Top 12 Network Support Technician Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's digitally-driven world, the role of a network support technician has become increasingly crucial for maintaining the seamless operation of IT infrastructures across various industries. To stand out in this competitive field, it's essential to highlight a blend of technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and communication abilities on your resume, showcasing your capability to tackle complex network challenges efficiently.

Network Support Technician Skills

1. Cisco IOS
2. Juniper Junos
3. TCP/IP
4. VLAN Configuration
5. Wireshark
6. BGP Routing
7. OSPF Protocol
8. MPLS Networks
9. IPv6 Implementation
10. SNMP Monitoring
11. Firewall Management
12. VPN Setup

1. Cisco IOS

Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is a proprietary operating system that runs on most Cisco routers and switches, providing network infrastructure and services for routing, switching, and data communications. It enables network configuration, management, and troubleshooting for network support technicians.

Why It's Important

Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is crucial for a Network Support Technician as it provides the software infrastructure for configuring, managing, and troubleshooting Cisco network devices, ensuring stable and secure network operations.

How to Improve Cisco IOS Skills

Improving Cisco IOS performance and security for a Network Support Technician involves several key actions. Here's a concise guide:

1. Update IOS: Regularly update to the latest Cisco IOS version to patch vulnerabilities and improve features. Cisco Software Download

2. Configure Logging: Enable logging to monitor and troubleshoot network issues effectively. Cisco Logging Configuration Guide

3. Secure Access: Implement strong access control measures. Use SSH instead of Telnet, set strong passwords, and apply ACLs. Cisco SSH Configuration Guide

4. Network Optimization: Utilize Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize critical network traffic and ensure bandwidth efficiency. Cisco QoS Configuration Guide

5. Backup Configuration: Regularly back up your configuration files to recover quickly from failures. Cisco Configuration Backup Guide

6. Network Segmentation: Use VLANs to segment your network, enhancing performance and security. Cisco VLAN Configuration Guide

7. Implement Security Features: Activate features like IP Source Guard and Dynamic ARP Inspection to protect against common attacks. Cisco IP Source Guard Configuration Guide

8. Performance Monitoring: Use SNMP or NetFlow to monitor network performance and identify bottlenecks. Cisco SNMP Configuration Guide

By following these steps, a Network Support Technician can enhance the performance, security, and reliability of Cisco IOS devices in their network.

How to Display Cisco IOS Skills on Your Resume

2. Juniper Junos

Juniper Junos, short for Juniper Networks Operating System, is a network operating system used primarily on Juniper Networks' networking equipment. It is designed to deliver high performance, reliability, and security for routing, switching, and security devices. For a Network Support Technician, Junos provides a unified, consistent interface and command-line experience across all devices, simplifying configuration, management, and troubleshooting of network infrastructure.

Why It's Important

Juniper Junos is important for a Network Support Technician because it provides a unified, robust, and scalable operating system that simplifies network configuration, management, and troubleshooting across Juniper's networking devices, enhancing network reliability and efficiency.

How to Improve Juniper Junos Skills

Improving your Junos skills as a Network Support Technician involves a combination of theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and continuous learning. Here are concise steps to enhance your Junos capabilities:

1. Understand the Basics: Start with the foundation of Junos OS. Ensure you're familiar with Junos architecture, CLI (Command Line Interface), and basic configuration tasks. Juniper's Getting Started resources are a great place to begin.

2. Official Documentation: Regularly refer to Juniper's official documentation for detailed insights and updates on Junos. It's an invaluable resource for best practices, configuration examples, and troubleshooting tips.

3. Junos Genius: Enroll in Junos Genius, a digital learning platform by Juniper that offers a wide range of training materials, from beginner to advanced levels.

4. Practice: Hands-on experience is crucial. Use GNS3 with Juniper vMX or vQFX virtual routers for a practical understanding of configurations and troubleshooting.

5. Certification: Consider pursuing Juniper Networks Certification Program (JNCP) certifications. Start with JNCIA-Junos for core skills, moving onto more specialized certs. Exam objectives and practice tests can be found on the Juniper Networks Certification Program page.

6. Forums and Community: Engage with the Juniper community through forums such as the Juniper Networks Community. Sharing experiences and solutions with peers can provide real-world insights and tips.

