GIAC Critical Infrastructure Protection Certification (GCIP)
Deliver assurance in protecting power and critical environments, offering expertise that bridges compliance with operational defense.
The GIAC Critical Infrastructure Protection (GCIP) certification validates the skills and knowledge of practitioners who access, support, and maintain critical systems. GCIP certification holders understand the regulatory requirements of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's Critical Infrastructure Protection standards (NERC CIP), and are equipped with practical implementation strategies.
Areas Covered
- BES cyber system identification and strategies for lowering impact rating
- Nuances of NERC-defined terms and CIP standards applicability
- Strategic implementation approaches for supporting technologies
- Recurring tasks and strategies for CIP program maintenance
Who is GCIP for?
- ICS cyber security practitioners
- Field support personnel
- Compliance staff
- Team leaders and managers
- Auditors
“Instructor Testimonial
The bulk electric system or "the grid" is arguably the most critical of the critical infrastructures demanding that personnel charged with supporting it, understand the impact of their actions and inactions with regard to system reliability, safety and security. The GIAC Critical Infrastructure Protection will help validate that the professionals who access, support and maintain the critical systems that keep the grid running have an understanding of the regulatory requirements of NERC CIP as well as practical implementation strategies to achieve both regulatory compliance and its cyber security objectives.”
Exam Format
- 1 proctored exam
- 3 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 GCIP exam at 70% for all candidates who receive the exam version released on or after February 24, 2018.
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
- BES Cyber System CategorizationKnowledge of Attachment 1 Criteria, Operational Effects and Impacts, NERC Functional Model, BES Reliability Operating Services, BES Cyber Asset Identification
- Configuration Change Management and Vulnerability AssessmentsKnowledge of Change Management, Configuration Monitoring, Vulnerability Assessment, Transient Cyber Assets, Removable Media
- Electronic Security Perimeter(s)Knowledge of Electronic Security Perimeter Architecture, External Routable Connectivity communication, Access Rules, Dial-Up, Malicious Communication Detection, Intermediate Systems and Interactive Remote Access, Multi-factor Authentication
- Incident Reporting and Response PlanningKnowledge of Incident Response Plan, Incident Response Plan Testing and Exercise, Incident Response Plan Reporting
- Information ProtectionKnowledge of Information Protection Program, Identification, Classification, Protection, Disposal, Reuse
- NERC CIP Terms and DefinitionsKnowledge of terms and definitions relevant to BES, NERC, and CIP
- Personnel & TrainingKnowledge of Awareness Program, Cybersecurity Training Program, Personnel Risk Assessment, Access Management Program
- Physical Security of BES Cyber SystemsKnowledge of Physical Security Plan, Physical access controls, Visitor control program, Maintenance and Testing, Monitoring, Logging and Alerting
- Recovery Plans for BES Cyber SystemsKnowledge of Recovery Plan, Recovery Plan Testing and Exercise, Recovery Plan Reporting
- Security Management ControlsKnowledge of Senior Manager Requirements, Policies, Low facility Requirements
- Standards DevelopmentKnowledge of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Program, Request For Interpretation, Standards Authorization Request, Urgent Action Request, Balloting, Violation Severity Level, Violation Risk Factor
- Standards EnforcementKnowledge of Audit Prep, Enforcement Treatment, Reliability Standards Auditor Worksheet, Reliability Assurance Initiative, Interactive Remote Access, Internal Controls Evaluation
- System Security ManagementKnowledge of Port and Service management, Patch Management, Malicious Code Prevention, System Logging, Authentication Requirements, Account management, Monitoring and Alerting
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 GCIP 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