Listen to this Post
Introduction
SANS certifications are highly regarded in the cybersecurity industry, but passing their exams requires more than just technical knowledge. Mike Holcomb, a seasoned cybersecurity professional with over 13 SANS certifications, shares actionable strategies to help you succeed—whether you take a SANS course or self-study.
Learning Objectives
- Understand why SANS courses focus on real-world skills over exam prep
- Learn how to effectively use course materials, labs, and indexing for exam success
- Discover best practices for engaging with instructors and mastering key concepts
- SANS Instructors Teach Real-World Skills, Not Exam Tricks
SANS courses prioritize practical cybersecurity knowledge over exam-specific content. However, the course material is still critical for passing the exam.
Key Action:
- Cross-reference course topics with the exam syllabus
- Supplement with external books (e.g., Practical Industrial Cyber Security for GICSP)
2. Active Participation Accelerates Learning
Engaging with instructors and peers helps solidify complex concepts.
Verified Command: Linux Log Analysis (GCIH/GCFA Focus)
journalctl -u sshd --no-pager | grep "Failed password"
What it does:
- Filters SSH login failures from system logs
- Useful for detecting brute-force attacks
How to use:
1. Run in a terminal with admin privileges
- Analyze output for repeated failed attempts from suspicious IPs
3. Labs Are Non-Negotiable for Exam Success
Most SANS exams now include hands-on simulations.
Windows Command: Detecting Suspicious Processes (GCFE/GREM)
Get-Process | Where-Object { $_.CPU -gt 90 } | Select-Object Name, Id, CPU
What it does:
- Lists high-CPU processes (potential malware)
- Critical for incident response scenarios
How to use:
1. Execute in PowerShell
- Investigate anomalous processes with `Get-Process -Id
| Format-List ` </li> </ol> <h2 style="color: yellow;"> 4. Indexing Is Your Secret Weapon</h2> <h2 style="color: yellow;">A well-organized index saves time during open-book exams.</h2> <h2 style="color: yellow;"> Example Index Entry for Cloud Security (GCSA)</h2> | Topic | Book Page | Key Commands | <h2 style="color: yellow;">||--||</h2> | AWS S3 Bucket Policy | 112 | `aws s3api get-bucket-policy --bucket [bash]` | <h2 style="color: yellow;">Pro Tip:</h2> <ul> <li>Tag commands by use case (e.g., Forensics, Network Hardening) </li> </ul> <h2 style="color: yellow;"> 5. Self-Study? Mimic the SANS Methodology</h2> <h2 style="color: yellow;">No course access? Reverse-engineer the syllabus.</h2> <h2 style="color: yellow;"> Cybersecurity Tool: Nmap for Network Enumeration (GPEN)</h2> [bash] nmap -sV -T4 -O --script vuln [bash]
What it does:
- Aggressive scan with OS/vulnerability detection
- Covers GPEN exam objectives
How to use:
1. Install Nmap (`sudo apt install nmap`)
- Run against a test machine (never scan unauthorized networks!)
What Undercode Say:
- Key Takeaway 1: SANS exams test applied knowledge—prioritize labs and real-world practice over memorization.
- Key Takeaway 2: A dynamic index beats passive highlighting; include commands, page numbers, and use cases.
Analysis:
Holcomb’s advice underscores that SANS certifications demand strategic preparation. Unlike vendor exams, SANS tests depth of understanding—particularly in simulations. Future exams will likely incorporate more cloud/AI security scenarios, so learners should adapt indexing to include emerging tech (e.g., Terraform hardening, LLM security).
Prediction:
As cyber threats evolve, SANS will expand exams to include AI-augmented attacks (e.g., deepfake social engineering) and cloud-native exploits. Proactively studying these areas now will future-proof your certification journey.
Final Tip: Join Holcomb’s newsletter (linked here) for ongoing ICS/OT security insights.
IT/Security Reporter URL:
Reported By: Mikeholcomb Ive – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅Join Our Cyber World:
