softwares for emulation and LAN and WAN on Pfsense.

10. pfSense LABS for Beginners by Maher Haddad (Udemy)

The pfSense LABS for Beginners course, instructed by Maher Haddad, aims to provide an introduction to pfSense configuration for individuals without prior experience with the OS. The course addresses the increasing popularity and reliability of pfSense, while acknowledging the difficulty of configuration without proper understanding of relevant technologies.

The course will cover various topics, including adding a new interface on pfSense, DHCP server with static entries and ARP, bridge, firewall, VLAN, QOS, backup and restore, and graph. Each topic will be explained and applied through LABs, which will utilize GNS3 emulation to avoid hardware costs.

The course is designed for beginners with basic TCP/IP knowledge and a computer with internet access. By the end of the course, learners should be capable of configuring pfSense for small/medium companies. The course content is divided into sections, which include pfSense First Hands-on, Securing pfSense DHCP assignment, Bridge, Firewall, Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), QOS, Backup and Restore, and Graph.