Host system
Lenovo V50s-07IMB
Intel Core i5-10400
32 GB DDR4 3200 MHz
1 TB NVMe storage
Windows 11 Pro host
Dedicated cybersecurity system
Virtualisation platform under review
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Please wait while the page loads.Researching and developing an isolated virtual environment for Linux, networking, security-tool practice, packet analysis, and authorised ethical-hacking exercises.
Current Position
The dedicated Windows 11 Pro workstation is ready. Current work is focused on selecting the most suitable virtualisation platform before creating Kali Linux and vulnerable-target machines.
Project Overview
The lab will provide a controlled environment for converting cybersecurity theory into repeatable practical experience without interacting with systems outside an authorised scope.
Create an isolated environment for authorised ethical-hacking practice
Develop practical Linux and command-line administration skills
Learn network discovery, service identification, and packet analysis
Practise vulnerability assessment against purpose-built targets
Document objectives, procedures, evidence, findings, and lessons
Lab Hardware
The workstation has been upgraded to support multiple virtual machines, lab snapshots, security tools, and future technical experiments.
Host system
Platform Research
No final platform is being claimed yet. The choice will follow research and practical comparison of isolation, networking, snapshots, usability, and compatibility.
Included with Windows 11 Pro and capable of creating isolated virtual machines, virtual switches, checkpoints, and controlled lab networks.
Consideration
Strong Windows integration and a suitable option for structured network isolation.
A mature desktop virtualisation platform commonly used for technical labs, snapshots, cloned machines, and flexible virtual networking.
Consideration
Well suited to multi-machine lab environments, subject to final compatibility and licensing review.
A widely used virtualisation platform supporting snapshots, multiple operating systems, and configurable virtual-network modes.
Consideration
Accessible for initial learning, although the final platform should be selected after practical comparison.
Lab Architecture
Status labels distinguish the operational host from components that remain under research or planned.
The dedicated workstation currently runs Windows 11 Pro and provides the processing, memory, and storage resources for the future lab.
Hyper-V, VMware Workstation, and VirtualBox are being compared before selecting the platform for the lab.
A Kali Linux virtual machine will provide the primary environment for authorised security-tool practice.
Purpose-built vulnerable machines and legal training platforms will provide controlled targets for exercises.
Virtual-network isolation will limit lab traffic and reduce exposure to household devices and public systems.
Each exercise will record scope, objectives, commands, evidence, findings, mitigations, and reflection.
Implementation Roadmap
The project separates completed preparation from planned technical exercises and future learning outcomes.
Prepared a dedicated Lenovo workstation with upgraded memory and storage for cybersecurity learning.
Compare virtualisation platforms, network modes, resource allocation, snapshots, and compatibility.
Install or enable the selected platform and configure secure defaults, storage locations, and virtual networking.
Create, update, snapshot, and test the Kali Linux security-learning machine.
Add purpose-built vulnerable machines and keep them isolated from public and personal systems.
Begin documented exercises in Linux, networking, discovery, packet analysis, and vulnerability assessment.
Planned Practical Work
These exercises describe the intended learning roadmap and will be updated with evidence only after they are completed.
Identify authorised lab hosts, open ports, and available services while documenting scope and results.
Capture and inspect lab traffic to understand protocols, conversations, filtering, and unusual behaviour.
Practise users, groups, permissions, services, logs, package management, filesystems, and command-line workflows.
Identify, validate, prioritise, and document weaknesses on purpose-built vulnerable systems.
Explore common web-application weaknesses using legal training platforms and isolated targets.
Record evidence, explain impact, recommend mitigations, and reflect on technical and procedural lessons.
Responsible Practice
The lab is intended only for legal, controlled, and authorised security learning.
Testing only systems I own, authorised labs, or platforms designed for security training
No scanning or testing of public systems without explicit written permission
Isolation of vulnerable machines from personal and household devices
Use of snapshots or checkpoints before potentially disruptive exercises
No real personal or confidential data stored inside vulnerable targets
Clear documentation of scope, purpose, methods, findings, and outcomes
Next Milestone
The next update will document the platform decision, virtual network design, Kali Linux deployment, target-machine setup, and the first controlled lab exercise.
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