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What Is the GCIA Certification?

The GCIA certification validates a practitioner's knowledge of network and host monitoring, traffic analysis, and intrusion detection. Certification holders have the skills to configure and monitor intrusion detection systems, and to read, interpret, and analyze network traffic and related log files.

By the numbers

4 hrs

Exam duration

106

Questions

67%

Min. passing score

What GCIA Covers

The certification's 15 published objectives group into five practical domains that map directly to SEC503's course structure.

TCP/IP and Packet Fundamentals

Concepts of TCP/IP and the Link Layer, IP Headers, Fragmentation, Wireshark Fundamentals

Transport Protocol Analysis

TCP, UDP and ICMP, Tcpdump Filters

Signature-Based Detection

IDS Fundamentals and Network Architecture, Intrusion Detection System Rules, Application Protocols

Advanced and Zero-Day Detection

Advanced IDS Concepts, Packet Engineering, IPv6

Traffic Forensics and Analysis

Network Forensics and Traffic Analysis, SiLK and Other Traffic Analysis Tools

Prepare With This Course

SEC503: Network Monitoring and Threat Detection In-Depth

How SEC503 Prepares You for GCIA

SEC503 is built around the exam objectives that make up the GCIA certification: 

  • Section 1, Network Monitoring and Analysis: Part I builds skills tested under Concepts of TCP/IP and the Link Layer, IP Headers, Fragmentation, and Wireshark Fundamentals.
  • Section 2, Network Monitoring and Analysis: Part II aligns with TCP, UDP and ICMP, and Tcpdump Filters.
  • Section 3, Signature-Based Threat Detection and Response aligns with IDS Fundamentals and Network Architecture, Intrusion Detection System Rules, and Application Protocols.
  • Section 4, Building Zero-Day Threat Detection Systems builds skills tested under Advanced IDS Concepts, Packet Engineering, and IPv6.
  • Section 5, Large-Scale Threat Detection, Forensics, and Analytics aligns with Network Forensics and Traffic Analysis, and SiLK and Other Traffic Analysis Tools.

Across all five sections, 37 hands-on labs and a capstone “ride-along” challenge built on live-fire incident data give you the chance to apply each skill against real traffic before you sit the exam. 

Read the full GCIA certification overview here.

SEC503 Course Author

Andrew Laman
Andrew Laman

Andrew Laman

Founder at A4 InfoSec

Andy Laman is a Senior SANS Instructor and author of SEC503: Network Monitoring and Threat Detection In-Depth. Founder of A4 InfoSec and a veteran of enterprise security leadership, he holds the elite GIAC Security Expert (GSE #142) certification. Andy also serves on the GIAC Advisory Board and faculty of the SANS Technology Institute.

Read more about Andrew Laman

Who It's For

Network Monitoring, System, and SOC Analysts

Network Engineers and Administrators

Hands-On Security Managers

Frequently Asked Questions

The GCIA certification validates a practitioner's knowledge of network and host monitoring, traffic analysis, and intrusion detection, including the ability to configure and monitor intrusion detection systems and analyze network traffic and log files. 

The exam is a single proctored test, 4 hours long, with 106 questions and a minimum passing score of 67%. 

GIAC certifications are renewed on a recurring cycle through continuing education credits and a maintenance fee. For the current renewal requirements, see GIAC's renewal page

GCIA fits network monitoring, system, and SOC analysts, network engineers and administrators, and hands-on security managers who need to detect and analyze threats from network and host activity. 

SEC503: Network Monitoring and Threat Detection In-Depth prepares you through 37 hands-on labs and a capstone “ride-along” challenge built on live-fire incident data, giving you practice reconstructing real attacks from network traffic. 

Ready to earn your GCIA certification?

Add the GCIA exam attempt when you register for SEC503

Already trained? Register for the exam directly through GIAC here.