The Art of Investigation
Course Description
When a security incident happens, the clock starts ticking. You need to find the who, what, where, when, why, and how—fast. That's the art of investigation. This unique course, delivered by Cisco Networking Academy in partnership with Splunk (a leader in security analytics), teaches you how to conduct effective security investigations using modern SIEM tools.
You'll learn how to observe and collect security data, analyze logs and events, and uncover the truth behind cyber incidents. The course covers Splunk fundamentals (searching, filtering, creating dashboards), investigation methodologies, and forensic techniques. You'll work with real-world security datasets in virtual labs, hunting for threats and piecing together attack timelines.
This free, self-paced course takes about 15 hours to complete. It's ideal for aspiring security analysts, incident responders, and anyone who wants to master the art of digital investigation. Upon completion, you'll earn an official Cisco digital badge. No prior Splunk experience is required, but basic networking and security knowledge is recommended.
Course Provider
Provider: Cisco Networking Academy in partnership with Splunk, a leading provider of security information and event management (SIEM) and observability platforms.
Platform: Cisco NetAcad online platform – fully online, self-paced, with integrated virtual labs using Splunk.
Accreditation: This course provides practical skills highly valued by security operations centers (SOCs). Splunk is widely used in the industry, and this course is excellent preparation for Splunk certifications and security analyst roles.
Course Syllabus (Key Modules)
Learning Objectives
- Understand the security investigation process and the role of SIEM tools.
- Navigate and use Splunk to search, filter, and analyze security data.
- Analyze logs from various sources (Windows, Linux, firewalls, web servers).
- Hunt for indicators of compromise (IOCs) and correlate findings.
- Reconstruct attack timelines to determine root cause and impact.
- Use advanced Splunk features (statistics, dashboards, anomaly detection).
- Earn a Cisco digital badge demonstrating investigation skills.
Course Prerequisites
Technical: Basic understanding of networking (IP addresses, ports, protocols) and cybersecurity concepts (threats, malware, incidents). Prior completion of Cisco's Introduction to Cybersecurity or Network Defense is recommended.
Recommended prior courses: Introduction to Cybersecurity, Networking Basics, or equivalent knowledge.
Who should take this: Aspiring security analysts, incident responders, SOC team members, and IT professionals who want to learn security investigation techniques using Splunk.
User Reviews
"This course completely demystified SIEM and security investigations for me. Before, I saw logs as noise. Now I see them as evidence. The Splunk labs are fantastic—you're searching through real security datasets, hunting for actual attacks. The module on building investigation timelines was my favorite. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to work in a SOC."
"I'm currently interviewing for SOC analyst roles, and this course has been invaluable. The hands-on experience with Splunk (which is used everywhere) gave me concrete examples to discuss in interviews. The course teaches you a methodology, not just tool commands. The Cisco badge looks great on LinkedIn. Well worth the time."
"Excellent course content, but it does assume some foundational security knowledge. If you're brand new to cybersecurity, take the Intro to Cybersecurity course first. The Splunk SPL language takes some getting used to, but the labs walk you through it. The real-world investigation scenarios are challenging and rewarding. A must for aspiring analysts."
Based on 680+ ratings on Cisco NetAcad.
💡 Final Thoughts
Security investigations are part detective work, part data science. This unique course from Cisco and Splunk teaches you both. You'll learn a systematic methodology for answering the six key questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. And you'll get hands-on with Splunk, one of the most widely used SIEM platforms in the industry. The virtual labs are the star—you'll hunt through real attack data, piece together timelines, and produce findings. This isn't a theoretical course; it's practical, challenging, and directly applicable to SOC analyst roles. If you want to work in incident response or security monitoring, this free course is a must. The Cisco badge is a nice bonus, but the real value is the skill.
The Art of Investigation – FAQ
Is this course really free?
Yes, completely free. Cisco Networking Academy offers this course at no cost. You just need a free NetAcad account.
Do I need prior experience with Splunk?
No. The course teaches Splunk from the ground up. However, you should have basic networking and security knowledge before starting.
How long does the course take?
The course is self-paced and takes approximately 15 hours. Plan to spend a few hours per week over several weeks.
Will I receive a certificate or badge?
Yes, upon passing the final exam, you'll earn an official Cisco digital badge. You can share it on LinkedIn and other platforms.
Do I need to install Splunk?
No. The course includes virtual labs with Splunk already set up. You just need a web browser.
How does this help with my career?
Splunk is used by thousands of organizations for security monitoring and investigation. This course gives you hands-on experience that's directly relevant to SOC analyst, incident responder, and threat hunter roles.