7. Automation Skills: Junos OS supports automation tools like Ansible, Python, and PyEZ. Familiarize yourself with these through Juniper's Automation documentation and online resources like GitHub repositories.

By following these steps and making use of the resources provided, you can significantly improve your Junos skills and effectively support and manage Juniper-based networks.

How to Display Juniper Junos Skills on Your Resume

3. TCP/IP

TCP/IP, or Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, is the foundational suite of communication protocols used for interconnecting network devices on the internet, enabling data exchange and communication across diverse networks.

Why It's Important

TCP/IP is crucial because it establishes a standard for transmitting data over networks, ensuring reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery across diverse devices and technologies, vital for maintaining network communication and support.

How to Improve TCP/IP Skills

Improving TCP/IP performance involves several strategies aimed at enhancing efficiency, reliability, and speed of data transmission. As a Network Support Technician, focus on the following key areas:

1. Optimize TCP Settings: Adjust TCP settings such as window size and the slow start algorithm to better match the network capacity and reduce latency. Microsoft Documentation provides guidelines for Windows servers.

2. Enable TCP Offloading: Offload certain TCP functions (e.g., checksum calculation) to network hardware to reduce CPU load and improve performance. Consult your hardware's documentation for specific instructions.

3. Use Quality of Service (QoS): Implement QoS policies to prioritize traffic and ensure that critical applications receive the bandwidth they need. Cisco QoS Basics offers a primer on getting started.

4. Monitor and Manage Network Traffic: Use network monitoring tools to identify bottlenecks and unexpected traffic patterns. Tools like Wireshark can help analyze traffic and troubleshoot issues.

5. Update Network Infrastructure: Ensure that routers, switches, and other network devices are up-to-date and capable of handling the desired throughput. Review vendor documentation for performance tuning tips.

6. Implement IPv6: Consider transitioning to IPv6 to benefit from its larger address space and potentially more efficient packet processing. Begin with the IPv6 Guide from RIPE NCC for an overview.

7. Secure TCP/IP: Apply security best practices, such as using VPNs for data encryption and implementing firewalls to protect against malicious traffic, which can also impact performance. NIST Guidelines provide comprehensive security recommendations.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve TCP/IP performance in your network. It's important to continually assess network performance and adapt to changing needs and technologies.

How to Display TCP/IP Skills on Your Resume

4. VLAN Configuration

VLAN configuration involves setting up and managing Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) on network switches to segment network traffic. This process includes assigning switch ports to specific VLANs, configuring VLAN IDs, and managing VLAN membership to enhance network security, performance, and management.

Why It's Important

VLAN configuration is important because it enhances network security, efficiency, and management by segregating a physical network into multiple virtual segments, allowing for controlled intercommunication, reduced broadcast domains, and tailored traffic management, aligning with specific organizational needs and security policies.

How to Improve VLAN Configuration Skills

Improving VLAN configuration involves several best practices aimed at enhancing network performance, security, and manageability. Here's a concise guide:

1. Plan and Document: Before making changes, map out your VLAN needs considering the number of devices, types of traffic, and security requirements. Use tools like network diagrams for clarity.

2. Standardize VLAN IDs and Names: Use consistent naming conventions and VLAN IDs across your network to avoid confusion and errors. Cisco VLAN Configuration Guidelines

3. Use VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP): Simplify management by using VTP in a Cisco environment to propagate VLAN information across switches. Ensure to secure and correctly configure VTP domains. VTP Configuration

4. Implement VLAN Access Control Lists (VACLs): Enhance security by controlling inter-VLAN access and filtering traffic within VLANs. Configuring VACLs

5. Optimize for VoIP: If using VoIP, dedicate a VLAN to voice traffic. Ensure Quality of Service (QoS) settings prioritize voice traffic to maintain call quality. VoIP VLAN Best Practices

6. Secure VLANs: Implement security best practices like disabling unused ports, setting up private VLANs, and using DHCP snooping to protect against common attacks. VLAN Security Best Practices

7. Regularly Review and Audit: Periodically review VLAN configurations to ensure they meet current network requirements and security standards. Remove unnecessary VLANs and update documentation accordingly.

8. Use VLAN Management Tools: Utilize network management tools for monitoring and managing VLAN configurations efficiently. SolarWinds VLAN Management

By following these steps and staying informed on best practices, you can significantly improve your VLAN configuration, enhancing both the performance and security of your network.

