GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies (GFACT)

Exam Certification Objectives & Outcome Statements

• Computer Hardware & VirtualizationThe candidate will understand key hardware components and their functions as well as associated memory concepts and understand virtualization and containers, their uses and advantages/disadvantages.
• Exploitation & MitigationThe candidate will be familiar with common exploit anatomy and methodology, as well as have a basic awareness and understanding of the tools used by attackers to achieve and increase system access, as well as appropriate mitigation strategies and techniques.
• Forensics & Post-ExploitationThe candidate will be familiar with tools used in forensics investigations as well as their function, understand the stages of incident response, and understand the objectives of different types of forensics investigations and associated key artifacts and evidence. The candidate will be familiar with post-exploitation goals and methodology including persistence, lateral movement, and exfiltration.
• Linux FoundationsThe candidate will have a working knowledge of most commonly used Linux commands, understand permissions and access control, and understand the key elements of Linux as it relates to file systems, architecture, and networking.
• Logic & ProgrammingThe candidate will be able to determine the result of basic logical operations, have a familiarity with programming syntax, constructs, and errors in popular languages, and understand how programs execute and the functions of memory allocations.
• Networking & ServersThe candidate will understand core networking concepts, protocols, and understand different server types and their uses.
• Operating Systems, The Web, & Data StorageThe candidate will understand the typical function and duties/task of the operating system, and be familiar with different file systems, web technology, and have some familiarity with cloud computing models and their advantages/disadvantages.
• Security ConceptsThe candidate will understand the concepts and terminology associated with cryptography, be familiar with ethical and legal concerns that are associated with hacking, understand the stages of an attack, and be familiar with key defensive strategies and concepts.
• Windows FoundationsThe candidate will be familiar with key Windows CLI commands, understand permissions and access control, and understand the key elements of Windows as it relates to file systems, architecture, and networking.