GIAC Cloud Forensics Responder (GCFR)

• Log generation, collection, storage and retention in cloud environments
• Identification of malicious and anomalous activity that affect cloud resources
• Extraction of data from cloud environments for forensic investigations

• Incident Response Team Members
• SOC Analysts
• Threat Hunters
• Federal Agents and Law Enforcement Professionals
• Experienced Digital Forensic Analysts
• SANS DFIR Alumni looking to round out their forensic skills

GCFR 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.

• 1 proctored exam
• 82 Questions
• 3 hours
• Minimum passing score of 62%

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.

• Accessing and Investigating Google Workspace Evidence
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to investigate Google Workspace incidents by analyzing audit logs using tools to detect suspicious activity and support incident response.
• AWS Networking, VMs, and Storage
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to investigate AWS compute, storage, and networking resources using snapshots and flow logs to support incident response.
• Google Cloud Overview and IAM
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to manage and evaluate access in Google Cloud while analyzing permissions, inheritance, and impersonation across cloud resources.
• Google Cloud Storage and Networking
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to investigate Google Cloud storage and network activity by analyzing bucket permissions, audit logs, VPC flows, and firewall rules.
• Google Cloud Virtual Machines
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to manage and investigate Google Cloud compute and storage resources for forensic objectives.
• Google Workspace Fundamentals
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to investigate Google Workspace environments using roles, groups, and audit tools to support incident response.
• In-Cloud IR in AWS and Event-Driven Response
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to investigate and automate incident response in AWS while using tools to enable event-driven DFIR workflows.
• Introduction to Cloud DFIR
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to investigate and analyze cloud environments, understand cloud service models and deployment methods, and apply DFIR practices in the cloud.
• Kubernetes Overview, Logs, and Common Attacks
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to investigate and secure Kubernetes environments by understanding containerized infrastructure, logging at all levels, and extracting and analyzing logs across cloud platforms. They will be able to detect threats and apply threat hunting techniques to identify malicious activity within Kubernetes clusters.
• Log Sources for Google Cloud IR
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to understand and manage logging in Google Cloud and interpreting log structures and flows across cloud resources to support monitoring, analysis, and incident response.
• Microsoft Azure Storage and Networking
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to secure Microsoft Azure storage and network resources, detect data exfiltration, analyze logs, and use incident response tools to investigate and respond to threats.
• Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to investigate Microsoft Azure virtual machines by analyzing creation events, using diagnostics and run commands, and collecting forensic artifacts. They will also have the ability to perform cloud-based imaging and snapshot analysis to support incident response.
• Microsoft Unified Audit Log and Graph API
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to use tools to conduct investigations and monitoring within Microsoft 365 and Entra ID environments. They will also have the ability to manage app permissions, analyze log data, track data access and sharing, and respond to incidents.
• Understanding IR in AWS
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to investigate AWS environments using tools for threat detection and incident response.
• Understanding Microsoft Azure and Log Sources
  The candidate will demonstrate the ability to manage and investigate Azure environments by leveraging core platform components. They will also be able to analyze logs from various sources to support incident response and monitoring.

• Training is available in a variety of modalities including live conference training, online, and self-study. 
• Practical work experience can help ensure that you have mastered the skills necessary for certification
• College level courses or study through another program 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 GCFR practice test here.
• GIAC recommends leveraging additional study methods for test preparation.