Windows Kernel Telemetry: Detection and Defense Basics

Modern cyber threats often operate deep within the operating system, making user-land monitoring insufficient for robust defense. Understanding how to tap into kernel-level events is essential for detecting sophisticated attacks before they compromise your network. This course provides a clear, text-based path to understanding Windows kernel telemetry. You will transition from understanding basic operating system architecture to analyzing real-world system telemetry, allowing you to build resilient detection mechanisms that bypass traditional user-mode limitations. What you'll learn: Understand the fundamental architecture of the Windows kernel and how telemetry is generated; Explore Event Tracing for Windows (ETW) and learn to configure providers for security monitoring; Analyze kernel callbacks and system call monitoring techniques used by modern security tools; Identify common evasion techniques and how attackers attempt to blind kernel telemetry; Apply structured analysis to kernel event logs to hunt for suspicious system behavior. We begin with core terminology and the fundamentals of operating system internals. From there, you will progress through detailed written explanations of telemetry sources, examining practical log structures and detection strategies step by step. This course is designed for aspiring security analysts, threat hunters, and system administrators who want to deepen their defensive capabilities. No prior kernel programming experience is required, as we build all concepts from the ground up. Equip yourself with the foundational knowledge needed to detect deep-seated threats using Windows kernel telemetry today.