How to Display VLAN Configuration Skills on Your Resume

5. Wireshark

Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer tool that captures and displays data packets over a network in real-time, allowing Network Support Technicians to monitor, troubleshoot, and analyze network traffic.

Why It's Important

Wireshark is crucial for Network Support Technicians because it enables them to monitor and analyze network traffic in real time, identify and troubleshoot network issues, and ensure network security and performance.

How to Improve Wireshark Skills

Improving your Wireshark skills as a Network Support Technician involves enhancing your ability to capture, analyze, and interpret network traffic for troubleshooting and network optimization. Here are concise tips with resources for further learning:

1. Master the Basics: Understand the fundamentals of network protocols and Wireshark's interface. Start with the official Wireshark documentation.

2. Learn Advanced Filtering: Efficiently filter out irrelevant data to focus on the information that matters. Explore filtering techniques with Wireshark’s Display Filters documentation.

3. Utilize Capture Filters: Learn to use capture filters to narrow down data from the moment of capture, saving time and resources. Delve into capture filters through the Wireshark User’s Guide.

4. Decipher Protocol Details: Deepen your knowledge of specific protocols you frequently encounter in your network environment. The Wireshark Protocol Reference is an excellent resource.

5. Create and Use Customized Profiles: Tailor Wireshark to your needs by creating profiles for different tasks or network environments. Learn more from the Wireshark Wiki on Configuration Profiles.

6. Scripting and Automation: Automate repetitive tasks with tools like TShark and Lua scripts. Begin with the TShark documentation and explore using Lua with Wireshark.

7. Stay Updated and Practice: Network technologies and Wireshark itself are constantly evolving. Keep your skills sharp by staying updated with the latest Wireshark releases and features on the Wireshark website and practice with real-world scenarios or through sample captures available online.

8. Join the Community: Engage with other Wireshark users in forums and mailing lists to exchange tips and solutions. The Wireshark Community is a great place to start.

By focusing on these areas, you'll significantly enhance your Wireshark proficiency, making you a more effective Network Support Technician.

How to Display Wireshark Skills on Your Resume

6. BGP Routing

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is a standardized exterior gateway protocol designed to exchange routing and reachability information among autonomous systems (AS) on the internet. It enables the internet to function by finding the best paths for data transmission across multiple networks. For a Network Support Technician, BGP is crucial for managing and troubleshooting inter-network routing, ensuring efficient and reliable connectivity between different network segments owned by various organizations.

Why It's Important

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is crucial for managing how data packets are routed across the internet. It connects different autonomous systems (AS) — networks managed by separate organizations — enabling them to communicate and exchange routing information. For a Network Support Technician, BGP is important because it ensures efficient and reliable data routing, helps in maintaining internet connectivity, and supports network scalability and redundancy.

How to Improve BGP Routing Skills

To improve BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) routing, focus on the following key areas:

1. Network Design: Optimize network design by strategically placing BGP routers and considering redundancy to enhance resilience and performance. Cisco provides insights on BGP design and optimization.

2. Route Filtering: Implement route filtering to control which routes are advertised or received, improving security and efficiency. Juniper Networks offers guidance on route filtering with BGP.

3. Prefix Lists and Route Maps: Use prefix lists and route maps for more granular control over BGP route advertisement and acceptance. Cisco explains their application in BGP configurations.

4. AS Path Prepending: Manipulate path length using AS path prepending to influence route selection and traffic flow. RIPE Network Coordination Centre discusses its impacts and considerations.

5. BGP Community: Utilize BGP community attributes to apply routing policies across multiple routers efficiently. APNIC explores the use of BGP communities, including large communities.

6. Regular Monitoring and Maintenance: Engage in regular monitoring and maintenance, using tools like BGP looking glasses and route servers for live BGP route views. Packet Clearing House provides resources for real-time BGP monitoring.

Each of these steps requires a detailed understanding of your network's specific needs and the BGP protocol. Continual learning and adaptation to new BGP features and best practices are essential for maintaining an optimized and secure routing environment.

How to Display BGP Routing Skills on Your Resume

7. OSPF Protocol

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is a dynamic routing protocol used in IP networks to find the best route for packets by using the shortest path first algorithm. It enables routers to exchange topology information and routing updates, ensuring efficient and adaptable network traffic routing. As a Network Support Technician, you would use OSPF to manage and optimize the routing of data within large and complex networks.

