Signal your readiness as an advanced defender, armed with a comprehensive range of technical expertise and the practical skills to implement advanced protection.
The GIAC Certified Enterprise Defender (GCED) certification validates a practitioner’s knowledge and abilities in the areas of defensive network infrastructure, packet analysis, penetration testing, incident handling, and malware removal, building on the security skills measured by the GIAC Security Essentials certification. GCED certification holders are equipped with more advanced technical skills that are needed to defend the enterprise environment and protect an organization as a whole.
Areas Covered
- Network and cloud-based defensive infrastructure
- Penetration testing, digital forensics, and incident response
- Network monitoring, forensics, and logging
- Packet analysis, intrusion analysis, and malware analysis
Who is GCED for?
- Incident responders and penetration testers
- Security Operations Center engineers and analysts
- Network security professionals
- Anyone seeking technical in-depth knowledge about implementing comprehensive security solutions
Exam Format
- 1 proctored exam
- 3 hours
- Minimum passing score of 69%
- 115 questions
Note: GIAC periodically reviews and may update certification specifications to ensure fairness, validity, and reliability. Using a psychometric standard-setting study, GIAC has set the passing score for the GCED exam at 69% for all candidates who receive the exam version released on or after October 1st, 2022.
To confirm the exam format and passing score that apply to your specific attempt, please refer to the Certification Information section of your GIAC account: https://exams.giac.org/pages/attempts.
Certification Delivery
GIAC certification attempts will be activated in your GIAC account after your application has been approved and according to the terms of your purchase. Details on delivery will be provided along with your registration confirmation upon payment. You will receive an email notification when your certification attempt has been activated in your account. You will have 120 days from the date of activation to complete your certification attempt.
NOTE: All GIAC Certification exams are web-based and required to be proctored. There are two proctoring options: remote proctoring through ProctorU, and onsite proctoring through PearsonVUE. Click here for more information.
Exam Certification Objectives & Outcome Statements
- Defending Network Protocols The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of commonly-used network protocols and how to defend against protocol attacks. The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of audit techniques and the Center for Internet Security's benchmarks and Critical Security Controls.
- Defensive Infrastructure and TacticsThe candidate will demonstrate basic knowledge of network and cloud-based infrastructure defensive measures, including common detective and preventive controls.
- Digital Forensics Concepts and ApplicationThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of methods and practices of digital forensics. The candidate will demonstrate proficiency in identification of forensic artifacts.
- Incident Response Concepts and ApplicationThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of continuous incident response processes, and their relationship to threat intelligence practices and the Cyber Kill Chain.
- Interactive and Manual Malware AnalysesThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of interactive malware behavior analysis, knowledge of analysis tools, and ability to interpret the analysis results. The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of manual malware code reversal, disassembly and decompiling, and of code obfuscation techniques used by malware.
- Intrusion Detection and Packet AnalysisThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of intrusion prevention systems, their placement in the enterprise, and their configuration and tuning. The candidate will demonstrate proficiency in taking action in response to alerts.
- Malware Analysis Concepts and Basic Analysis TechniquesThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the various types of malware, identify symptoms of infection, and methods to analyze malware safely. The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the benefits and disadvantages of automated and static malware analysis techniques, and to interpret their results.
- Network Forensics, Logging, and Event ManagementThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of using logs and flows in network forensics, the importance of logging and event management in security operations, and the usage of a SIEM and Security Analytics.
- Network Security Monitoring Concepts and ApplicationThe candidate will demonstrate knowledge of devices that are used in SOCs to monitor networks, their understanding of packet types, packet capture tools, the practice of continuous network monitoring, and advanced issues such as monitoring encrypted traffic.
- Penetration Testing ApplicationThe candidate will demonstrate familiarity and proficiency using penetration testing tactics and tools against typical types of penetration test targets.
- Penetration Testing ConceptsThe candidate will demonstrate knowledge of penetration testing scoping, rules of engagement, the tools and tactics used in penetration tests, and reporting test results to the intended audience.
Practice Tests
- Practice exams are a simulation of the real exam, allowing you to become familiar with the test engine and style of questions
- Practice exams can serve as a gauge to determine if your preparation methods are sufficient
- The bank of practice questions is limited, so you may encounter the same question on multiple practice tests
- Practice exams never include actual exam questions
- Purchase a GCED practice test here
Other Resources
- Training is available in a variety of modalities including live training and OnDemand
- Practical work experience can help ensure that you have mastered the skills necessary for certification
- College level courses or self-paced study through other programs or materials may meet the needs for mastery
- Understand the procedure to contest exam results
- Use this justification letter to share key details of this certification opportunity with your boss