Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Advanced Incident Response, Threat Hunting, and Digital Forensics

Threat hunting and Incident response tactics and procedures have evolved rapidly over the past several years. Your team can no longer afford to use antiquated incident response and threat hunting techniques that fail to properly identify compromised systems. The key is to constantly look for attacks that get past security systems, and to catch intrusions in progress, rather than after attackers have completed their objectives and done worse damage to the organization. For the incident responder, this process is known as ” threat hunting “. FOR508 teaches advanced skills to hunt, identify, counter, and recover from a wide range of threats within enterprise networks, including APT nation-state adversaries, organized crime syndicates, and ransomeware operators.

Certification: GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA)

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Cyber Threat Intelligence

Cyber threat intelligence represents a force multiplier for organizations looking to update their response and detection programs to deal with increasingly sophisticated advanced persistent threats. Malware is an adversary’s tool but the real threat is the human one, and cyber threat intelligence focuses on countering those flexible and persistent human threats with empowered and trained human defenders. During a targeted attack, an organization needs a top-notch and cutting-edge threat hunting or incident response team armed with the threat intelligence necessary to understand how adversaries operate and to counter the threat. FOR578: Cyber Threat Intelligence will train you and your team in the tactical, operational, and strategic level cyber threat intelligence skills and tradecraft required to make security teams better, threat hunting more accurate, incident response more effective, and organizations more aware of the evolving threat landscape.

Certification: GIAC Cyber Threat Intelligence (GCTI)

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Windows Forensic Analysis

This course builds comprehensive digital forensics knowledge of Microsoft Windows operating systems, providing the means to recover, analyze, and authenticate forensic data, track user activity on the network, and organize findings for use in incident response, internal investigations, intellectual property theft inquiries, and civil or criminal litigation. Use this knowledge to validate security tools, enhance vulnerability assessments, identify insider threats, track hackers, and improve security policies. Detailed and real-world exercises teach the tools and techniques that every investigator should employ step-by-step to solve a forensic case. Newly updated to cover all Windows versions through Windows 11! 22 Labs + CTF

Certification: GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner (GCFE)

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting, Cloud Security

Enterprise Cloud Forensics and Incident Response

The world is changing, and so is the data we need to conduct our investigations. Cloud platforms change how data is stored and accessed. They remove the examiner’s ability to put their hands directly on the systems. Many examiners are trying to force old methods for on-premise examination onto cloud hosted platforms. Rather than resisting change, examiners must learn to embrace the new opportunities presented to them in the form of new evidence sources. Enterprise Cloud Forensics and Incident Response addresses today’s need to bring examiners up to speed with the rapidly changing world of enterprise cloud environments by uncovering the new evidence sources that only exist in the Cloud.

Certification: GIAC Cloud Forensics Responder (GCFR)

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Reverse-Engineering Malware: Malware Analysis Tools and Techniques

Learn to turn malware inside out! This popular course explores malware analysis tools and techniques in depth. This course training has helped forensic investigators, incident responders, security engineers, and IT administrators acquire the practical skills to examine malicious programs that target and infect Windows systems.

Certification: GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware (GREM)

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Advanced Network Forensics: Threat Hunting, Analysis, and Incident Response

Whether you handle an intrusion incident, data theft case, employee misuse scenario, or are engaged in proactive adversary discovery, the network often provides an unparalleled view of the incident. SANS FOR572 covers the tools, technology, and processes required to integrate network evidence sources into your investigations to provide better findings, and to get the job done faster.

Certification: GIAC Network Forensic Analyst (GNFA)

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Enterprise-Class Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Enterprise-Class Incident Response & Threat Hunting focuses on identifying and responding to incidents too large to focus on individual machines. By using example tools built to operate at enterprise-class scale, students learn the techniques to collect focused data for incident response and threat hunting and dig into analysis methodologies to learn multiple approaches to understand attacker movement and activity across hosts of varying functions and operating systems by using an array of analysis techniques.

Certification: GIAC Enterprise Incident Responder (GEIR)

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

LINUX Incident Response and Threat Hunting

This course teaches the skills needed to identify, analyze, and respond to attacks on Linux platforms and how to use threat hunting techniques to find the stealthy attackers who can bypass existing controls. The course addresses today’s incidents by teaching the hands-on incident response and threat hunting tactics and techniques that elite responders and hunters are successfully using to combat real-world breach cases. 23 hands-on labs

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Cybercrime Intelligence

The cybercrime landscape is perpetually evolving, driven by technological advancements, increased investments by nation-states in offensive cyber operations, and a dynamic cybercrime ecosystem that continuously lowers the barriers for novice criminals to collaborate with more sophisticated actors. FOR589 offers a comprehensive exploration of the cybercrime underground, detailing a broad spectrum of tactics and techniques used by cybercriminals to target organizations. This course includes over twenty hands-on labs and a final capstone exercise, equipping analysts with the skills necessary to enhance their organization’s defenses, proactively gather critical intelligence, trace cryptocurrency proceeds of crime, and generate actionable insights to protect their organization preemptively.

