Cybersecurity Lab Architecture                          

Defense-in-Depth Security Lab

An isolated, multi-layered environment for honing offensive and defensive security skills.

  • Download Defense-in-Depth Security Lab
  • 6

    Core Virtual Machines

    A Complete Ecosystem

    This lab provides a comprehensive platform featuring dedicated machines for attack, defense, and monitoring. The entire environment is segmented into a private network, ensuring all activities are contained and can be analyzed safely. The only connection to the outside world is through a managed Next-Generation Firewall.

    Network Topology & Data Flow

    ☁️
    Internet
    OPNsense NGFW
    192.168.170.1
    (Gateway & Firewall)
    Internal LAN (192.168.170.0/24)
    Kali Linux
    192.168.170.133
    (Attacker) 🐧
    Metasploitable 2
    192.168.170.134
    (Target) 🎯
    OWASP BWA
    192.168.170.131
    (Web Target) 🕸️
    ModSecurity
    192.168.170.136
    (WAF) 🛡️
    Security Onion
    192.168.170.12
    (SIEM) 🧅

    Lab Component Roles

    ⚔️ Attacker

    Kali Linux

    The primary workstation for launching simulated attacks, equipped with a full suite of penetration testing tools.

    🎯 Targets

    Metasploitable 2 & OWASP BWA

    Intentionally vulnerable machines designed to be the focus of security assessments and exploitation practice.

    🛡️ Network Defense

    OPNsense & ModSecurity

    A layered defense providing firewalling at the network edge and a WAF to protect web applications from common exploits.

    👁️ Monitoring & Analysis

    Security Onion SIEM

    The central nervous system of the lab. It passively monitors all internal traffic, collecting logs and network data for intrusion detection, threat hunting, and forensic analysis. Its dual-homed configuration allows it to see everything without participating directly in the traffic flow.

    Security Layer Focus

    Each security tool provides a different layer of visibility and protection, from the network perimeter to the application itself. The SIEM provides overarching monitoring across all layers.