Why It's Important

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) protocol is important because it enables efficient, dynamic routing within large, complex networks. It ensures optimal data paths, improves network performance, and supports rapid recovery from failures, which are crucial for maintaining network reliability and uptime.

How to Improve OSPF Protocol Skills

Improving OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) protocol in a network involves optimizing its configuration and operation for better performance, reliability, and scalability. Here are concise strategies aimed at a Network Support Technician:

1. Network Design Optimization: Plan and implement a hierarchical OSPF network design using areas to reduce the size of the routing table and minimize SPF calculations. Cisco OSPF Design Guide

2. Utilize OSPF Areas Efficiently: Divide your network into multiple OSPF areas to localize traffic and limit the scope of link-state updates. Employ Area Border Routers (ABRs) to connect these areas efficiently. OSPF Area Types

3. Tune OSPF Timers: Adjust OSPF hello and dead intervals to optimize convergence times while ensuring stability across different network segments. Tuning OSPF Performance

4. Implement OSPF Authentication: Enhance network security by configuring OSPF authentication (simple or MD5) to prevent unauthorized OSPF updates. OSPF Authentication Configuration

5. Optimize Route Summarization: Use route summarization at area boundaries to reduce the size of routing tables, which in turn decreases memory usage and improves overall OSPF performance. Route Summarization

6. Leverage OSPF Stub Areas: Configure stub areas where appropriate to prevent the flooding of external routes into those areas, thus reducing the OSPF database size. Understanding OSPF Stub Areas

7. Prioritize Network Links: Use OSPF cost to prioritize routes and control traffic flow efficiently through the network, ensuring optimal path selection. Configuring OSPF Costs

8. Regular Network Monitoring and Maintenance: Continuously monitor OSPF network performance and troubleshoot issues promptly using tools like SNMP or syslog. Perform regular maintenance checks to ensure OSPF configurations are optimized and up-to-date. Network Monitoring Best Practices

Implementing these strategies involves careful planning and consideration of the specific requirements and topology of your OSPF network. Always test changes in a lab environment before applying them to a production network to avoid unintended disruptions.

How to Display OSPF Protocol Skills on Your Resume

8. MPLS Networks

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) networks are a type of data-carrying technique for high-performance telecommunications networks. They direct data from one network node to the next based on short path labels rather than long network addresses, avoiding complex lookups in a routing table and speeding up traffic flow. For a Network Support Technician, understanding MPLS involves managing these labels and ensuring efficient and reliable routing of data across the network.

Why It's Important

MPLS Networks are important because they enable efficient, scalable, and flexible traffic management across wide area networks (WANs), ensuring high performance and quality of service (QoS) for critical applications and services. This is crucial for a Network Support Technician in optimizing network operations and supporting diverse business needs.

How to Improve MPLS Networks Skills

Improving MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) networks involves enhancing performance, reliability, and security. Here are concise tips for a Network Support Technician:

1. Optimize Performance:

   • Traffic Engineering: Utilize MPLS Traffic Engineering (TE) to manage traffic flows efficiently across the network, ensuring optimal use of available bandwidth. Cisco Guide on MPLS Traffic Engineering.
   • Quality of Service (QoS): Implement QoS policies to prioritize critical applications, ensuring they receive the bandwidth and latency requirements needed. Juniper QoS for MPLS Networks.

2. Enhance Reliability:

   • Redundancy: Design network redundancy and ensure diverse paths to protect against link or node failures. Building Redundant MPLS Networks.
   • Fast Reroute (FRR): Implement MPLS Fast Reroute to switch traffic to pre-calculated backup paths in the event of a failure, minimizing downtime. MPLS Fast Reroute Explained.

3. Improve Security:

   • Encryption: Use MPLS Layer 3 VPNs with IPsec encryption for securing data in transit over public networks. MPLS VPN Security.
   • Regular Audits and Updates: Conduct regular security audits and keep all network devices updated to mitigate vulnerabilities. Best Practices for Network Security.

By focusing on these areas, a Network Support Technician can significantly improve the performance, reliability, and security of MPLS networks.

