Show readiness to lead the team that handles and remediates cyber incidents with expert knowledge and effective communication, capably restoring and protecting your organization.
The GIAC Cyber Incident Leader (GCIL) certification validates a practitioner’s ability to manage cyber incidents and lead a diverse incident management (IM) team to restore normal operations. GCIL certification holders are experts in preparing for, assessing, handling, tracking, and documenting incidents. They are ready to develop IM teams and manage vulnerabilities, threats, and attacks, all while facilitating communication and improving IM processes.
Areas Covered
- Preparing for, assessing, remediating and closing an incident
- Developing, managing and improving the IM team and process
- Identifying threats, vulnerabilities and common malicious attacks, and handling each incident type
- Managing incident tasks and facilitating communications
Who is GCIL for?
- Security professionals responsible for managing incidents
- Incident Managers
- Security/Information Security Managers and Team Leads
- Security Operations Center (SOC) Managers
- Incident Response (IR) Team Leads
- Compliance and Privacy Officers and Managers
- Chief Information Security Officers and Information Security Officers
- Legal, Human Resources, Public Relations, and Communications staff
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 GCIL exam at 70% for all candidates who receive the exam version released on or after February 15, 2025.
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
- Cloud AttacksThe candidate will be able to differentiate cloud attacks from other common malicious attacks, describe the general impact and methodology, and identify the steps required to manage the specific incident type.
- Credential AttacksThe candidate will be able to differentiate credential attacks from other common malicious attacks, describe the general impact and methodology, and identify the steps required to manage the specific incident type.
- Email AttacksThe candidate will be able to differentiate email attacks from other common malicious attacks, describe the general impact and methodology, and identify the steps required to manage the specific incident type.
- Incident AssessmentThe candidate will be able to assess the Incident Management team's ability and outline response goals by classifying the incident based on the attack type.
- Incident CommunicationsThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to maintain consistent and secure sharing of incident data among various stakeholders and approach interaction with attackers.
- Incident Management ImprovementThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to enhance and measure the effectiveness of the Incident Management process while incorporating the assistance of current tools.
- Incident Management Team DevelopmentThe candidate will be able to implement training and cyber exercises to advance the Incident Management team and prepare for a successful team response to security incidents.
- Incident Management Team PreparationThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to organize an Incident Management team to ensure efficiency and prioritize the team's wellbeing.
- Incident PreparationThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of common security terminology and how to apply best practices to strategically prepare an organization to respond to security incidents.
- Incident Remediation and ClosureThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify the root cause, recover from and complete an incident.
- Incident ReportingThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to document details of an incident within various report types and for compliance reporting.
- Incident TrackingThe candidate will be able to manage details and tasks of an incident for reliable Incident Management team updates.
- Ransomware AttacksThe candidate will be able to differentiate ransomware attacks from other common malicious attacks, describe the general impact and methodology, and identify the steps required to manage the specific incident type.
- Supply Chain AttacksThe candidate will be able to differentiate supply chain attacks from other common malicious attacks, describe the general impact and methodology, and identify the steps required to manage the specific incident type.
- Vulnerability and Threat ManagementThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to leverage data and intelligence based on an organization's vulnerability management strategy to assist in securing and remediating the network and data.
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 GCIL 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