Bridge cloud technology aptitude with key penetration testing skills to defend modern enterprises.
The GIAC Cloud Penetration Tester (GCPN) certification validates a practitioner's fluency in cloud technologies and readiness to conduct cloud-focused penetration testing. GCPN certification holders are qualified to assess and test the security of systems, networks, architecture, and cloud technologies.
Areas Covered
- Cloud penetration testing fundamentals, environment mapping, and service discovery
- AWS and Azure cloud services and attacks
- Cloud native applications with containers and CI/CD Pipelines
Who is GCPN for?
- Attack-focused and defense-focused security practitioners
- Penetration testers
- Vulnerability analysts
- Risk assessment officers
- DevOps engineers
- Site reliability engineers
“Instructor Testimonial
The GIAC Cloud Penetration Testing (GCPN) certification provides our industry with a first focused exam on both cloud technologies and penetration testing disciplines. This certification will require a mastery in assessing the security of systems, networks, web applications, web architecture, cloud technologies, and cloud design. Those that hold the GCPN have been able to cross these distinct discipline areas and simulate the ways that attackers are breaching modern enterprises.”
Exam Format
- 1 proctored exam
- 2 hours
- Minimum passing score of 70%
- 75 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 GCPN exam at 70% for all candidates who receive the exam version released on or after February 13, 2021.
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
- AWS Authentication and Cloud ServicesThe Candidate will demonstrate understanding of the AWS authentication methods including the structure, policies, and identities used through IAM including Privilege Escalation in the AWS environment. The candidate will demonstrate understanding of the Amazon KMS and Lambda functions and fundamental use of exploitation tools for AWS.
- Azure Functions and Windows ContainersThe Candidate will demonstrate understanding of the Azure Functions capability and the differences between it and AWS Lambda functions, code execution in the Azure environment including Windows Containers, and the Microsoft Graph tool.
- Cloud CLI and Application MappingThe candidate will demonstrate understanding of AWS and Azure CLI structure and application mapping through APIs and HTTP requests.
- Cloud Native Applications and CI/CD Pipelines The Candidate will demonstrate understanding of examples of cloud native applications and CI/CD pipelines and finding vulnerabilities in them.
- Cloud Penetration Testing FundamentalsThe candidate will demonstrate understanding of the fundamentals of penetration testing applied to cloud applications including recon, assessment, discovery and restrictions of cloud environments. The candidate will demonstrate understanding of the structure and configurations of public cloud infrastructures.
- Containers and Kubernetes StructureThe Candidate will demonstrate understanding of application deployment in containers as well as the structure and configuration of Kubernetes and service meshes.
- Discovering Cloud Services and DataThe Candidate will be able to discover and identify sources of exposure in cloud environments, including exposed ports, services, databases, secrets, and developer tools and repositories.
- Microsoft Azure Cloud Services and AttacksThe Candidate will show understanding of Microsoft Azure cloud services, web identity management and authentication standards, and attacks against Azure users and services.
- Password Attacks on Cloud EnvironmentsThe Candidate will demonstrate an understanding of username harvesting and password attack methodologies and tools.
- Red Team Penetration Testing of Cloud EnvironmentsThe Candidate will demonstrate understanding of Red Team penetration testing processes including exploitation and payload development and the tools associated with these concepts.
- Redirection and Attack ObfuscationThe Candidate will demonstrate understanding of the process of obfuscation of commands and attack structure through domain fronting and other tools, and pivoting using the proxies, and other methods.
- Web Application AttacksThe Candidate will demonstrate understanding of common web application attacks and how they impact cloud native applications and serverless functions.
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 GCPN 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