GIAC Strategic OSINT Analyst (GSOA)
Demonstrate command of advanced skills and strategies for conducting open-source intelligence investigations.
The GIAC Strategic OSINT Analyst (GSOA) certification validates a practitioner’s expertise in advanced OSINT skills. GSOA certification holders have the skills to automate investigations with Python, analyze data at scale, and uncover threats across social platforms, darknet forums, blockchain activity, and disinformation networks.
Areas Covered
- Automating data collection with Python scripting
- Conducting Dark Web investigations
- Tracking public cryptocurrency transactions
- Identifying and tracking disinformation
- Carrying out international and sector-specific OSINT
- Performing forensics on images, video and audio
Who is GSOA for?
- Cyber Incident Responders
- Security and Digital Forensics (DFIR) Analysts
- Penetration Testers and Social Engineers
- Law Enforcement
- Intelligence Personnel
- Private Investigators
- Insurance Investigators
- Researchers
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 GSOA exam at 66% for all candidates who receive the exam version released on or after [DATE].
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
- Advanced Operational Techniques and ThreatsThe candidate will demonstrate the ability to create and maintain fictitious identities, use OSINT techniques on the Dark Web, track public cryptocurrency transactions as well as use wireless capabilities to gather intelligence.
- Multimedia and AI in OSINTThe candidate will demonstrate the ability to use practical and advanced image, video and audio verification techniques as well as practical ways to incorporate artificial intelligence into their OSINT research.
- OSINT and International EnvironmentThe candidate will demonstrate the ability to identify disinformation, use analysis techniques and processes to assess the reliability of information and analyze sensitive groups and individuals.
- Python for OSINT: Tools and TechniquesThe candidate will demonstrate the ability to automate OSINT workflows both locally and in the cloud using third-party APIs as well as perform persistent monitoring of sites.
- Sector-Specific and Practical OSINTThe candidate will demonstrate the ability to use third party web-based monitoring tools to monitor topics of interest, use technical methods to access information in password-protected files, find, gather, and analyze open-source information that is transportation related, as well as use automated methods to identify sensitive credentials in various offline and online sources.
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 GSOA 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