GIAC Cloud Forensics Responder (GCFR) icon

GIAC Cloud Forensics Responder (GCFR)

Practitioner Certification
CyberLive

The GIAC Cloud Forensics Responder (GCFR) certification validates a practitioner's ability to track and respond to incidents across the three major cloud providers. GCFR-certified professionals are well-versed in the log collection and interpretation skills needed to manage rapidly changing enterprise cloud environments.

Areas Covered

  • 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

Who is GCFR for?

  • 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.

Exam Format

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

*No specific training is required for any GIAC certification. There are many sources of information available regarding the certification objectives' knowledge areas. Practical experience is an option; there are also numerous books on the market covering computer information security. Another option is any relevant courses from training providers, including SANS.*

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

  • AWS Cloud Platform Logging
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the information available from the generation, collection, retention and storage of logs from AWS
  • AWS Structure and Access Methods
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of AWS architectures, logging, data access and the investigative possibilities
  • Azure & M365 Cloud Platform Logging
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the information available from the generation, collection, retention and storage of logs from Azure & M365
  • Azure & M365 Structure and Access Methods
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of Azure and M365 architectures, logging, data access and the investigative possibilities
  • Cloud Forensic Artifact Techniques
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the services, tools and resources available to assist with and automate forensic investigations
  • Cloud Storage Platforms
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the different characteristics of each cloud's storage resources. The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of ways to create, secure, access and use each storage type.
  • Cloud Virtual Machine Architecture
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the different types, configuration and availability of virtual machines offered in each cloud environment.
  • Cloud-based Attacks
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the tactics and techniques used to attack major cloud provider's computing resources.
  • GCP and Google Workspace Cloud Platform Logging
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the information available from the generation, collection, retention and storage of logs from GCP and Google Workspace
  • GCP and Google Workspace Structure and Access Methods
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of GCP and Google Workspace architectures, logging, data access and the investigative possibilities
  • In-Cloud Investigations
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to collect forensic images and how to extract data from cloud resources to conduct forensic investigations.
  • Introduction to Enterprise Cloud Digital Forensics and Incident Response
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the most popular cloud concepts. The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of key cloud resources and logs used to facilitate incident response and forensics.
  • Multi-Cloud Virtual Networking
    The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of each cloud networking topology and the grouping of resources for network communication. The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the inspection and control of network traffic.

Other Resources

No specific training is required for any GIAC certification. There are many sources of information available regarding the certification objectives' knowledge areas. Practical experience is an option; there are also numerous books on the market covering computer information security. Another option is any relevant courses from training providers, including SANS.

  • 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
  • The procedure to contest exam results can be found at https://www.giac.org/policies/feedback

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.

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