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GIAC Strategic Planning, Policy, Leadership Certification (GSTRT)

Leadership Certification Overview

This certification proves you can analyze business and threat context, build a program roadmap, develop policy, and lead teams at the executive level.

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What Is the GSTRT Certification?

The GIAC Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership (GSTRT) certification proves a practitioner can build and manage a cyber security program that meets the needs of the business, board members, and executives. Certification holders show applied knowledge of business analysis, strategic planning, and management tools, along with the ability to develop and assess security policy.

By the numbers

3 hrs

Exam duration

75

Questions

76%

Min. passing score

What GSTRT Covers

The objectives group into four practical domains that map directly to the course's structure.

Business & Threat Analysis

Covers Understanding the Business and Understanding the Threats, from stakeholder analysis to attacker motivations and tactics.

Program Roadmap & Development

Covers Security Program Analysis and Security Program Development, from assessing current state to building a roadmap with metrics.

Policy Development & Management

Covers Policy Development and Policy Management, from writing policy that fits organizational culture to assessing and improving it over time.

Leadership & Communication

Covers Effective Management & Comms and Leadership & Change, from team communication techniques to leading organizational change.

Prepare With This Course

LDR514: Security Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership

Course Details

How LDR514 Prepares You for GSTRT

LDR514 is built around the exam objectives that make up the GSTRT certification: 

  • Section 1, Strategic Planning Foundations builds skills tested under Understanding the Business and Understanding the Threats.
  • Section 2, Strategic Roadmap Development aligns with Security Program Analysis and Security Program Development.
  • Section 3, Security Policy Development and Assessment builds skills tested under Policy Development and Policy Management.
  • Section 4, Leadership and Management Competencies aligns with Effective Management & Comms and Leadership & Change.
  • Section 5, Strategic Planning Workshop applies all eight objectives through Harvard Business School case studies and a capstone executive presentation.

Across all five sections, 32 hands-on labs and 20 Cyber42 leadership simulation challenges give you the chance to apply each skill in live stakeholder scenarios before you sit the exam. 

Read the full GSTRT certification overview here.

LDR514 Course Author

Frank Kim
Frank Kim

Frank Kim

Venture Advisor at YL Ventures

SANS Fellow Frank Kim helps to develop the next generation of CISOs and cyber leaders while teaching LDR512 and LDR514.

Read more about Frank Kim

Who Should Pursue GSTRT

CISOs and Security Directors

Information Security Officers and Security Managers

Aspiring Security Leaders and Team Leads

Technical Professionals Moving Into Leadership

Frequently Asked Questions

It proves you can build and manage a cyber security program that lines up with what the business, the board, and executives need, using business analysis, strategic planning, and policy development skills. 

One proctored exam, 3 hours, 75 questions, with a minimum passing score of 76%. GIAC reviews exam specs periodically, so confirm the current format in your GIAC account before you sit for it. 

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. 

CISOs, information security officers, security directors, security managers, and anyone stepping into a team lead or management role. LDR514 also serves technical professionals working on communicating with senior leaders in business terms. 

LDR514: Security Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership. The course maps its five sections directly to the exam's eight objectives, with 32 hands-on labs and 20 Cyber42 leadership simulation challenges. 

Ready to earn your GSTRT certification?

Add the GSTRT exam attempt when you register for LDR514

Register for LDR514

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