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Deploying Cyber Guardians - SANS Cyber Guardian Program

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SANS developed the Cyber Guardian Program after talking with the infosec community and learning of the need for an elite team of cyber security professionals, similar to the Army Special Forces 'A' Team and the Navy Seals.

We feel the same type of team approach is appropriate for Cyber Guardians, since no one person has the time or skills to be an expert in all aspects of information security. In addition to the classroom training, An intensive, real-world exercise has been created for organizations who are training teams of security professionals. This team exercise will demonstrate how each cyber guardians' skills and expertise will be utilized in an actual attack.

You wouldn't go to battle with a team you have never trained with, so this exercise will show each participant how their role contributes to the success of the team.

The chart below shows the similarities of the Cyber Guardian Program and deployment of these teams with the Special Forces requirements and deployment model. As you can see this SANS Cyber Guardian Program will create an elite "Special Forces" for the cyber security profession.

Requirements for Special Forces
Requirements for Cyber Guardian
  • 5+ years experience in units prior to assessing
  • Assessment - all candidates undergo a rigorous assessment process to ensure that they have the aptitude, physical stamina, and personality characteristics for their unique mission
  • Qualification Course - All candidates undergo a rigorous Qualification 'Q' course in order to ensure that they have the requisite baseline skills
  • Specialized training - each candidate has a specialty and they undergo additional training in that specialty
  • 5+ years experience in the field
  • Assessment - all candidates undergo a rigorous assessment process to ensure that they have the aptitude, and personality characteristics for their unique mission
  • Qualification Course - All candidates undergo a rigorous Qualification 'Q' course in order to ensure that they have the requisite baseline skills
  • Specialized training - each candidate has a specialty and they undergo additional training in that specialty
Deployment for Special Forces
Deployment for Cyber Guardians
  • Once these soldiers complete their 'Q' course and specialty training, they are deployed in teams known as 'A' Teams. Each team member brings solid baseline skills as well as their specialty. Thus, the team is better than the sum of its parts.
  • Once these candidates complete their 'Q' course and specialty training, they are deployed in teams known as Cyber Guardian Teams. The entire Cyber Guardian Team will be composed of both Red and Blue teams. Each team member brings solid baseline skills as well as their specialty. Thus, the team is better than the sum of its parts.

Contact us: (301) 654-SANS(7267)
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