Setting Up a Cyber Security Lab

I can’t remember where I heard it or who said it but the best computer is the one you already have. This was certainly true during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. There were numerous sourcing shipping and supply chain issues. To get started really you only need a laptop and an internet connection as you can always build your lab in the cloud (remember the cloud is just someone else’s computer).

PI prices over time

Separation and Compartmentalisation

Depending on your specific area of research it is important to separate and compartment your systems. You don’t want to be analysing malware on your home machine or network. In some cases a virtual machine will not provide enough isolation for some tasks and analysis. In simple terms:

“Don’t Shit Where You Eat”

My Initial Cyber Security Lab Setup

I am using a cheap $149 Dell Precision t3600 workstation as a VMWare ESXi server.

Dell Precision t3600

  • Intel Xeon E5-2665 Processor 8 Core 16 threads
  • 32 GB of RAM
  • 2TB SSD Hard Drive

For Mac testing I am using the base model MacBook Air. I hate to admit I am very happy and surprised with the Mac’s performance.

MacBook Air M1 2020

MacBook Air M1 2020

  • M1 8-core CPU/7-core GPU
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 256 GB SSD

For x64 based work I use a ThinkPad E15 Gen 3 Ryzen version. This allows me to run Linux on bare metal as well as virtual machines and even Windows for the odd task.

ThinkPad E15 Gen 3 Ryzen

  • AMD Ryzen 7 5700U 8 core 16 threads
  • 16GB RAM
  • 1.5TB SSD

Monitor

I use a Dell QHD 27 USB-C monitor this allows me to easily use and charge either laptop and allows for a clutter free desk.

Keyboard

For the past 15 years I have been using a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard. It is still going strong and is so much better than trying to code on a laptop or a crappy keyboard.

Stay tuned in future posts I will go over more of my hardware and software stack.