GIAC
giac.org
Cyber Security Certifications | GIAC Certifications
More than 30 certifications align with SANS training and ensure mastery in critical, specialized InfoSec domains. GIAC certifications provide the highest and most rigorous assurance of cyber security knowledge and skill available to industry, government, and military clients across the world.
How to Prepare
Read about best practices from GIAC certified leaders in cybersecurity.
Certification Holder Directory
Explore the directory to learn more about holders of GIAC certifications.
Cyber Defense
GIAC's Cyber Defense certifications span the entire defense spectrum and are focused in two areas: cyber defense essentials and blue teaming.
Digital Forensics & Incident Response
GIAC's Digital Forensics and Incident Response certifications encompass abilities that DFIR professionals need to succeed at their craft, confirming that professionals can detect compromised systems, identify how and when a breach occurred, understand what attackers took or changed, and ...
SANS Institute
sans.org › giac cybersecurity certifications
GIAC Cybersecurity Certifications | SANS Institute
GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification) Certifications develops and administers premier, professional cybersecurity certifications. More than 30 cyber security certifications align with SANS training and ensure mastery in critical, specialized InfoSec domains.
Videos
03:01
Introduction to GIAC certifications - YouTube
03:10
How to Prepare for the GIAC Applied Knowledge Exam | Tips from ...
Prepping for a GIAC Certification in 2025 - YouTube
How to Pass Any SANS / GIAC Certification on Your First Try
07:09
Master GIAC Certifications: Your Ultimate Prep Guide! - YouTube
06:19
Ultimate Guide to GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA) ...
GIAC Certifications?
Like $10k for a 4 month online course, all the materials, 2 practice exams and an exam attempt. Personally, I think the price is a little steep, but the material is pretty dang good. Just the exam will be over $1200. There are ways to reduce that cost. One being if you're in healthcare or education, they have yearly huge discounts. Another is attending a live session as a "teachers assistant". Then that $10k becomes something like $2k? 2am and on phone so don't have the actual values in front of me, but if your employer doesn't want to spend $10k, maybe $2k or $3k is more palatable. More on reddit.com
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April 17, 2025What is the official process for getting GIAC GSEC Certification?
Sans, you can do a boot camp and material for ~$6-8k Or but the material and an exam attempt ( less but still over $1k ) But you go through sans. More on reddit.com
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June 28, 2022Become a GIAC certified cybersecurity professional in 7 months with the Accelerated Cybersecurity Training Program
I work in this field. This program will not get you a job in 'cybersecurity'(which is an insanely broad term) if that's what you're thinking. You will need other experience for sure. I've never actually even heard of these certs in 25 years in the field. Maybe they're useful in very specific jobs but around here a real IT job this isn't what anyone is looking for. More on reddit.com
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April 19, 2021GIAC Exams - GNFA/GCFA Certified
I'll add - the tryhackme cyber defense path. Specifically the IR/Forensics, Linux and Wireshark rooms really helped. Event logs, Wireshark, packet analysis, wireless architecture, there's a lot of content in both of these certs.
I am surprised you have no professional experience, 500 level courses are pretty advanced and usually require a few years to really absorb all the content. Good work.
More on reddit.com 18
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November 24, 2020Do GIAC certifications expire?
GIAC certifications require renewal every four years. You can begin registration for renewal at the two-year mark of the certification's expiration date [6].
coursera.org
coursera.org › coursera articles › it › networks and security › what is giac certification? a guide
What Is GIAC Certification? A Guide | Coursera
How much do GIAC certificate holders earn?
According to Payscale, the average GIAC certificate holder in the US earns an annual base salary of $114,000 [5].
coursera.org
coursera.org › coursera articles › it › networks and security › what is giac certification? a guide
What Is GIAC Certification? A Guide | Coursera
How Do I Choose A Cybersecurity Certification?
