Free course

VPN Course

Learn how VPN tunnels, encryption, routing, DNS, and access control work, then build a WireGuard VPN and a Cloudflare private network.

7 modules · 35 lessons · No signup

Prerequisites: Shell Commands, Linux Basics, HTTP and DNS

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What you'll learn

Trace traffic through a VPN, build and verify a small WireGuard setup, and create a VPN replacement with Cloudflare Tunnel and the Cloudflare One Client.

Course contents

  1. VPN foundations

    Understand the problems VPNs solve, the paths they create, and the trust they move.

    1. ✓ What a VPN is
    2. ✓ Follow a packet through a VPN
    3. ✓ Understand the new trust boundary
    4. ✓ Recognize common VPN jobs
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: VPN foundations

  2. Tunnels and protocols

    Separate tunneling from encryption and compare the main protocol designs.

    1. ✓ Separate tunneling from encryption
    2. ✓ Compare IPsec, OpenVPN, and WireGuard
    3. ✓ Keys, handshakes, and peers
    4. ✓ Account for encapsulation and MTU
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: tunnels and protocols

  3. Routing, DNS, and privacy

    Control traffic paths, private ranges, name resolution, egress, and leak protection.

    1. ✓ Read private addresses and CIDR routes
    2. ✓ Choose full or split tunneling
    3. ✓ Understand forwarding, NAT, and egress
    4. ✓ Keep DNS on the intended path
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: routing, DNS, and privacy

  4. Build a WireGuard VPN

    Create keys, configure both peers, route traffic, verify the tunnel, and remove it safely.

    1. ✓ Plan the WireGuard lab
    2. ✓ Install WireGuard and create keys
    3. ✓ Configure the WireGuard peers
    4. ✓ Start, test, and remove WireGuard
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: building with WireGuard

  5. Cloudflare VPN replacement

    Understand how Cloudflare Tunnel, the Cloudflare One Client, identity, and policies fit together.

    1. ✓ Understand Cloudflare private access
    2. ✓ Separate the client, Tunnel, and Workers
    3. ✓ Add identity, devices, and policy
    4. ✓ Know what Cloudflare does not build here
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: Cloudflare VPN replacement

  6. Build a Cloudflare private network

    Connect a private network, enroll a remote device, restrict access, and test the complete path.

    1. ✓ Create the Zero Trust organization
    2. ✓ Create the Tunnel and private route
    3. ✓ Enroll the remote device and route traffic
    4. ✓ Restrict and verify Cloudflare access
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: building with Cloudflare

  7. Operate and choose

    Troubleshoot by layer, maintain access safely, and choose the right design for each job.

    1. ✓ Troubleshoot the path by layer
    2. ✓ Diagnose routes, DNS, and MTU
    3. ✓ Maintain access as a security system
    4. ✓ Choose and clean up the right design
    5. ✓ Check your understanding: operating and choosing