Deliver assurance in expert Windows forensic analysis, distinguishing advanced hands-on investigative skills and knowledge.
The GIAC Experienced Forensics Examiner (GX-FE) demonstrates that a practitioner is qualified for a hands-on Windows forensic analyst role. GX-FE certification holders have the expertise to analyze a Windows host and uncover demonstrable evidence of users’ activities on the device.
Areas Covered
- Identifying evidence of application execution
- Proving existence of files and recovering deleted artifacts
- Analyzing cloud storage artifacts
- Investigating network activity and browser activity, and tracking physical device locations
- Investigating file and folder interactions, and investigating external device and USB activity
- Profiling account usage and system configurations
Who is GX-FE for?
- Well-rounded professionals with general understanding of all areas of cyber security
- Practitioners with a strong desire to demonstrate superior hands-on capabilities and expand their professional portfolios
- GCFE certification holders who have gained additional experience
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
- Open book, open notes
- Time limit 4 hour
- 25 CyberLive - hands-on, real-world practical testing. CyberLive testing creates a lab environment where cyber practitioners prove their knowledge, understanding, and skill using:
- Actual programs
- Actual code
- Virtual machines
Find out more about CyberLive here.
NOTE: GIAC reserves the right to change the specifications for each certification without notice.To verify the format read the Certification Information found in your account at 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
- Account ActivityThe candidate will analyze Windows system artifacts to profile account usage, authentication events, and session details.
- Application ExecutionThe candidate will analyze Windows system artifacts to identify and track application execution.
- Browser ActivityThe candidate will demonstrate proficiency in analyzing web browser artifacts.
- Cloud StorageThe candidate will demonstrate proficiency in analyzing cloud storage application artifacts on a Windows system.
- External Device and USB ActivityThe candidate will profile external media and USB device usage on a Windows system.
- File and Folder ActivityThe candidate will analyze Windows system artifacts to track file origins and reconstruct user interactions with files and folders.
- File Existence and Deleted ItemsThe candidate will analyze Windows system artifacts to prove user knowledge of file existence and demonstrate proficiency in recovering deleted files and metadata.
- Network Activity and Physical LocationThe candidate will analyze Windows system artifacts to track device physical locations and network connection history.
- System InformationThe candidate will profile system details, configuration settings, and boot artifacts.
Demo Questions
- These questions allow a candidate to experience the exam style and complexity in the environment used during the certification exam.
- Demo questions are never included in the actual certification exam.
- The demo question set includes 3 questions, and the student has 45 minutes to complete. Note that the average time per question is not as fast paced as the actual exam attempt.
- Limited demo questions per exam are available so you will receive repetitive questions if multiple Demo Questions are purchased.
- Demo questions are nontransferable.
- Purchase GX-FE demo questions here.
Other Resources
- Affiliate Training - FOR500 (Primary fit course*), FOR498, FOR508, FOR608,
- Practical work experience can help ensure that you have mastered the skills necessary for certification.
- Get information about the procedure to contest exam results.
*Courses that include a "primary fit course" designation have the most closely aligned content but do not include all of the content, tools, and platforms that could be included in testing on the Applied Knowledge exam.