There are a few things to consider when choosing a cyber security certification, including: Where you are in your cyber security career. If you’re just starting your cyber security career, look for introductory courses. These courses will provide the foundational knowledge you need to work in cyber security. Beginner training courses will also help you identify the cyber security domains that interest you. Experience level. If you have cyber security experience, you may have already found your niche and want to develop your skills further. In this case, choose certifications that align with
sans.org
sans.org › giac cybersecurity certifications
GIAC Cybersecurity Certifications | SANS Institute
Coursera
coursera.org › coursera articles › it › networks and security › what is giac certification? a guide
What Is GIAC Certification? A Guide | Coursera
October 3, 2025 - GIAC, formerly known as Global Information Assurance Certification, provides over 30 cybersecurity-related certifications for professionals [1]. Each certification covers a skill-specific domain or focus area, such as ethical hacking, cyber ...
StationX
stationx.net › home › best giac certifications in 2025 (expert guide)
Best GIAC Certifications in 2025 (Expert Guide)
2 weeks ago - Founded in 1999 by the SANS Institute, the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) is an organization that provides certification in information security to ensure that certified individuals meet specific standards of knowledge and skills.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Global_Information_Assurance_Certification
Global Information Assurance Certification - Wikipedia
November 22, 2025 - Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) is an information security certification entity that specializes in technical and practical certification as well as new research in the form of its GIAC Gold program.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/cybersecurity › giac certifications?
r/cybersecurity on Reddit: GIAC Certifications?
April 17, 2025 -
Hi, I'm trying to learn more about the GIAC Certifications, and if some of them are a good next step for me.
I already have experience in Networking, Blue and Red Teaming. My current Certifications are Cisco CCNA and CompTIA Security+
Are GIAC Certs valued? what could be a good options for me?
Thanks
EDIT: seeing that these certs are soooo expensive, what would be a good certification for me? as a next step
Top answer 1 of 12
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Like $10k for a 4 month online course, all the materials, 2 practice exams and an exam attempt. Personally, I think the price is a little steep, but the material is pretty dang good. Just the exam will be over $1200. There are ways to reduce that cost. One being if you're in healthcare or education, they have yearly huge discounts. Another is attending a live session as a "teachers assistant". Then that $10k becomes something like $2k? 2am and on phone so don't have the actual values in front of me, but if your employer doesn't want to spend $10k, maybe $2k or $3k is more palatable.
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GIAC Exam cost is only $1,000, but the associated training is nearly $9,000. Technically, you can buy the exam without taking the associated course, but it’s pretty hard to pass the exam even if you’re working in that field for years. It’s still doable with enough dedication. Speaking of GIAC, it’s the gold standard in the field because of the quality of the training. I had positive personal experience when applying job for holding GIAC certs. One of the biggest banks in Australia reached out to me and specifically mentioned that they’re reaching out to me because of this cert. And a bunch of little positive experiences. (Almost) Nobody is paying out of pocket for the full price; employers usually provide the training. SANS also has a Work-Study Program where you only need to pay $2,500 (instead of $9,000) for training if your application is being accepted. I’m currently studying my 2nd SANS course, if you want to know more information, you can dm me.
Credly
credly.com › org › global-information-assurance-certification-giac
Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)
The Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) program is a leading provider and developer of Cyber Security Certifications. A certification is proof an individual meets a minimum standard.
Readynez
readynez.com › navigating the world of giac® certification: your complete guide to cybersecurity success › blog › en
GIAC Certification: Your Guide to Cybersecurity Success
January 29, 2024 - Let’s break it all down and help you take the next step with clarity and confidence. GIAC® (Global Information Assurance Certification) is the certification arm of the SANS Institute, focused on validating hands-on cybersecurity skills.
Pearson VUE
pearsonvue.com › us › en › giac.html
Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) certification testing with Pearson VUE
July 26, 2024 - Pearson VUE delivers certification exams for the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC).
Greene Center
careereducation.rochester.edu › blog › 2022 › 08 › 24 › top-11-cybersecurity-certifications-that-will-get-you-hired
Top 11 Cybersecurity Certifications That Will Get You Hired – Greene Center | University of Rochester
March 5, 2025 - GCIH is another certification from Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) that validates the holder’s ability to identify and resolve computer security incidents.
