GIAC Certified Incident Handler Certification (GCIH) icon

GIAC Certified Incident Handler Certification (GCIH)

Practitioner Certification
CyberLive

The GIAC Incident Handler (GCIH) certification validates a practitioner's ability to detect, respond, and resolve computer security incidents using a wide range of essential security skills. GCIH certification holders have the knowledge needed to manage security incidents by understanding common attack techniques, vectors and tools, as well as defend against and respond to such attacks when they occur.

Accreditations:

Areas Covered

  • Incident Handling and Computer Crime Investigation
  • Computer and Network Hacker Exploits
  • Hacker Tools (Nmap, Metasploit and Netcat)

Who is GCIH for?

  • Incident handlers
  • Incident handling team leads
  • System administrators
  • Security practitioners
  • Security architects
  • Any security personnel that are first responders

GCIH with CyberLive

GIAC knows that cyber security professionals need:
  • Discipline-specific certifications
  • Practical testing that validates their knowledge and hands-on skills
In response to this industry-wide need, GIAC developed 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
Candidates are asked practical questions that require performance of real-world-like tasks that mimic specialized job roles.

Find out more about CyberLive here.

Exam Format

  • 1 proctored exam
  • 106 questions
  • 4 hours
  • Minimum passing score of 70%

Note: GIAC reserves the right to change the specifications for each certification without notice. Based on a scientific passing point study, the passing point for the GCIH exam has been determined to be 70% for all candidates receiving access to their certification attempts on or after October 10th, 2020. To verify the format and passing point of your specific certification attempt, read the Certification Information found in your account at https://exams.giac.org/pages/attempts.

Delivery

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.

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.

Exam Certification Objectives & Outcome Statements

  • Detecting Covert Communications
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against the use of covert tools such as netcat.
  • Detecting Evasive Techniques
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against methods attackers use to remove evidence of compromise and hide their presence.
  • Detecting Exploitation Tools
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against the use of Metasploit.
  • Drive-By Attacks
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against drive-by attacks in modern environments.
  • Endpoint Attack and Pivoting
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against attacks against endpoints and attack pivoting.
  • Incident Response and Cyber Investigation
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of what Incident Handling is, why it is important, an understanding of the PICERL incident handling process, and industry best practices in Incident Response and Cyber Investigations.
  • Memory and Malware Investigation
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the steps necessary to perform basic memory forensics, including collection and analysis of processes and network connections and basic malware analysis.
  • Network Investigations
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the steps necessary to perform effective digital investigations of network data.
  • Networked Environment Attack
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against attacks in shared-use environments, including Windows Active Directory and cloud environments.
  • Password Attacks
    The candidate will demonstrate a detailed understanding of password cracking attacks, common password weaknesses, and password defenses.
  • Post-Exploitation Attacks
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how attackers maintain persistence and collect data, and how to identify and defend against an attacker already in a traditional network or a cloud environment.
  • Reconnaissance and Open-Source Intelligence
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate public and open source reconnaissance techniques.
  • Scanning and Mapping
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding the fundamentals of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against scanning; to discover and map networks and hosts, and reveal services and vulnerabilities.
  • SMB Scanning
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate reconnaissance and scanning of SMB services.
  • Web App Attacks
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against Web Application Attacks.

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 another program or materials may meet the needs for mastery.
  • Get information about the procedure to contest exam results.

Practice Tests

  • These tests are a simulation of the real exam allowing you to become familiar with the test engine and style of questions.
  • Practice exams are a gauge to determine if your preparation methods are sufficient.
  • The practice bank questions are limited so you may encounter the same question on practice tests when multiple practice tests are purchased.
  • Practice exams never include actual exam questions.
  • Purchase a GCIH practice test here.
  • GIAC recommends leveraging additional study methods for test preparation.

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