How to Display MPLS Networks Skills on Your Resume

9. IPv6 Implementation

IPv6 implementation for a Network Support Technician involves configuring and enabling IPv6 protocol support across network devices and services, ensuring compatibility, seamless connectivity, and security in addressing the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses. This includes updating firmware, configuring IPv6 address schemes, and ensuring interoperability with IPv4 systems during the transition.

Why It's Important

IPv6 implementation is crucial for Network Support Technicians as it addresses IPv4 exhaustion, ensuring scalability and supporting a vast number of devices with unique IP addresses, enhancing network security, and improving routing efficiency and performance in modern networks.

How to Improve IPv6 Implementation Skills

Improving IPv6 implementation as a Network Support Technician involves several steps geared towards ensuring compatibility, security, and efficient management. Here are concise strategies:

1. Education and Training: Enhance your knowledge and skills regarding IPv6 to effectively manage and troubleshoot IPv6 networks. Online resources like Cisco’s IPv6 Training can be very helpful.

2. Network Infrastructure Audit: Conduct a thorough audit of your network infrastructure to identify equipment that is not IPv6 compatible. Manufacturers' documentation can be a vital resource here.

3. Upgrade and Configuration: Ensure all network devices (routers, switches, firewalls) support IPv6. This may involve firmware upgrades or hardware replacements. Configuring IPv6 correctly is crucial; Cisco provides a useful IPv6 configuration guide.

4. Security Policies Update: IPv6 introduces new security considerations. Update your security policies and firewall rules to accommodate IPv6 traffic. The Internet Society provides guidelines on IPv6 security.

5. Dual Stack Implementation: Running IPv4 and IPv6 in parallel (dual-stack mode) ensures smooth transition and compatibility. This involves configuring network devices and services to handle both protocols. APNIC offers a guide on dual-stack implementation.

6. Monitoring and Management Tools Upgrade: Utilize network monitoring and management tools that support IPv6 to keep track of your IPv6 traffic and performance issues. Tools like SolarWinds and Wireshark have IPv6 capabilities. Review their documentation for IPv6 features (SolarWinds, Wireshark).

7. IPv6 Address Planning: Carefully plan your IPv6 addressing scheme to ensure scalability and efficient routing. The RIPE NCC’s IPv6 Address Planning article provides an excellent starting point.

By following these steps and continuously staying informed on IPv6 developments, you can improve IPv6 implementation within your network.

How to Display IPv6 Implementation Skills on Your Resume

10. SNMP Monitoring

SNMP Monitoring is a method used by Network Support Technicians to manage network devices (such as routers, switches, and servers) by collecting and organizing their operational data through the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). This enables proactive network performance tracking, fault diagnosis, and configuration management.

Why It's Important

SNMP Monitoring is crucial for a Network Support Technician as it enables real-time tracking and management of network devices, ensuring optimal performance and swift identification and resolution of issues, thereby maintaining network reliability and efficiency.

How to Improve SNMP Monitoring Skills

Improving SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) monitoring involves optimizing your SNMP configuration for better network performance and more insightful analytics. Here are concise steps tailored for a Network Support Technician:

1. Optimize SNMP Polling Intervals: Adjust polling intervals to balance between timely data and network load. Too frequent can burden the network, too infrequent might miss critical issues. Cisco's Best Practices offers insights.

2. Use SNMPv3 for Enhanced Security: SNMPv3 provides better security features, including authentication and encryption, which are essential for protecting network data. The SNMPv3 Guide by SANS Institute elaborates on setup and benefits.

3. Leverage SNMP Traps for Real-time Alerts: Configure SNMP traps to receive immediate notifications for specific events, reducing the reliance on constant polling. This SNMP Trap Overview by HPE offers a deep dive.

4. Regularly Update MIBs (Management Information Bases): Ensure that the MIBs are updated to the latest versions for accurate device and traffic monitoring. The MIB Archive by IANA provides a comprehensive collection.

5. Implement SNMPv3 Contexts for Large Networks: Use SNMPv3 contexts to manage large and complex networks more efficiently by segmenting the network into more manageable parts. IBM's SNMPv3 Contexts Explanation can be useful for understanding and implementation.

6. Monitor and Analyze SNMP Traffic: Regularly monitor SNMP traffic for anomalies that could indicate misconfigurations or malicious activity. Tools like Wireshark can be instrumental, and their guide on Capturing SNMP Traffic is helpful.

