www.giac.org

Overview

The GIAC Gold option for certification is designed for the individual that wants to stand out from the pack. It assures that a certified individual understands and can communicate the knowledge and skills necessary in key areas of information security. The most important characteristic a manager looks for from an employee after the technical ability to do the job is the ability to communicate well. GIAC Gold is your chance to shine and demonstrate not only your technical knowledge, but also your ability to write clearly. Successfully completing a Gold paper results in the author being published in the SANS Reading Room.

GIAC Gold is distinguished from the existing exam-only 'GIAC Silver' certification by requiring candidates to complete a technical report covering an important area of security related to the certification the student is seeking. After completing the exams necessary to pass the GIAC Silver certification, students have the option to pursue the GIAC Gold Certification. Candidates work closely with an adviser through the process of developing their technical report. Once complete, the technical report will be approved by the advisor for acceptance into the SANS Reading Room.

All GIAC certified professionals who previously completed a practical assignment under the old GIAC requirements are already considered GIAC Gold certified.

APPLYING

Once a student has earned GIAC Silver, an option will appear in their Portal (https://portal.sans.org) account to apply for GIAC Gold. The student has to maintain the GIAC Silver certification while working on the paper. The GIAC Gold certification does not extend the GIAC Silver certification expiration date and the student will have to complete the Silver recertification in order to maintain the Gold Certification. The cost of GIAC Gold is $299US.

To apply, please log into the portal account in which you completed your silver certification. Click on the "Certification History" link. Click on the "Go Gold" link for the respective certification. The student must complete the application form in the Portal account. The more initial information that is provided, the more likely it can be accepted right away. Your certification will be reviewed in 1-2 weeks, at which point you will be assigned an advisor. You will have to pay once the application has been approved.

Once the concept is accepted, the student will need to pay the registration fee and will be contacted by their assigned GIAC Gold Adviser within 5 business days to begin setting the path to completion. In case your application is rejected, you will be able to submit a new and improved application.

Non-English papers will be accepted through the GIAC Gold program if there is a qualified Adviser available to manage the content and language being requested.

To complete your GIAC Gold paper, please use the template below and follow the formatting guidance provided within the template.

Microsoft Word
http://www.giac.org/gold/GIAC_Gold_Template.doc
StarOffice Writer
http://www.giac.org/gold/GIAC_Gold_Template.odt

PROCESS

GIAC Gold papers must be completed within 6 months of acceptance of the concept and receipt of payment. GIAC Candidates and their advisers work together throughout the 6 month process to create a technical report worthy of being published. Plan to start with a detailed outline and abstract within the first few days and continue making progress to develop a final draft to be submitted no later than the 5 month of the process.

From the start, the adviser will open a dialog with the candidate, outlining a schedule for additional work to be submitted and defining the topic in more detail. The adviser will assist the student to refine the concept if necessary. Communication between the student and the adviser will take place in the Portal.

All submitted student work will be uploaded to the Portal by the student in order to make it available to the adviser.

A final concept, which should include a title, abstract and high level outline should be submitted within 10 days after the initial concept was accepted.

The final draft is to be submitted within 5 months of the initial concept submission. The Adviser is available to the candidate throughout the 6 month process for any reasonable help or direction needed to get the candidate to the final draft submission. The final draft will be officially reviewed by the Adviser based on pre-stated criteria. Full feedback will be provided to the candidate which can be considered and/or incorporated before the final submission is due.

By the end of the 6 months the candidate must submit the FINAL PAPER for official GIAC review. The paper will be reviewed by a different adviser against the same existing criteria.

All accepted technical reports will be published in the SANS Reading Room with the candidate's name as well as the advisor's name.

If a student fails to submit an acceptable paper, the student may choose to re-apply for the Gold program. Incomplete papers submitted in the first attempt may be used as a starting point. The student should however outline how the new paper will differ to remain relevant and acceptable.

A one time only 3 month extension can be granted to GIAC Gold candidates if it is supported by the Adviser. The cost for this extension is $199. Failure occurs if the paper does not reach an appropriate level of quality within the time allotted.

REVIEW CRITERIA

All GIAC Gold technical will be reviewed against the following criteria:

Typically, GIAC Gold papers are around 20 pages in length. There is no firm minimum or maximum. Papers should be comparable to graduate level term papers. We do not expect a thesis.

ADVISERS

GIAC Gold Advisers are drawn from experts in the field and the top performing certified individuals for a given certification. Each adviser has a proven track record in ability, interest, and participation in the security community.

It is one of the toughest jobs on the planet, so you may be thinking, Why would anyone want a job like that? Well, there are several reasons. Advisers do get paid for their work as their time and input is invaluable to GIAC, the GIAC Gold candidate, and the security community. Secondly, advisers play a significant role in the direction of continued research in their field. And of course, being an adviser is a great way to stay up on the latest changes in your field. GIAC is the prominent worldwide information security certification and the GIAC Gold Advisers help us to maintain that path. They are the backbone to the GIAC Gold program and a huge pillar supporting the defensive information community.

If you're interested in becoming a GIAC Gold Adviser, you may apply to be an adviser here:

http://portal.sans.org/giacgold/adviserapplication.php

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

If a student or adviser would like to report a problem with a process or person, the following procedures should be followed.

  1. Send an email to ombudsman@giac.org with as much information and documentation of the situation as possible. Students should include their full name, registered email address, Portal ID, advisor's name, and any other contact information appropriate.
  2. The GIAC Ombudsman will contact the person to confirm the complaint has been received within five days.
  3. The GIAC ombudsman will then review the situation as documented, and contact all applicable parties to discuss the problem.
  4. Within 15 days, the GIAC ombudsman will compile the information and present it by e-mail to the SANS Chief Research Officer along with recommendations on how to remedy the situation in a fair manner.
  5. The Chief Research Officer will send the student or advisor an e-mail response within 15 days with an explanation of the reasons for his decision. The decision of the Chief Research Officer will stand as final.
  6. In the event that the Ombudsman or Chief Research Officer are not reasonably available to make a decision within the above timelines, then the Deputy Director shall perform the function of the Ombudsman or Chief Research Officer as applicable.
Number of certified professionals: 21,515
Workshop Series :: Generic