Graduate Certificate Program in Cyber Defense Operations

Designed for working professionals in information technology, information security, and audit, the SANS Technology Institute's graduate certificate program in Cyber Defense Operations is a 12-credit-hour sequence of highly technical, hands-on courses focused on teaching the applied technologies used to defend and secure information assets and business systems at an organization.

In the Cyber Defense Operations graduate certificate program, you'll learn the essential operational techniques used to defend an enterprise and you'll have the opportunity to customize the curriculum toward your specific interests or job role.

Applications are accepted monthly on the 15th of each month.

Learn How To

• Utilize a broad range of current tools and technologies in the design and implementation of security solutions deployed across organizations.
• Identify the information assets of an enterprise, classify them by value, and determine what management and technical controls can be used to monitor and audit them effectively.
• Develop a program for analyzing the risk to the information assets in an enterprise and determining which technical and management controls can mitigate, remove, or transfer that risk.
• Articulate important attacker techniques, analyze the traffic that flows on networks and identifies indications of an attack, engages in penetration testing within their organization, and respond to incidents associated with these activities within their organization.

Who Should Enroll

The Cyber Defense Operations graduate certificate program is designed for information technology professionals with a year or more of experience working with network infrastructures, or for information security professionals who are or seek to specialize in implementing defense-in-depth strategies and auditing for their effectiveness.

Please note that the SANS Technology Institute’s programs are non-residential. Although the college is based in Maryland, USA, its in-person training takes place across the United States and around the world. The college’s online study options can be completed from anywhere you have access to the Internet. At this time, the SANS Technology Institute does not issue I-20s or support F-1 student visas.

The SANS Technology Institute Advantage

Live and Online Study Options

• The graduate certificate program can be completed entirely online, through immersive weeklong live courses, or in combination.

Flexibility for Working Professionals

• Monthly admissions windows mean you can start on your schedule and earn the graduate certificate in roughly two years.

Credentials that Showcase Your Skills

• Earn 4 industry-recognized GIAC certifications that validate your skillset in critical, specialized areas of InfoSec.

World-class Faculty

• Learn skills you can use immediately on the job from some of the world's best cybersecurity instructor-practitioners.

Pathway to a Master's Degree

• Credits earned in the certificate program may be applied directly toward the master's degree program should you later apply and be accepted.