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Smartphone Forensic Analysis In-Depth

The Smartphone Forensic Analysis In-Depth course provides examiners and investigators with advanced skills to detect, decode, decrypt, and correctly interpret evidence recovered from mobile devices. The course is continuously updated to keep up with the latest file formats, malware, smartphone operating systems, third-party applications, acquisition shortfalls, extraction techniques (how to get full file system or physical access), and encryption. It offers the most unique and current instruction to arm you with mobile device forensic knowledge you can immediately apply to cases you’re working on the day you get back to work. 22 labs, bonus labs + CTF

Certification: GIAC Advanced Smartphone Forensics (GASF)

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Ransomware and Cyber Extortion

Ransomware and Cyber Extortion provides the hands-on training required for those who may need to respond to ransomware and/or cyberextortion incidents. The term “Ransomware” no longer refers to a simple encryptor that locks down resources. The advent of human-operated ransomware (HumOR) along with the evolution of ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) have created an entire ecosystem that thrives on hands-on the keyboard, well-planned attack campaigns. Furthermore, some cyber extortion actors carry out the full attack lifecycle yet skip the encryption phase. How do you deal with these threats? Our course uses deftly devised, real-world attacks and their subsequent forensic artifacts to provide you, the analyst, with everything you need to respond when either threat becomes a reality. 13 labs + Final day CTF

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Digital Acquisition and Rapid Triage

This course, a digital forensic acquisition training course, provides the necessary skills to identify the many and varied data storage mediums in use today, and how to collect and preserve this data in a forensically sound manner despite how and where it may be stored. It covers digital acquisition from computers, portable devices, networks, and the cloud. It then teaches the student rapid triage, or the art and science of identifying and starting to extract actionable intelligence from a hard drive in 90 minutes or less.

Certification: GIAC Battlefield Forensics and Acquisition (GBFA)

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Mac and iOS Forensic Analysis and Incident Response

This course is the first non-vendor-based Mac and iOS incident response and forensics course that focuses students on the raw data, in-depth detailed analysis, and how to get the most out of their Mac and iOS cases. The intense hands-on forensic analysis and incident response skills taught in the course will enable analysts to broaden their capabilities and gain the confidence and knowledge to comfortably analyze any Mac or iOS device. 23 Hands-On Labs

Certification: GIAC iOS and macOS Examiner (GIME)

Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Reverse-Engineering Malware: Advanced Code Analysis

Reverse-Engineering Malware – Advanced Code Analysis prepares malware specialists to dissect sophisticated Windows executables, such as those that dominate the headlines and preoccupy incident response teams across the globe. This course not only includes the necessary background and instructor-led walk throughs, but also provides students with numerous opportunities to tackle real-world reverse engineering scenarios during class.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cybersecurity Courses

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for organizations worldwide. The demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals is growing exponentially, with the World Economic Forum projecting a talent shortage of 85 million workers by 2030. As a result, IT professionals, whether aspiring or experienced, are increasingly focusing on upskilling to meet this demand.

The high stakes of cybersecurity mean that hiring managers maintain rigorous standards, creating a significant barrier to entry that only education and experience can overcome. This is where cybersecurity courses come into play, offering IT professionals the opportunity to enhance their skills, gain valuable experience, and improve their marketability in the competitive IT career landscape.

Despite the many training organizations claiming expertise in cybersecurity, only a select few are recognized by industry decision-makers. This blog addresses the most common questions from your peers about cybersecurity courses, providing insights that influence both upskillers and job seekers alike.

1. What are the courses for cybersecurity?

Specializing in a specific area of cybersecurity helps tremendously when developing a course and certification roadmap for your cybersecurity career. Areas of specialization are as vast as the cybersecurity discipline itself. So, focus on areas of passion and keen interest, areas where you’ve made positive change or achieved ‘wins’ for an organization.

A few areas of specialization in cybersecurity include:

• Cloud Security
• Cyber Defense
• Cybersecurity and IT Essentials
• Cybersecurity Leadership
• Digital Forensics, Incident Response, and Threat Hunting
• Industrial Control Systems Security
• Offensive Operations, Pen Testing, and Red Teaming
• Open-Source Intelligence

2. How long is a cybersecurity course?

The length of a cybersecurity course depends on the course type. Course types fall into three categories: in-person, live online, and on demand.

In-person cybersecurity courses range from five to ten days in duration and offer a series of networking and professional development opportunities aside from the core subject matter training.

Live online cybersecurity courses take place during a specific date and time and are conducted live, with participants having access to some or all course materials after the completion of the live portion of the course. The duration is equal to that of the in-person version of the course: five to ten days.

OnDemand cybersecurity courses offer students the chance to learn at a customized pace while receiving live support from subject matter experts. There are sometimes limits on the length of time learners can access the materials, in many cases ranging from four months to unlimited access.

