What is GSEC?

The GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) certification is a foundational cybersecurity credential offered by the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC), which is part of the SANS Institute. It’s targeted at security professionals who want to demonstrate hands-on knowledge of information security beyond basic terminology and concepts.

GSEC is considered an entry-level to intermediate certification, ideal for:

  • Security professionals with some on-the-job experience.
  • IT professionals transitioning into cybersecurity roles.
  • Anyone who wants to validate their practical security skills.

GIAC GSEC Price & Cost

As of 2024, pricing for the GSEC certification is:

  • Certification attempt only (exam without training): $949
  • With SANS training (includes exam voucher): ~$7,640 (price may vary depending on delivery format: OnDemand, Live Online, In-Person)

GIAC GSEC Exam Details

Exam Format: 1 proctored exam

Number of Questions: Approximately 106–180 questions (variable)

Duration: 5 hours

Passing Score: 73% (may change slightly depending on exam version)

Open Book: Yes (you can bring printed materials; digital/electronic content is not allowed)

Delivery: Remote proctoring (via ProctorU) or at approved testing centers

GIAC GSEC Exam Subjects

The GSEC covers a wide range of security fundamentals, including:

  • Networking concepts and protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, etc.)
  • Cryptography basics
  • Password management
  • Access control
  • Incident response
  • Security policy
  • Windows and Linux security
  • Wireless and mobile device security
  • Web communications and secure protocols
  • Vulnerability scanning and basic exploitation

Full topic breakdown is on the GIAC website.

GIAC GSEC Exam Preparation

1. SANS Training (SEC401: Security Essentials Bootcamp Style)

  • Delivery: OnDemand, Live Online, or In-Person
  • Duration: 6-day course
  • Cost: ~$7,640 (includes exam voucher)
  • Pros: High-quality instructors, in-depth material, labs, and practice exams.
  • Cons: Expensive. Requires time commitment.

2. Self-Study

If you opt to buy only the exam, you’ll need to prepare independently.

Resources to Use:

  • GIAC practice tests (two are included with exam purchase)
  • Books: “Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals”, “Hacking: The Art of Exploitation”, “Network Security Essentials”
  • Online platforms: Cybrary, Udemy (look for GSEC-specific or Security+ content)
  • Flashcards and summaries on Quizlet, Reddit threads (r/cybersecurity)
  • SANS GSEC Indexes (some freely shared by the community)

Study Plan Tip: Create a detailed index of keywords by book and page number to use during the open-book exam. This is often the difference-maker.

GIAC GSEC Practice Tests

You get 2 practice tests with the exam voucher (even if you don’t buy SANS training). These mimic the actual exam format and difficulty. They’re crucial for:

  • Timing your pace
  • Identifying weak spots
  • Familiarizing with the question structure

Certification Validity and Renewal

  • Valid for: 4 years
  • Renewal: 36 CPEs (Continuing Professional Education) and a $469 renewal fee

GIAC GSEC Study Notes & Guide

The GIAC Security Essentials is an extensive study guide designed for the GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) certification exam. The e-book covers foundational and advanced topics in cybersecurity, offering a mix of technical knowledge, defensive strategies, and practical skills required for securing IT environments.

Table of Contents:

The book is organized into well-defined domains, each tackling a vital area in cybersecurity. Here’s a breakdown of its major sections:

  • Networking Fundamentals
  • OSI & TCP/IP models
  • IPv4/IPv6, Subnetting, Fragmentation
  • TCP/UDP, ICMP, DNS, Protocol interactions
  • Network Security Technologies
  • Routers, Firewalls, IDS/IPS
  • Stateful inspection, NAT, Deep Packet Inspection
  • Authentication & Access Control
  • Authentication types, SSO, RADIUS/TACACS
  • Authorization models (RBAC, MAC, ABAC)
  • Cloud Computing
  • Cloud types (SaaS, IaaS, PaaS)
  • Security risks and infrastructure as code
  • Application Development & DevOps
  • Agile development, CI/CD, Microservices
  • SDLC security integration
  • Linux & Windows System Security
  • Linux kernel, commands, file permissions
  • Windows networking, group policy, Active Directory
  • Vulnerability Management
  • Risk frameworks (NIST, ISO), Patch mgmt
  • Vulnerability scanning, CVE databases
  • Cryptography & Encryption
  • Symmetric/Asymmetric encryption, PKI
  • Steganography, Digital certificates, Cryptographic attacks
  • Malware & Threats
  • Virus, Worms, Trojans, Ransomware
  • Anti-virus evasion, infection vectors
  • Incident Response & Information Warfare
  • NIST response lifecycle
  • OPSEC, threat models like Cyber Kill Chain
  • Wireless & Log Management
  • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, RFID
  • SIEM tools, log rotation & retention

Page Count: 162

Format: PDF

Testimonials (LinkedIn)

How to Get GIAC GSEC Study Notes?

You can buy the book directly by clicking on the button below

After you buy the booklet, you will be able to download the PDF booklet along with the markup files if you want to import them to Obsidian software.

GIAC GSEC Review: Is GSEC Worth It?

Pros:

  • Highly respected in the cybersecurity industry.
  • Practical, not just theoretical—shows you can apply what you know.
  • Backed by the SANS Institute, a gold standard in cybersecurity training.
  • Boosts employability for security analyst, SOC analyst, and IT security roles.

Cons:

  • Expensive—especially if you go with full SANS training.
  • Other certifications (like CompTIA Security+) are more affordable for beginners.
  • Not as recognized outside the U.S. as some other global certs (like CISSP or CEH).

Bottom Line: If you’re serious about building a career in cybersecurity and can afford it (or have employer sponsorship), the GSEC is a strong, practical credential that adds real value—especially early in your career.

What about the notes updates?

if you have been watching my YouTube Channel, you definitely know that those who subscribe to the second tier of my channel membership they instantly get access to a vast catalog of cybersecurity, penetration testing, digital marketing, system administration and data analytics notes catalog for 10$ along with the ability to receive all notes updates as long as they are subscribed so what does that mean?

This means if you want to stay up to date with the changes and updates to the notes and get access to other categories, I encourage to join the channel membership second tier instead. However, if you are fine with downloading the current version of this section of the notes then you can buy this booklet instead for a one-time payment.

Will the prices of this booklet change in the future?

Once another version of this booklet is released, which it will, the price will slightly change as the booklet will include more contents, notes and illustrations.

Free Blue Team Training

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