GIAC Systems and Network Auditor Certification (GSNA) icon

GIAC Systems and Network Auditor Certification (GSNA)

Practitioner Certification

The GIAC Systems and Network Auditor (GSNA) certification validates a practitioner's ability to apply basic risk analysis techniques and to conduct technical audits of essential information systems. GSNA certification holders have demonstrated knowledge of network, perimeter, and application auditing as well as risk assessment and reporting.

Accreditations:

Areas Covered

  • Auditing, risk assessments, and reporting
  • Network and perimeter auditing and monitoring, web application auditing
  • Auditing and monitoring in windows and Unix environments

Who is GSNA for?

  • Auditors
  • Managers overseeing an audit or security team
  • Security professionals
  • System administrators
  • Network administrators
  • Anyone who wants to implement effective continuous monitoring processes

Exam Format

  • 1 proctored exam
  • 115 questions
  • 3 hours
  • Minimum passing score of 72%

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 GSNA exam has been determined to be 72% for all candidates receiving access to their certification attempts on or after January 19th, 2021. 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

  • Auditing Access Control and Data Handling in Web Applications
    The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of auditing web application access control and data handling.
  • Auditing the Enterprise Network
    The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of the terms, concepts and processes associated with enterprise networks including cloud computing, containers, and physical networks.
  • Auditing UNIX and Linux Systems
    The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of how to audit UNIX and Linux systems using common techniques, tools, and scripting commands to determine process information, access controls, and system configurations.
  • Auditing Web Applications
    The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of auditing web applications.
  • Auditing Windows Systems and Domains
    The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of how to audit Windows systems using common techniques, tools, and scripting commands to determine process information, access controls, and system configurations.
  • Risk Assessment for Auditors
    The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of basic risk auditing terms and concepts, and how to perform an auditing risk assessment.
  • The Audit Process
    The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of basic auditing terms and concepts and demonstrate familiarity with the audit process, baselines, time based security concepts, and how risk assessment are used to identify and specify controls.
  • UNIX and Linux Logging and Continuous Monitoring
    The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of how to gather and interpret logging information from UNIX and Linux systems, and how to use continuous monitoring to achieve ongoing audit compliance.
  • Windows Logging and Continuous Monitoring
    The candidate will demonstrate knowledge of how to gather and interpret logging information from Windows systems, and how to use continuous monitoring to achieve ongoing audit compliance.

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 GSNA practice test here.
  • GIAC recommends leveraging additional study methods for test preparation.

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