3. How much does a cybersecurity course cost?

Courses increase in cost based on complexity of subject matter, length of the course, and the tools and resources included in the course to hone the learner’s skills in a particular area. High quality, highly specialized, and technical courses cost more than others in the market.

Cybersecurity course fees and their return on investment depend on a learner’s goals when seeking cybersecurity education. A cybersecurity pro looking to build a skill base can piece together a learning curriculum, but that can be like building in the dark with no blueprint.

SANS courses offer a curated learning experience with all resources necessary to learn and master the most relevant skills in a subject area. This saves students time and effort. When reviewing costs, consider these factors:

• Time: The lower the cost, the less structured and impactful the experience. Learners often end up pulling together information from disparate sources with no assurance that what they’re learning is important to hiring managers and internal decision makers in their organizations.
• Reputation: Some educational groups in cybersecurity need no explanation as to their expertise or level of trust in the marketplace. Others, while popular in small groups of specialized cybersecurity pros, may not have the name recognition to grab the attention of fast-moving decision makers looking to promote the next solid cybersecurity expert in their organization.
• Employer sponsorship: Some educational groups offer pricing designed for learners who self-fund their education, while other training organizations facilitate corporate pricing for high-level, specialized coursework for their employees. This often helps employers prove that they’re addressing a pressing issue or a gaping hole in their cybersecurity positioning.

Courses that offer this level of efficient delivery and a high-level learning experience range between $3,000 and $6,000 per course.

4. How difficult is a cybersecurity course?

Difficulty levels of cybersecurity courses vary based on the experience level of the learner, the prerequisite courses needed, and the complexity of the course subject matter.

More advanced courses held in a group setting often present the most complexity to learners. Ways to address perceived difficulty of course materials include selecting a course style that best suits the learner’s needs. For some, in-person experiences lessen course difficulty. Whereas on-demand courses offer those who favor self-paced learning the time to absorb and test new concepts until they become integrated into the learner’s skill set.

Consider reviewing prerequisites and consulting with an educational consultant provided by the cybersecurity course provider to select the best course type and to gauge the level of difficulty of each course.

5. What are the best cybersecurity courses for beginners?

This answer depends on your specific goals. There are foundational courses that provide certifications that employers expect potential hires to have when seeking to land a cybersecurity role.

In this case, GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) offers employers proof of your mastery of cybersecurity essentials and foundational concepts, terms, and strategies. Areas of this certification include cryptography, cloud security operations for AWS and Azure, Linux hardening, and Windows access controls.

6. What are the best advanced cybersecurity courses?

As certain technologies gain popularity, an organization’s attack surface grows. Cybersecurity pros who master the fundamentals can branch out into emerging branches of the cybersecurity threat matrix. For instance, as machine learning becomes more useful in enterprise settings, cybersecurity pros look to codify their understanding of securing systems leveraging the technology.

Other solid advanced courses include:

• Red Team, Blue Team, and Purple Team operations
• Cloud Security
• Security Management
• Advanced Leadership

7. What jobs can you get in cybersecurity?‎

The cybersecurity industry offers many chances for passionate learners to upskill and land roles in the industry. Many cybersecurity pros come from the broader world of IT and move from being network administrators and software engineers to cryptanalysts and bug bounty hunters. Here’s a list of cybersecurity jobs and their associated categories:

Offensive Operations

• Red Team member
• Pen Tester

Defensive Operations

• Counterespionage Analyst
• Cryptanalyst
• Cyber Intelligence Specialist
• Data Privacy Officer
• Data Security Analyst
• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Security Specialist
• Information Security Analyst
• IT Security Architect
• Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst
• Security Awareness Training Specialist
• Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) Security Analyst

Leadership

• Chief Security Officer (CSO)
• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
• Security Operations Center (SOC) Manager

Incident Response and Threat Hunting

• Threat Hunter
• Virus Technician
• Bug Bounty Hunter
• Ethical Hacker
• Incident Responder
• Malware Analyst
• Vulnerability Assessor

Threat Intel and Forensics

• Cyber Insurance Policy Specialist
• Cyber Operations Specialist
• Cybercrime Investigator
• Cybersecurity Lawyer
• Source Code Auditor

8. How can online courses help you learn cybersecurity?

While in-person learning experiences in cybersecurity offer networking opportunities, online courses provide learners with a focused environment for absorbing cybersecurity concepts and practicing their application online.

For the budget conscious, not having to travel makes online courses attractive. Learners also get the chance to engage with course materials at the times most convenient for them.

Another benefit, when course participants need one-on-one assistance, they can reach out to subject matter experts and/or course leaders only when needed. This independent learning format suits many in the cybersecurity industry.

Cybersecurity is a dynamic and ever-evolving field, requiring continuous learning and adaptation. Investing in cybersecurity courses can significantly enhance your skills, boost your career prospects, and help bridge the talent gap in this critical industry. Whether you’re just starting or looking to advance your expertise, there are courses tailored to meet your needs and ambitions. By understanding the various aspects of cybersecurity education, you can make informed decisions and set yourself on a path to success in the cybersecurity landscape.