Below are selected hands-on projects and labs showcasing my skills in IT support, networking, security, cloud computing, and system administration. These projects demonstrate my ability to troubleshoot, configure, and secure IT environments using real-world tools and methodologies.
Networking & Security
Packet Tracer Labs (Subnetting, VLANs, Routing, Firewalls)
🔹 Project Title: VLAN Configuration in Cisco Packet Tracer
Objective: Configure VLANs for network segmentation.
Commands Used:
Commands Used:
vlan 10
vlan 20
show vlan brief
vlan 20
show vlan brief
Figure 1: Network Topology – Devices connected to SW1 before VLAN setup.
Figure 2: VLAN Creation Output – VLAN 10 and VLAN 20 were manually configured and verified using show vlan brief.
Figure 3: VLAN Port Assignments – Ports Gig1/0/1 and Gig1/0/2 successfully assigned to VLAN 10, and Ports Gig1/0/3 and Gig1/0/4 successfully assigned to VLAN 20, verified using show vlan brief.
Security Pro Labs (Firewall Configuration, IDS/IPS Setup, Threat Detection)
Ethical Hacking Labs (Penetration Testing, Social Engineering, Vulnerability Scanning)
Linux & Server Administration
Linux lab: Set directory permissions
Understanding Linux Directory Permissions
In Linux, file and directory permissions control who can access, modify, or execute files. These permissions are represented by a combination of r (read), w (write), and x (execute) for three categories of users:
Owner (User) – The person who owns the file.
Group – A set of users who share access to the file.
Others (World) – All other users on the system.
Viewing Directory Permissions
To check permissions on the /hr directory, we use the following command: ls -la /hr
Figure 1.Â
The output reveals the current permissions:
drwxr--r-- 2 bcassini hr 4096 Oct 15 2010 . drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 0 Jul 31 2024 ..
Breaking down drwxr--r--:
d → Indicates this is a directory.
rwx → Owner (bcassini) has read, write, and execute permissions.
r-- → Group (hr) has read-only access.
r-- → Others also have read-only access.
Modifying Directory Permissions
The required permissions for /hr in this lab are drwxr-xr-x (755), meaning:
The owner retains full access (rwx).
The group and others should have read and execute (r-x) access.
To apply these permissions, run the following command: chmod 755 /hr​​​​​​​
Figure 3: After running this, verify the changes with the command: ls -l /.
What I Learned from This Lab
This lab reinforced my understanding of Linux directory permissions and how they impact system security and user access. Key takeaways include:
✅ File and Directory Permissions: I learned how to interpret Linux file permissions (rwxr-xr-x), modify them with chmod, and verify changes using ls -la.
✅ Security Best Practices: I applied permission changes to the /hr directory using chmod 755, ensuring the owner has full control while others have read and execute access. This aligns with industry best practices for securing shared directories.
✅ Troubleshooting & Problem-Solving: Understanding permissions allows me to diagnose common file access issues. For example, if a user reports "Permission Denied," I now know to check and adjust execute (x) permissions on directories.
✅ Real-World Application: These skills are essential for IT support, system administration, and cybersecurity roles, as managing file permissions is a fundamental task in Linux-based systems. Employers need professionals who can secure files, manage access, and troubleshoot permission-related errors efficiently.
By demonstrating these hands-on Linux skills, I am confident in my ability to handle permission-related tasks in an entry-level IT role, such as a Help Desk Technician, IT Support Specialist, or Junior System Administrator.
TestOut Linux Pro Labs (User Management, Bash Scripting, Security Hardening)
Windows Server Hybrid Core Labs (Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS/DHCP Setup)
Cloud & Virtualization
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Labs (EC2 Setup, IAM Users/Roles, S3 Storage, Cloud Security)
Azure/Hybrid Server Pro Labs (Windows Server & Cloud Integration)
IT Support & Help Desk
Troubleshooting Scenarios (Hardware, Software, Network)
Service Desk Ticketing & Remote Support