3 Ways to get SANS GIAC certified CHEAPER

UnixGuy | Cyber Security

28 Jul 202203:58

Summary

TLDRThis video offers cost-effective strategies for obtaining popular certifications like SANS GIAC and GCFA, which typically cost around $8,800 USD or 13,000 AUD. The presenter suggests challenging the exam for $950 USD, negotiating with employers to cover training costs, and utilizing the SANS Work Study Program for a significantly reduced fee of approximately $2,500 USD. The Work Study Program allows participants to attend in-person or online training, assisting with setup and feedback collection, offering valuable networking opportunities and high-quality instruction.

Takeaways

💼 SANS certifications like GCIH and GCFA are highly valued but can be costly, with training and certification fees reaching up to $8,800 USD or approximately 13,000 AUD.
📚 One way to obtain SANS certification is by challenging the exam, which is less expensive at $950 USD or around 1,400 AUD, but requires self-study without official training materials.
🎓 The exam route can be difficult as the SANS GI-AC exam is closely tied to the material provided in their training courses, which are not legally available without payment.
🤝 A second strategy is to ask your employer to cover the cost of SANS training, which many companies are willing to do, especially for employees who have proven their value.
💼 Employers may see the value in SANS certifications and offer to pay for them as a benefit or as part of a salary negotiation for senior roles.
📈 The third and most favored method by the speaker is the SANS Work Study Program, which significantly reduces the cost of training and certification to about $2,500 USD or 3,700 AUD.
🏫 The Work Study Program allows participants to attend training in person or online, with responsibilities such as setting up the training room and collecting feedback forms.
👥 Participation in the Work Study Program offers networking opportunities with SANS instructors and team, which can be a valuable experience.
🔍 Selection for the Work Study Program is selective and not guaranteed, with preferences given to those who have not participated in previous years or who work for companies that typically do not cover training costs.
🚀 The speaker highly recommends the SANS training and certification due to its high quality and the benefits it brings to one's professional development.
💡 Proactivity is key when seeking to obtain SANS certifications, whether through challenging exams, employer sponsorship, or the Work Study Program.

Q & A

What are the most popular SANS certifications mentioned in the transcript?
-The most popular SANS certifications mentioned are SANS GCIH and SANS GCFA.
Why are the costs of SANS certifications considered high?
-The costs are considered high because each training and certification can cost about 8,800 USD, which is equivalent to approximately 13,000 Australian dollars.
What is the first method suggested to obtain SANS certifications at a lower cost?
-The first method suggested is to challenge the exam, which allows you to get the certification without doing the SANS training by paying for the exam fee of about 950 USD.
What is the challenge associated with challenging the SANS exam?
-The challenge is that the SANS exam is closely tied to the material provided in the training, and there is no legal way to obtain the training material without paying for it.
What is the second method to obtain SANS certifications affordably?
-The second method is to ask your employer to pay for the training, especially if you have been performing well and delivering value to the company.
How can employees negotiate with their employers for SANS training?
-Employees can negotiate by showing how obtaining the certification will improve their day-to-day job and add value to their role within the company.
What is the third and most favored method mentioned for obtaining SANS certifications?
-The third method is the SANS Work Study Program, which allows participants to do the training and certification for about 2,500 USD.
What does the SANS Work Study Program involve?
-The Work Study Program involves helping with the setup and organization of the training sessions, either in person or online, and attending the training to learn from the instructors.
What are the benefits of participating in the SANS Work Study Program?
-The benefits include the opportunity to attend high-quality training, learn from experienced instructors, and network with the SANS team and other participants.
How selective is the SANS Work Study Program in choosing participants?
-The program is selective and does not choose the same person for two or three years in a row to give others a chance. They also tend not to select individuals from large companies that usually pay for the training.

Outlines

00:00

💼 Cost-effective Certification Alternatives

The speaker discusses the high costs associated with popular cybersecurity certifications like SANS GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification) and SANS GCFA (Certified Forensics Analyst), which can reach up to $8,800 USD or 13,000 AUD. To address this, they offer three cost-effective alternatives: 1) Challenging the exam without the training, which reduces the cost to $950 USD or 1,400 AUD, although this is challenging due to the exam's close ties to the training material. 2) Asking employers to sponsor the training, which is a common practice for companies to retain valuable employees and can be negotiated as part of a job offer. 3) The SANS Work Study Program, which allows participants to receive training and certification for a reduced fee of around $2,500 USD or 3,700 AUD. This program is highly recommended for its quality and the opportunity to learn from expert instructors.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡SANS certifications

SANS certifications refer to professional certifications offered by the SANS Institute, a global leader in cybersecurity training. These certifications, such as the GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification), are highly regarded in the IT security industry. In the video, SANS certifications are presented as job requirements that can significantly enhance one's career prospects, but they come with a high cost.

