Demonstrate deep command-line and triage acumen in Linux environments, a differentiator for modern DFIR and threat hunting teams.
The GIAC Linux Incident Responder (GLIR) certification validates a practitioner’s threat hunting skills and knowledge of Linux incident response. GLIR certification holders are qualified to conduct system triage, perform evidence collection, and conduct incident response analysis to identify the initial entry point of an attack and movement across Linux systems.
Areas Covered
- Linux incident response, threat hunting, and intrusion analysis
- Linux file systems, system triage, and evidence collection
- Linux user data, application, and timeline analysis
Who is GLIR for?
- Incident Response Team members
- Threat hunters
- SOC analysts
- Experienced digital forensic analysts
- Federal agents and law enforcement
- Red Team members, penetration testers, and exploit developers
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 66%
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 GLIR exam at 66% for all candidates who receive the exam version released on or after May 17, 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
- Analyzing Anti-Forensics TechniquesThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to analyze common tactics employed by attackers to hide their track including recovering deleted files, and timestamp manipulation.
- Analyzing Linux Application EventsThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to analyze common Linux application logs including webserver, database server, file sharing, and host firewall logs.
- Analyzing Linux EventsThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to analyze common Linux events found in the audit log including offline audit logs as well as events found in the journal, through offline analysis, using journalctl, and manual analysis.
- Evidence Collection and MountingThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of Linux memory management, kernel architecture, evidence collection including physical, virtual and volatile collection techniques. The candidate will also have an understanding of the tools used for collecting and mounting the evidence.
- Incident Response TriageThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of triage concepts to include triage workflows, collecting triage data, and triage collection scripts.
- Linux File System ArtifactsThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of Linux threat hunting including recognizing common persistence mechanisms, file modification and within the password file structure.
- Linux File System Fundamentals and AnalysisThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of using The Sleuth Kit to analyze a Linux file system artifacts including concepts, terminology, and file system layers.
- Linux Memory and Device Profiling AnalysisThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to perform live memory analysis as well as performing device profiling including profiling priorities, network profiling and current running binaries.
- Linux OS Event Log IntroductionThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how Linux logs are gathered, analyzed, and managed, to include system, boot, authentication and authorization logs.
- Linux OS File System StructureThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the Linux file system structure including boot files, libraries, binary files, devices and drivers.
- Linux OS FundamentalsThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the Linux operating system structure, common distributions, command line basics, and regular expressions.
- Linux Threat Hunting and Incident ResponseThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of threat intelligence concepts and how to utilize that knowledge to perform threat hunting within a Linux environment. Additionally the candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the incident response process, creating and implementing playbooks, and response workflows.
- Linux Timeline AnalysisThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of timeline concepts, types of timelines used, timeline analysis and potential issues specific to Linux operating systems.
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 GLIR 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