7. Train and Stay Updated: Continuously educate yourself on the latest SNMP trends, tools, and best practices through reputable sources like The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

By following these steps and leveraging the resources provided, you can significantly improve your SNMP monitoring capabilities, leading to a more secure, efficient, and reliable network infrastructure.

How to Display SNMP Monitoring Skills on Your Resume

11. Firewall Management

Firewall management involves configuring, maintaining, and monitoring network firewalls to protect an organization's IT infrastructure from unauthorized access, cyber threats, and data breaches, ensuring network security and compliance.

Why It's Important

Firewall management is crucial for a Network Support Technician as it ensures the security and integrity of a network by controlling incoming and outgoing traffic, preventing unauthorized access, and protecting against cyber threats.

How to Improve Firewall Management Skills

Improving firewall management effectively enhances your network's security posture. Here are concise steps tailored for a Network Support Technician:

1. Regular Updates and Patches: Ensure your firewall firmware and software are always up-to-date to protect against the latest vulnerabilities. Refer to the manufacturer's documentation for update procedures.

2. Policy Review and Optimization: Periodically review and clean up firewall rules to eliminate any unnecessary or outdated rules that might create security gaps or performance issues. NIST Guidelines provide a comprehensive approach to managing firewall policies.

3. Secure Configuration: Use a hardened configuration for your firewall to minimize potential attack surfaces. Follow best practices for firewall configurations outlined in resources like SANS Firewall Checklist.

4. Network Segmentation: Implement network segmentation to limit the spread of breaches and facilitate more granular security policies. This Cisco guide offers strategies for effective segmentation.

5. Regular Audits and Logs Review: Conduct regular security audits and review logs to identify and respond to suspicious activities promptly. The LogRhythm guide to firewall log review provides practical tips.

6. Security Awareness and Training: Educate stakeholders about the importance of firewall management and security practices. Cybrary offers free courses that can enhance your knowledge.

7. Leverage Automation: Use automation tools for real-time threat detection and policy management to improve efficiency and response times. FireMon provides solutions for automating key firewall management tasks.

8. Backup and Recovery Plan: Maintain up-to-date backups of your firewall configurations and have a recovery plan in place. This ensures you can quickly restore your security posture after any incident.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly improve your organization's firewall management and overall network security.

How to Display Firewall Management Skills on Your Resume

12. VPN Setup

A VPN setup involves configuring a secure, encrypted connection between a device and a network over the internet, allowing remote and safe access to network resources as if the device were directly connected to the network's private infrastructure.

Why It's Important

A VPN setup is important for a Network Support Technician because it secures remote connections, ensuring safe data transmission and access to network resources, thereby enhancing privacy and protecting against unauthorized access and cyber threats.

How to Improve VPN Setup Skills

Improving a VPN setup can significantly enhance security and performance for users. Here are concise steps a Network Support Technician can follow:

1. Choose a Reliable VPN Provider: Opt for a reputable provider with strong encryption protocols and no-logging policies. ExpressVPN and NordVPN are notable examples.

2. Update Regularly: Ensure the VPN client and server software are up-to-date to patch vulnerabilities. Check the provider's website for the latest updates.

3. Secure Configuration: Utilize strong encryption settings (e.g., AES 256-bit) and secure protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard. Reference: OpenVPN, WireGuard.

4. Network Security: Implement firewall rules to restrict incoming connections on the VPN server and use intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor for suspicious activities. pfSense is a good firewall option.

5. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Add an extra layer of security by enabling 2FA. Duo Security provides easy integration for VPNs.

6. Split Tunneling: Use split tunneling to reduce bandwidth by allowing only necessary traffic through the VPN. This guide from Cisco might help.

7. Quality of Service (QoS): Prioritize VPN traffic in your network settings to ensure stable and fast connections. Cisco’s QoS guide provides detailed instructions.

8. Regular Testing and Monitoring: Perform regular speed and security tests to ensure optimal performance and security. Use tools like Wireshark for monitoring network traffic.

9. Educate Users: Provide guidance on secure VPN usage, including safe browsing practices and the importance of using secure networks.

10. VPN Client Configuration: Ensure clients are correctly configured for DNS leak protection and kill switch features are enabled to prevent data leaks.

Improving a VPN setup is an ongoing process that involves regular maintenance, updates, and educating users on best practices.

How to Display VPN Setup Skills on Your Resume