💡Cost

Cost, in this context, refers to the financial investment required to obtain the SANS certifications. The video mentions that the training and certification can be expensive, with each certification costing approximately $8,800 USD, which converts to about 13,000 Australian dollars. The cost is a significant barrier that the video aims to address by providing alternative, more affordable methods to achieve these certifications.

💡Challenge the exam

Challenging the exam is one of the methods suggested in the video to obtain SANS certifications without undergoing the full training course. It involves directly paying for and taking the certification exam, which costs around $950 USD or about 1,400 AUD. This approach is less expensive than the full training but requires a strong self-study effort and familiarity with the material, as the exam is closely tied to the training content.

💡Employer sponsorship

Employer sponsorship is another strategy discussed in the video where an employee can request their employer to cover the cost of SANS certifications. Companies are often willing to invest in employee training, especially for valuable team members, as it can lead to improved job performance and employee retention. The video suggests being strategic in presenting how the certification will benefit the company and the employee's role.

💡Work study program

The work study program is the third method highlighted in the video and is the speaker's preferred method. It allows individuals to participate in the training and certification process at a reduced cost of approximately $2,500 USD or 3,700 AUD. Participants assist with setup and feedback collection during the training sessions, providing a hands-on learning experience and networking opportunities with SANS instructors and team.

💡GCIH

GCIH stands for GIAC Certified Incident Handler, a certification that validates an individual's ability to handle and respond to cybersecurity incidents. In the video, GCIH is mentioned as one of the popular SANS certifications, indicating its importance in the field of cybersecurity.

💡GCFA

GCFA stands for GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst, a certification that focuses on digital forensics and incident response. The GCFA is another example of a SANS certification that is highly valued in the industry, as it signifies expertise in investigating and analyzing cyber incidents.

💡GPIN

GPIN stands for GIAC Penetration Tester, which is a certification that demonstrates an individual's skills in ethical hacking and penetration testing. The video mentions that some individuals have successfully challenged the GPIN exam after gaining relevant experience through other certifications like OSCP, showing that it is possible to prepare for the exam through self-study.

💡OSCP

OSCP stands for Offensive Security Certified Professional, a certification that is recognized for its rigorous practical exam and is highly respected in the cybersecurity community. The video uses OSCP as an example of a certification that can provide a foundation of knowledge for challenging the SANS GPIN exam.

💡Networking

Networking is an important aspect of professional development mentioned in the video, particularly in the context of the work study program. It involves building professional relationships with instructors, the SANS team, and other participants, which can be beneficial for career growth and learning opportunities.

💡Feedback

Feedback is highlighted in the video as an essential part of the SANS training experience. Participants in the work study program are responsible for collecting feedback forms after training sessions, which helps SANS to continually improve their courses. This process also provides an opportunity for participants to contribute to the quality of future training sessions.

Highlights

Popular certifications like SANS GCIH and SANS GCFA are expensive, costing around $8,800 USD or 13,000 AUD.

The video offers three cost-effective methods to obtain these certifications.

Method 1: Challenge the exam without training, which costs $950 USD or 1,400 AUD.

Challenge exams are difficult as they are tied to the training material.

Method 2: Ask your employer to cover the certification costs.

Companies often pay for training to retain valuable employees.

Show employers how the certification will improve your job performance.

Some companies offer to pay for SANS training as a negotiation perk.

Method 3: Apply for the SANS Work Study Program.

The Work Study Program reduces certification costs to $2,500 USD or 3,700 AUD.

Participants in the Work Study Program receive high-quality training.

The program includes both in-person and online training options.

Work Study participants assist with setup and feedback collection.

Networking with SANS team and instructors is a valuable aspect of the program.

SANS is selective about who they accept into the Work Study Program.

Large companies that typically pay for training may not be selected.

Applying for the program is encouraged for those interested in SANS training.