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The PGP Certified Technician Course Overview

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The PGP Certified Technician Course, referred to as the PCT, is an intensive, 3-day hands-on course. The course consists of several sections that outline various required and recommended components for a PGP product deployment and subsequent administration.

The course will cover the PGP Universal Server and PGP Desktop products in detail. After all of the modules are presented the course culminates in a full review and a closed-book certification exam. Details about this exam will be given to the students during the course.

Typically the course runs a full three days, and always starts at 9:00 in the morning on the first scheduled day of training. Most evenings the training will conclude at 5:30. Occasionally the instructors will either lengthen or shorten the training days to ensure coverage of all of the material.

Module outline:

Section 1: Deployment Essentials

Module 1 – Pre-Deployment
This module discusses at a high-level what an organization should consider when it is preparing to deploy PGP products. During the lab the mock deployment checklist and the course lab format will be explained.

Module 2 - Introduction / Installation of PGP Universal Server A synopsis of the components which comprise PGP Universal Server and a high-level overview of functionality. This module also covers installation options, the setup assistant, and an intro to administrative users and the user interface for the PGP Universal Server. The module lab covers the installation and initial configuration of a PGP Universal Server.

Module 3 – Administrative Keys
An introduction to PGP Universal Server Administrative Level Keys and functions. The Organization Key, Organization Certificate, ADK, SSL/TLS Certificates and Ignition Keys are covered in this module.

Module 4 - Maintenance
A concise summary of the numerous ways to monitor the activity of PGP Universal Server, as well as an overview of updates and backups. During the lab the PGP Universal Server will be updated and backups will be performed.

Section 2: Deployment Recommendations

Module 5 – Clustering
A synopsis of the failover and redundancy provided by joining two or more PGP Universal Servers in a cluster.

Module 6 - PGP Universal Server Internal User Policy
A quick introduction and discussion about what a ‘User’ is in a PGP product environment and how those users can be separated into different groups with unique PGP product settings, called Internal User Policies.

Module 7 - PGP Universal Server Directory Synchronization
A discussion of directories and the ways in which PGP Universal Server can leverage the user information and/or user keys contained in directories. Directory Synchronization will be configured.

Section 3: Mail

Module 8 – Mail scenarios and administration
In this module we discuss how logical placement of PGP Universal Server and PGP Clients affects mail processing. We then talk about configuring mail connections using Mail Proxies and then finish the module by exploring various mail configuration tabs on the PGP Universal Server.

Module 9 – 'Granular' Mail Policy
This module covers the chains and rules that govern mail processing. We also discuss modification of existing policy and creation of new rules and chains. During this lab default processing behavior is observed and then modified by adding chains and rules.

Section 4: PGP Desktop

Module 10 – Key Settings
This discussion begins to explain all of the various settings contained inside Internal User Policy (see module 6). This particular module concentrates on the PGP Desktop Key Settings. This module has a guided lab that will allow a participant to begin configuring a custom Internal User Policy.

Module 11 – General and messaging settings
This module continues the guided lab and discussion format of module 10, explaining the options that can be configured on the General, Licensing and Messaging tabs of an Internal User Policy.

Module 12 - PGP Whole Disk Encryption
This module continues the guided lab and discussion format of modules 10 and 11, explaining the options that can be configured on the PGP Whole Disk Encryption tab. There is also an in-depth discussion of recovery and administration features of managed PGP Whole Disk Encryption.

Module 13 - PGP NetShare
This module continues the guided lab and discussion format began in module 10, explaining the options that can be configured for PGP NetShare. Also, information is discussed about PGP NetShare user and group administration and usage concepts.

Module 14 – Installation and enrollment
This module concludes the guided lab and discussion format began in module10, explaining how a custom PGP Desktop installation is downloaded and installed, and how the different forms or enrollment are configured. During part 1 of this lab PGP Desktop is downloaded and installed and Silent Enrollment is performed. During part 2 of this lab the various functions of PGP Desktop discussed in previous modules are explored and used.

Module 15 – The Verified Directory
This module introduces the concept of Key Not Found when searching for recipient encryption keys. It then discusses the web key search interface on the PGP Universal Server known as the Verified Directory. During this time we will also talk about the public PGP keyserver, known as the PGP Global Directory. There is no lab for this module.

Section 5: External communication

Module 16 – Web Messenger
During this discussion the secure web-style inbox service known as Web Messenger is introduced. There is also information presented about configuring, customizing and using this service from an administration and user perspective. During the lab a Web Messenger inbox will be created and then a custom template will be used to modify the look of Web Messenger from an end-user perspective.

Module 17 – Smart Trailer
This module quickly discusses a small ‘trailer’ or appended message that can be added to the bottom of email messages that allows external recipients to secure their messaging. There is no lab for this module.

Module 18 – PGP Universal External Satellite
Defines and explains the other PGP Client application, meant for external users, PGP Universal Satellite. There is no lab for this module.

Module 19 – PDF Messenger
Introduces the Statement and Certified Delivery functionality of PGP Universal Server, called PDF Messenger. During the lab messages will be sent to see this functionality.

Module 20 – Out Of Mail Stream (OOMS)
Quickly introduces the functionality that allows managed PGP Desktop clients to send Web Messenger or Smart Trailer messages, even if a PGP Universal Server is not in the mail flow. There is no lab for this module.

Module 21 – Windows Mobile & PGP Support for Blackberry
Provides an overview of the supported features available for Windows Mobile users. Describes how to install the PGP client files. Also provides an overview and some details regarding the PGP Support for Blackberry. There is no lab for this module.

Review – In-depth material review
This is typically a 1-2 hour question and answer session that covers the highlights of the course, with the goal of preparing participants to take the certification exam.

Certification Exam
This is a closed-book, 60 question, multiple-choice test. Where available, it is administered online using the lab machines. 80% (48/60) and above is a passing score. Students who fail the exam will have the opportunity to take it again at the discretion of the instructors.

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