Convey proficiency in network forensic investigations, signaling readiness to perform advanced analysis and deliver essential actionable interpretation.
The GIAC Network Forensic Analyst (GNFA) certification validates a practitioner’s ability to perform advanced analysis of network forensic artifacts. GNFA certification holders are qualified to process and interpret normal and abnormal network activity, and to analyze application activity through system logs, network traffic captures, and network metadata.
Areas Covered
- Network architecture, network protocols, and network protocol reverse engineering
- Encryption and encoding, NetFlow analysis and attack visualization, security event and incident logging
- Network analysis tools and usage, and open-source network security proxies
Who is GNFA for?
- Incident Response team members
- Forensic analysts/specialists
- Threat hunters
- Law enforcement officers, federal agents, and detectives
- SOC personnel
- Information security practitioners and managers
- Network defenders and engineers
- Information technology professionals
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
- 66 questions
- 3 hours
- Minimum passing score of 70%
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 GNFA exam at 70% for all candidates who receive the exam version released on or after December 24th, 2016.
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
- Common Network ProtocolsThe candidate will demonstrate and understanding of the behavior, security risks and controls of common network protocols.
- Encryption and EncodingThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of techniques and practices used to encode and encrypt common network traffic and common attacks on these controls.
- NetFlow Analysis and Attack VisualizationThe candidate be familiar with the use of NetFlow data and information sources to identify network attacks.
- Network ArchitectureThe candidate will be familiar with the process to design and deploy a network employing diverse transmission and collection technologies.
- Network Protocol Reverse EngineeringThe candidate will be familiar with the tools and techniques required to analyze diverse protocols and data traversing a network environment.
- Open Source Network Security ProxiesThe candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the architecture, deployment, benefits and weaknesses of network security proxies, common log formats and flow of data in a network environment.
- Security Event and Incident LoggingThe candidate be familiar with diverse log formats, protocols and the security impact of the event generating processes. They will demonstrate an understanding of the configuration and deployment strategies to secure and position logging aggregators and collection devices throughout a network environment.
- Wireless Network AnalysisThe candidate will be familiar with the process to identify and control the risks associated with wireless technologies, protocols and infrastructure.
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 GNFA 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