How to Set Up a Beginner’s Cybersecurity Lab at Home (Step-by-Step Guide)

Cybersecurity is a hands-on field, and having your own home lab is one of the best ways to learn. This guide will walk you through setting up a virtual cybersecurity lab on your computer using free tools like VirtualBox or VMware Player.

1️⃣ Choosing the Right Virtualization Software

Before setting up your lab, you need a virtualization tool to run virtual machines (VMs). The two best free options are:

🔹 VirtualBox (Open-source, beginner-friendly)
🔹 VMware Workstation Player (Better performance, requires free registration)

📌 Recommendation: If you’re just getting started, go with VirtualBox since it’s open-source and easier to configure.

2️⃣ Understanding System Requirements

Before installing VMs, ensure your hardware can handle virtualization:

💻 Minimum System Requirements:

  • RAM: At least 8GB (16GB+ recommended)
  • CPU: A modern multi-core processor (Intel i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen)
  • Storage: At least 50GB of free space (Preferably SSD)
  • Virtualization Support: Enable VT-x (Intel) or AMD-V in BIOS (Check your BIOS settings)

🔍 Check if Virtualization is Enabled (Windows): Open Command Prompt (cmd.exe) and run:

systeminfo | find "Virtualization"

If it says Enabled, you’re good to go. If not, enable it in your BIOS settings.

3️⃣ Installing VirtualBox / VMware Player

🛠️ Installing VirtualBox

  1. Download VirtualBox from here
  2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
  3. Install VirtualBox Extension Pack for USB, webcam, and other features (download here).
  4. Restart your system.

🛠️ Installing VMware Workstation Player

  1. Download VMware Player from here
  2. Install it with default settings.
  3. Create a free VMware account when prompted.
  4. Restart your system.

4️⃣ Choosing Your First VM: Ubuntu or Kali Linux?

🔹 Ubuntu Linux (Recommended for Beginners) – Ideal for learning Linux basics, security tools, and networking. 🔹 Kali Linux (Advanced Users) – Comes preloaded with hacking tools, but can be overwhelming for beginners.

📌 Recommendation: Start with Ubuntu first, then move to Kali Linux later.

5️⃣ Downloading & Installing Your First Virtual Machine

🔹 Step 1: Download an OS ISO File

🔹 Step 2: Create a New VM in VirtualBox / VMware

  1. Open VirtualBox or VMware Player.
  2. Click New (VirtualBox) or Create New Virtual Machine (VMware).
  3. Choose Linux → Select Ubuntu (64-bit).
  4. Allocate RAM (4GB minimum, 8GB recommended).
  5. Create a Virtual Hard Disk (VDI/VMDK) → Allocate 20GB+.
  6. Attach the downloaded ISO file as a bootable disk.

🔹 Step 3: Install Ubuntu

  1. Start the VM and boot into the Ubuntu installer.
  2. Select “Install Ubuntu”, choose keyboard settings, and proceed.
  3. Use default partitioning settings.
  4. Set up a username & password.
  5. Complete the installation and restart the VM.

6️⃣ Configuring Your VM for Cybersecurity Labs

📌 Essential Configurations After Installation

  • 🔹 Enable Bidirectional Clipboard & Drag-Drop (Settings → General → Advanced)
  • 🔹 Set Up Network (NAT or Bridged Mode) (Settings → Network)
  • 🔹 Install VirtualBox Guest Additions (for full-screen and performance improvements)
  • 🔹 Take a Snapshot (Backup your fresh install before making changes)

🔹 Install Basic Security Tools

Run the following commands inside your Ubuntu VM:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install nmap wireshark net-tools curl -y

📌 Try the Proftsec Foundational Skills Project to test your first security tools and commands in your new lab.

7️⃣ First Hands-On Exercises

Now that your cybersecurity lab is set up, try these basic exercises: ✅ Basic Linux commands: ls, cd, pwd, cat, nano
✅ Check network settings: ip a, ping 8.8.8.8, netstat -r
✅ Run an Nmap scan on your network:

nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24

✅ Capture network traffic with Wireshark ✅ Download and test Metasploitable 2 (for ethical hacking practice)

8️⃣ Next Steps: Expanding Your Lab

  • Add a Windows VM for Windows security testing.
  • Install Kali Linux for penetration testing.
  • Set up Metasploitable 2 (a vulnerable machine for practice).
  • Learn basic attack-defense exercises (Red Team vs. Blue Team).

Final Thoughts

Setting up a beginner-friendly cybersecurity lab is the first step to gaining hands-on experience. This guide helps you start small, learn essential tools, and expand into more advanced setups like Kali Linux and Windows security testing.

📌 For more hands-on challenges, check out Proftsec’s Projects for practical exercises.

🔹 Up Next: Setting up a Proxmox-based cybersecurity lab for more advanced users!

📢 Have questions or need help? Drop a comment or reach out on Proftsec.info! 🚀