Email Threats and Detection
RCCE students will learn email security architecture including SMTP protocol security, email authentication mechanisms (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), email gateway configuration, anti-phishing controls, attachment sandboxing, URL rewriting, and email encryption. RCCE students will learn to analyze email headers for spoofing indicators, configure email security controls to prevent business email compromise, investigate email-based attacks, implement data loss prevention for outbound email, deploy email encryption for sensitive communications, and tune email security rules to balance protection with business communication needs. This threat-focused course teaches students to think like adversaries while building robust defenses. At an expert level, RCCE students will learn to analyze attack techniques, build detection logic, and implement defensive strategies that proactively identify threats before they cause damage. Students develop a threat-informed mindset that drives better security decisions across all operational activities.
- Security Engineers building defensive controls
- Security Analysts and Blue Team members
- Systems Administrators with security responsibilities
- GRC and Risk Professionals supporting controls
- Professionals implementing Email Threats and Detection
- Build detections and response workflows for privilege escalation
- Execute hands-on tasks for learning objectives
- Explain Email Architecture Overview fundamentals
- Execute hands-on tasks for key components — covering MUA: Mail User Agent (client).
- Execute hands-on tasks for email header anatomy
- Execute hands-on tasks for from / reply-to
- Execute hands-on tasks for x-mailer / user-agent
- Execute hands-on tasks for spf limitations — covering 10 DNS lookup limit per check.
- Monitor and audit privilege usage; detect escalation attempts
- Execute hands-on tasks for signature components — covering d= signing domain identity.
- Execute hands-on tasks for key management — covering Rotate keys every 6-12 months.
| Module 01 | Email Threats and Detection |
| Module 02 | Learning Objectives |
| Module 03 | Email Architecture Overview |
| Module 04 | Key Components |
| Module 05 | Email Header Anatomy |
| Module 06 | From / Reply-To |
| Module 07 | X-Mailer / User-Agent |
| Module 08 | SPF Limitations |
| Module 09 | Monitor SPF failures in DMARC reports |
| Module 10 | Signature Components |
| Module 11 | Key Management |
| Module 12 | Monitor Only |
| Module 13 | Soft Enforce |
| Module 14 | Full Enforce |
All hands-on labs run on Rocheston Rose X OS. Students practice email threats and detection by implementing the controls discussed in class, with a focus on real-world deployment, monitoring, and validation.
- Lab 1: Build detections and response workflows for privilege escalation
- Lab 2: Execute hands-on tasks for learning objectives
- Lab 3: Explain Email Architecture Overview fundamentals
- Lab 4: Execute hands-on tasks for key components
- Lab 5: Execute hands-on tasks for email header anatomy
Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive an official RCCE Course Completion Certificate for Email Threats and Detection, verifiable through the Rocheston certification portal.
- Full access to all course materials and slide decks
- Hands-on lab access on Rocheston Rose X OS environment
- Access to Rocheston CyberNotes
- Access to Rocheston Zelfire — EDR/XDR SIEM platform
- Access to Rocheston Raven — online cyber range exercise platform
- Access to Rocheston Vulnerability Vines AI