If you want to prove your skills in detecting, responding to, and resolving security incidents, the GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) certification is for you. This certification is recognized worldwide and shows you can effectively handle cyber threats.
Organizations of all sizes need professionals to manage security incidents, so having a GIAC certification can boost your career prospects.
In this article, we will explain what the GCIH exam entails and help you decide if it aligns with your career goals. Also, we will discuss if it is worth your time and effort to pursue.
GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) certification: an overview
The GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) is a credential offered by GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification), a leading authority in information and security certifications. GIAC certification holders are known as proficient professionals in handling security incidents such as malware infections, network intrusions, and insider attacks.
To earn the GCIH certification, you have to pass the GCIH certification exam, which is meant to test a candidate’s awareness of threat detection and ability to respond to cyber threats and incidents. As the exam topics below show, the exam encourages the participant to adopt a more proactive stance against cyberattacks and penetrations.
Areas covered in the GCIH exam:
- Incident Handling and Computer Crime Investigation
- Computer and Network Hacker Exploits
- Hacker Tools (Nmap, Metasploit, and Netcat)
GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) certification: exam fee
The GCIH exam fee is USD 949, as per GIAC. GIAC certifications are valid for four years, with renewal registration open two years before expiration. Various options with different CPE values are available for maintaining competency and certification renewal. The maintenance fee is a non-refundable $469, due every four years during registration. To prevent your certification from expiring, submitting CPE information and documentation 30 days before its expiry date is important.
GCIH certification exam format
The GCIH certification exam is a proctored exam through PearsonVUE or ProctorU. The GCIH certification exam consists of 106 questions. Candidates will have four hours to complete the exam. To pass the GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) certification exam, you must score at least 70%.
What is on the GCIH certification exam?
Detecting Covert Communications
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against the use of covert tools such as Netcat.
Detecting Evasive Techniques
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against methods attackers use to remove evidence of compromise and hide their presence.
Detecting Exploitation Tools
The candidate will demonstrate how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against Metasploit.
Drive-By Attacks
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of identifying, defending against, and mitigating drive-by attacks in modern environments.
Endpoint Attack and Pivoting
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how to identify, defend against, and mitigate against attacks against endpoints and attack pivoting.
Incident Response and Cyber Investigation
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of what Incident Handling is, why it is important, the PICERL incident handling process, and industry best practices in Incident Response and Cyber Investigations.
Memory and Malware Investigation
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the steps necessary to perform basic memory forensics, including collecting and analyzing processes and network connections and basic malware analysis in traditional and cloud environments.
Network Investigations
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the steps necessary to perform effective digital investigations of network data.
Networked Environment Attack
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of identifying, defending against, and mitigating attacks in shared-use environments, including Windows Active Directory and cloud environments.
Password Attacks
The candidate will demonstrate a detailed understanding of the three password-cracking methods.
Post-Exploitation Attacks
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of how attackers maintain persistence and collect data and how to identify and defend against attackers already in a traditional network or a cloud environment.
Reconnaissance and Open-Source Intelligence
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of identifying, defending against, and mitigating public and open-source reconnaissance techniques.
Scanning and Mapping
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of identifying, defending against, and mitigating against scanning, discovering, and mapping networks and hosts and revealing services and vulnerabilities.
SMB Scanning
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of identifying, defending against, and mitigating reconnaissance and scanning of SMB services.
Web App Attacks
The candidate will demonstrate an understanding of identifying, defending against, and mitigating Web Application Attacks.
Who should take the GCIH certification exam?
The GCIH exam is for skilled cybersecurity professionals. Here’s a brief list of IT professionals who could gain a lot by getting GCIH certification:
- Incident handlers
- Incident handling team leads
- System administrators
- Security practitioners
- Security architects
- Any security personnel that are first responders
Is the GCIH certification worth it?
If you are looking for a certification that will challenge you and help you grow your cybersecurity skills, the GCIH exam might be the one for you. This exam is not easy, but it is very rewarding. Bypassing it, you will prove your ability to hack ethically and detect threats, which are highly sought-after skills in the IT field.
You will also learn from the best in the field and gain a valuable credential for your resume. If you want to advance in your current job or find a new one, the GCIH exam could open a wide range of opportunities.
The bottom line
Cybersecurity jobs are in high demand as cybercrime is increasing in numbers. To protect against these threats, cybersecurity professionals are needed more than ever. The GIAC GCIH (Global Certified Incident Handler) certification is recognized by the industry and helps you gain the skills and credibility to work in prestigious organizations as a cyber professional.
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