SANS Technology Institute
sans.edu
Cybersecurity Degree and Certificate Programs | SANS Technology Institute
These are the same courses and certifications you’ll complete at SANS.edu — with support from a student advisor, for college credit, at SANS.edu academic pricing. ... SANS courses are continually updated for real-world relevance and feature more than 1,700 hands-on labs, so you’ll be prepared to apply the skills you learn in class on the job from day one. ... Cybersecurity professionals ranked GIAC certifications as the most valued certifications when selecting job candidates for interviews.
SANS Institute
sans.org › cyber-security-courses
SANS Cybersecurity Courses | SANS Institute
GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner (GCFE) 6 Days (Instructor-Led) 36 CPEs / 36 Hours (Self-Paced) Labs: 22 Hands-On Labs · View course detailsRegister · updatedIntermediate · FOR508Digital Forensics and Incident Response · GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA) 6 Days (Instructor-Led) 36 CPEs / 36 Hours (Self-Paced) Labs: 35 Hands-On Labs ·
Flashgenius
flashgenius.net › blog-article › ultimate-guide-to-giac-certifications-your-cybersecurity-roadmap
Ultimate Guide to GIAC Certifications: Your Cybersecurity Roadmap | FlashGenius
October 21, 2025 - GIAC certifications validate real, hands-on cybersecurity skills. See exam formats, costs, prep tips, renewal, and which GIAC cert fits your career path.
Learnsic
learnsic.com › blog › what-is-giac-certification-a-guide
What is GIAC Certification? A Guide
May 26, 2023 - This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience & by continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy and Cookie Policy · Got it
YouTube
youtube.com › @GIACCertifications
GIAC Certifications - YouTube
More than 40 cybersecurity ... GIAC certifications provide the highest and most rigorous assurance of cybersecurity knowledge and skill available to industry, government, and military clients around ......
Quora
quora.com › What-is-a-GIAC-certification
What is a GIAC certification? - Quora
Answer: The GIAC certification (Global Information Assurance Certification) is an informative course specializing in technical and practical certification. Practitioners can validate, detect, respond to, and resolve security incidents using ...
LinkedIn
linkedin.com › company › giac
GIAC Certifications | LinkedIn
GIAC Certifications | 89,797 followers on LinkedIn. GIAC Certifications develops and administers more than 30 premier, professional information security certifications. | There are a multitude of information security certifications, but only ...
Infosec Institute
infosecinstitute.com › resources › other › giac-certifications-overview
GIAC Certifications Overview | Infosec
May 28, 2018 - GIAC® certifications are created and administered by the Global Information Assurance Certification and cover a variety of security domains. GIAC certifications vary from management and leadership to deep levels of penetration testing, reverse engineering and more.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/cybersecurity › what is the official process for getting giac gsec certification?
r/cybersecurity on Reddit: What is the official process for getting GIAC GSEC Certification?
June 28, 2022 -
Just want to ask where do I train to become certified with GIAC GSEC? And how much is the cost for it?
Top answer 1 of 6
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Sans, you can do a boot camp and material for ~$6-8k Or but the material and an exam attempt ( less but still over $1k ) But you go through sans.
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Take SANS 401 - Security essentials Bootcamp 36 hrs + Plus optional 6th day CTF event. Then pass the exam which is $795 of purchased at time of training, otherwise you can get an alumni cost of $1000. If you don’t take the course the exam is over $1000, I don’t know the exact cost. MSRP for 401 is $7300. Exam is open book
Quora
quora.com › Which-GIAC-certification-is-the-best
Which GIAC certification is the best? - Quora
Answer: Any GIAC certification is very good if youre looking forward to getting one. It has many levels, ranging from Silver, Gold to Expert. All of them are very well respected among employers and have one of the best infosec and cybersecurity ranks. The main problem is that none of them are e...