Prove capability to deliver actionable intelligence connecting threat data across strategic, operational, and tactical layers.
The GIAC Cyber Threat Intelligence (GCTI) certification validates a practitioner’s strategic, operational, and tactical cyber threat intelligence knowledge and skills. GCTI certification holders are qualified to gather, analyze, and apply intelligence from vital sources, to profile and analyze intrusions and malware, to pivot and perform domain analysis, to use technologies such as network indicators, log repositories, and forensics tools, and to create and share accurate and effective reports.
Areas Covered
- Strategic, operational, and tactical cyber threat intelligence applications and fundamentals
- Open-source intelligence (OSINT) and campaigns
- Intelligence applications and intrusion analysis
- Intelligence analysis, attribution, and collection and storage of data sets
- Kill chain, diamond model, and courses of action matrix
- Malware as a collection source, pivoting, and sharing intelligence
Who is GCTI for?
- Incident response team members
- Threat hunters
- Security Operations Center personnel
- Information security practitioners
- Experienced digital forensic analysts
- Federal agents and law enforcement officials
CyberLive: Real labs. Real tools. Real skills.
CyberLive is a hands-on exam format that replaces traditional multiple-choice testing with performance-based challenges in realistic lab environments to validate real-world capability.
Virtual Machines:
Full-scale lab systems that behave like physical computers: install, attack, defend, and run services.
Real Security Tools:
Exact tools used by professionals every day including all the quirks and challenges
Authentic Code:
Real code, real exploits, real impacts
Exam Format
- 1 proctored exam
- 82 questions
- 3 hours
- Minimum passing score of 71%
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 GCTI exam at 71% for all candidates who receive the exam version released on or after December 26, 2017.
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
- Analysis of IntelligenceThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the techniques employed in analyzing information. The candidate will also demonstrate an understanding obstacles to accurate analysis, such as fallacies and bias, and how to recognize and avoid them.
- Campaigns and AttributionThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of identifying and profiling intrusion characteristics and external intelligence into campaigns. The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the importance of attribution and the factors that are considered when making an attribution.
- Collecting and Storing Data SetsThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of collecting and storing data from collection sources such as threat feeds, domains, TLS certificates, and internal sources.
- Intelligence ApplicationThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the practical application of gathering, analyzing, and using intelligence. Additionally, the candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how well-known cyber attacks can inform cyber intelligence professionals today.
- Intelligence FundamentalsThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of fundamental cyber threat intelligence definitions and concepts. The candidate will also demonstrate a basic working knowledge of technologies that provide intelligence analysts with data, such as network indicators, log repositories, and forensics tools.
- Kill Chain, Diamond Model, and Courses of Action MatrixThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the Kill Chain, Diamond Model, and Courses of Actions Matrix and how they are used together to analyze intrusions.
- Malware as a Collection SourceThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of malware analysis tools and techniques to derive intelligence.
- PivotingThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of pivoting to expand intelligence, pivot analysis, the ability to use link analysis tools, and ability perform domain analysis to expand intelligence collections.
- Sharing IntelligenceThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of methods and practices of storing intelligence from various sources. The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the processes, tools, and techniques used in sharing intelligence. The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of effectively sharing tactical intelligence with executives by writing accurate and effective reports and using such capabilities as assessments.
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 GCTI 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