Advanced PAM Course for Linux
Master enterprise authentication with 15+ hands-on labs covering PAM, U2F/FIDO2, Active Directory integration, and Ansible automation
📅 Expected release: September 2026 | Available on Amazon KDP & LeanPub
Why This Book?
The Problem
Most Linux sysadmins treat PAM as a "black box" - copying config snippets from StackOverflow without understanding the security implications. When things break (and they will), you're locked out with no idea how to fix it.
The Solution
This course teaches you PAM from first principles, then builds up to advanced scenarios like:
- Multi-factor authentication with YubiKeys
- Active Directory integration with SSSD and Smart Cards
- Automated hardening with Ansible (CIS/STIG compliant)
- Real-world troubleshooting patterns
What Makes This Different?
Hands-On Labs
15+ practical exercises with Vagrant/Docker environments included. Learn by doing, not just reading.
Production-Ready
Real enterprise patterns, not toy examples. Battle-tested configurations from actual deployments.
Automation Included
Ansible roles that follow Red Hat Community of Practice standards. Deploy with confidence.
YubiKey/U2F Focus
The ONLY book covering hardware token integration in depth. Go beyond passwords.
Multi-Platform
RHEL, Debian, Ubuntu tested configurations. Works across major distributions.
Enterprise Scenarios
Active Directory, Smart Cards, centralized logging. Real business requirements.
What You'll Learn
Part I: PAM Foundations (Chapters 1-3)
- PAM architecture and control flow
- Authentication modules deep dive
- Account and session management
Part II: Advanced Authentication (Chapters 4-6)
- U2F/FIDO2 with pam_u2f
- YubiKey enrollment and management
- Multi-factor authentication patterns
Part III: Enterprise Integration (Chapters 7-9)
- Active Directory + SSSD + Smart Cards
- Kerberos authentication flows
- Observability and audit logging
Part IV: Automation (Chapters 10-11)
- Ansible roles for PAM hardening
- Red Hat CoP best practices
- Production-ready blueprints
Appendices
- Module reference guide
- Troubleshooting cheatsheet
- Lab environment setup
Who Is This For?
✅ Perfect for:
- ✓ Linux SysAdmins managing enterprise authentication
- ✓ DevOps Engineers implementing security automation
- ✓ Security Engineers hardening Linux systems
- ✓ IT teams migrating to centralized authentication
❌ Not for:
- ✗ Complete Linux beginners (requires basic Linux knowledge)
- ✗ Windows-only administrators
- ✗ Those looking for a quick reference (get the cheatsheet instead)
Free Resources
Sample Chapter
Chapter 3: "Account Lockout with pam_faillock" (25 pages) — available at launch
Coming Soon — Join WaitlistPAM Cheatsheet
Quick reference guide for common PAM modules and configurations — available at launch
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📅 Expected release: September 2026
📍 Available on: Amazon KDP (Kindle/Paperback) & LeanPub (DRM-Free PDF/EPUB)
📖 While you wait, check out the free resources above
About the Author
Miguel Alpañez Alcalde is a systems engineer specializing in Linux security and enterprise authentication. He has implemented PAM-based authentication systems for organizations across Europe.
- 🏢 Founder of Winning Concepts Limited
- 🔧 Creator of security Ansible collection
- 🌐 Contributor to open-source security tools
- 📝 Technical writer and educator
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need prior PAM experience?
A: No, but you should be comfortable with Linux command line and basic system administration.
Q: Which Linux distributions are covered?
A: RHEL 8/9, Debian 12, Ubuntu 22.04/24.04. Most concepts apply to any distro.
Q: Do I need a YubiKey to follow the labs?
A: No, the U2F labs are optional. All core PAM concepts work without hardware.
Q: Is the Ansible code production-ready?
A: The book contains educational examples. For production use, see the malpanez.security collection.
Q: Will there be updates?
A: LeanPub version receives free updates. Amazon KDP follows a fixed edition model.
Q: Can I get a refund?
A: Amazon: 7 days. LeanPub: 60-day happiness guarantee.