Start Your Cybersecurity Career with SANS Training & Resources

Cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand, rewarding, and top paying careers you can pursue, and only requires a technical aptitude, problem-solving skills, and a bit of curiosity to get started.

Pick-up some of the fundamental training and skill validation employers notice using SANS courses, programs, academies, free resources, and GIAC Certifications, shared below.

Career Resources

More below

Cyber Aces

40 Hours of Free Introductory Instruction on the Basics of Cybersecurity




SANS Training & GIAC Certifications

Learn fundamental cybersecurity skills from experienced and respected mentors

NICE Framework

See how common industry roles map to SANS Training & GIAC Certifications

Subscribe to SANS Newsletters

Join the SANS Community to receive the latest curated cyber security news, vulnerabilities and mitigations, training opportunities, and our webcast schedule.





More programs to help you get started:

SANS CyberTalent Academy programs: Sponsored training and certification programs for women, veterans, and minorities to support diversity in the cybersecurity community.

CyberStart Essentials & Game: CyberStart Essentials online training and CyberStart Game allow young adults and other students just getting started to learn fundamental technical knowledge and skills before embarking on their career. Learn more by sending an email to our team: cyberstart@sans.org

SANS Technology Institute Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity: Start or transition your career to cybersecurity with an undergraduate certificate from the leading educator in the field.


Be Inspired to Pursue Your Own Cybersecurity Career

Clover Twombly recently shared her inspiring success story with us. Read how a non-technical professional landed a cybersecurity role at a Fortune 100 company after participating in a SANS CyberTalent Academy.

Additional resources that will be valuable to your early learning:

Glossary of Cybersecurity Terms

Security Essentials Core Concepts Webcast

All Around Defender Blog Post

So You Wanna Be a Pen Tester? 3 Paths to Consider

Introduction to Linux

Securing your future in DFIR


SANS Training & GIAC Certifications

The following courses and certifications are the fastest way to learn cybersecurity and prove your hands-on skill and capabilities to employers. Start with core defense or add specialized skills to your resume with these fundamental courses and certifications.

SEC301: Introduction to Cyber Security

SEC301 will teach you real-world cybersecurity fundamentals to serve as the foundation of your career skills and knowledge for years to come.

Certification: GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF)

SEC401: Security Essentials Bootcamp Style

SEC401 teaches you the essential information security skills and techniques you need to protect and secure your organization's critical information assets and business systems.

Certification: GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)

SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits, and Incident Handling

SEC504 will enable you to turn the tables on computer attackers by helping you understand their tactics and strategies in detail, giving you hands-on experience in finding security vulnerabilities and discovering intrusions, and equipping you with a comprehensive incident handling plan.

Certification: GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)

SEC402: Cybersecurity Writing: Hack the Reader

SEC402 will teach you a reader centered approach that can help you stand out in the eyes of your peers, colleagues, managers, and clients. This course will help you communicate your insights, requests, and recommendations persuasively and professionally.

SEC488: Cloud Security Essentials

SEC488 will prepare you to advise and speak about a wide range of topics and help your organization successfully navigate both the security challenges as well as the opportunities presented by cloud services.

FOR308: Digital Forensics Essentials

FOR308 will teach you fundamentals of DFIR including what digital data is, how to find it, acquire it, preserve it, and most importantly, how to understand it and explain findings.

MGT512: Security Leadership Essentials for Managers

MGT512 will teach you the technical knowledge and management skills to understand what your security team does and help them succeed.

Certification: GIAC Security Leadership (GSLC)

SEC522: Defending Web Applications Security Essentials

SEC522 will introduce you to the nature of each vulnerability to help you understand why it happens, then we'll show you how to identify the vulnerability and provide options to mitigate it.

Certification: GIAC Certified Web Application Defender (GWEB)