Certification Overview
The GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) certification validates a practitioner’s knowledge of information security beyond simple terminology and concepts. GSEC certification holders are demonstrating that they are qualified for hands-on IT systems roles with respect to security tasks.
Areas Covered
- Active defense, defense in depth, access control & password management
- Cryptography: basic concepts, algorithms and deployment, and application
- Defensible network architecture, networking & protocols, and network security
- Incident handling & response, vulnerability scanning and penetration testing
- Linux security: structure, permissions, & access; hardening & securing; monitoring & attack detection; & security utilities
- Security policy, contingency plans, critical controls and IT risk management
- Web communication security, virtualization and cloud security, and endpoint security
- Windows: access controls, automation, auditing, forensics, security infrastructure, & securing network services
Who is GISF for?
- Anyone new to information security who has some background in information systems & networking
- Security professionals
- Security managers
- Operations personnel
- IT engineers and supervisors
- Security administrators
- Forensic analysts
- Penetration testers
- Auditors
Exam Format
- 1 proctored exam
- 106-180 questions
- Time limit of 4-5 hours
- Minimum passing score of 73%
Exam Certification Objectives & Outcome Statements
- Access Control & Password Management
The candidate will understand the fundamental theory of access control and the role of passwords in managing access control.
- AWS Fundamentals and Security
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to interact with and secure AWS instances.
- Container and MacOS Security
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to secure containers and understand security features provided in MacOS.
- Cryptography
The candidate will have a basic understanding of the concepts of cryptography, including a high-level understanding of the major types of cryptosystems and steganography.
- Cryptography Algorithms & Deployment
The candidate will have a basic understand of the mathematical concepts that contribute to cryptography and identify commonly used symmetric, asymmetric, and hashing cryptosystems.
- Cryptography Application
The candidate will have a high-level understanding of the use, functionality, and operation of VPNs, GPG, and PKI
- Data Loss Prevention and Mobile Device Security
The candidate will understand the risks and impacts of data loss, how to prevent it, and the security considerations.
- Defense in Depth
The candidate will understand what defense in depth is and an identify the key areas of security and demonstrate the different strategies for implementing effective security within an organization.
- Defensible Network Architecture
The candidate will demonstrate how to architect a network to be monitored and controlled to resist intrusion.
- Endpoint Security
The candidate will demonstrate a basic understanding of the function and uses of endpoint security devices, such as endpoint firewalls, HIDS, and HIPS
- Enforcing Windows Security Policy
The candidate will have a high-level understanding of the features of Group Policy and working with INF security templates
- Incident Handling & Response
The candidate will understand the concepts of incident handling and the processes pertaining to incident handling.
- Linux Fundamentals
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the Linux operating system structure, vulnerabilities, and permissions.
- Linux Security and Hardening
The candidate will demonstrate an ability to gain visibility into a Linux system to be able to secure, audit, and harden the system.
- Log Management & SIEM
The candidate will demonstrate a high-level understanding of the importance of logging, the setup and configuration of logging, and log analysis with the assistance of SIEMs
- Malicious Code & Exploit Mitigation
The candidate will understand important attack methods and basic defensive strategies to mitigate those threats.
- Network Security Devices
The candidate will demonstrate a basic understanding of the function and uses of network security devices, such as, firewalls, NIDS, and NIPS
- Networking & Protocols
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the properties and functions of network protocols and network protocol stacks.
- Security Frameworks and CIS Controls
The candidate will understand the purpose, implementation, and background of the CIS Critical Controls, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and the MITRE ATT&CK knowledge base.
- Virtualization and Cloud Security
The candidate will have a basic understanding of the risks of virtualization and cloud services and how to secure them.
- Vulnerability Scanning and Penetration Testing
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and relationship behind reconnaissance, resource protection, risks, threats, and vulnerabilities including preliminary abilities to create network maps and perform penetration testing techniques
- Web Communication Security
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of web application security and common vulnerabilities including CGI, cookies, SSL and active content.
- Windows Access Controls
The candidate will understand how permissions are applied in the Windows NT File System, Shared Folders, Printers, Registry Keys, and Active Directory, and how Privileges are applied
- Windows as a Service
The candidate will understand how to manage updates for a network of Windows hosts.
- Windows Automation, Auditing, and Forensics
The candidate will be introduced to the techniques and technologies used to audit Windows hosts.
- Windows Security Infrastructure
The candidate will identify the differences between types of Windows OSes and how Windows manages groups and accounts, locally and with Active Directory and Group Policy
- Windows Services and Microsoft Cloud
The candidate will know how to take basic measures in securing Windows network services such as IPsec, IIS, and Remote Desktop Services and Microsoft Azure security features.
- Wireless Network Security
The candidate will have a basic understanding of the misconceptions and risks of wireless networks and how to secure them.
