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Who is the SSAP for?

The SSAP is the most effective, comprehensive way for security awareness specialists to accelerate their careers in the field of managing human risk while making a lasting impact on the security of their organization. These individuals include:

CISOs and Security Leaders • Security Awareness Officers • Training Officers • Governance and Compliance • InfoSec Professionals • Incident Communications Security Managers • Training Subject Matter Experts • Corporate Communications • Culture and Organizational Change Specialists

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Areas covered in the SSAP

The first step to achieving your SSAP is taking the three-day SANS LDR433 course on building mature awareness programs. In this course, you’ll learn how to:

  • Gain and maintain leadership advocacy for your security awareness program. Identify and document target groups and deploy relevant training.
  • Effectively engage and communicate across the organization, addressing culture, role and generational challenges, nationalities and languages.
  • Sustain your security awareness program, including implementing advanced programs, such as ambassador programs.
  • Understand and use the five stages of the Security Awareness Maturity Model as a benchmark for your awareness program success.
  • Measure the impact of your awareness program, track reduction in human risk and communicate the program's value to leadership.
  • Apply key models for learning theory, behavioral change and cultural analysis.

Prepping for your exam

Taking your exam

After your exam

Earn Your Badge

Upon completing the LDR433 course and passing the SSAP exam, you will receive a specialized digital badge, which includes information on when your SSAP was obtained and the particular skills acquired. This badge can be prominently displayed on professional networking pages, portfolios, signatures and on resumes to indicate this professional career enhancement.

This credential expires after four years, which you will then need to renew.

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SSAP - Renewing your Credential

How the SSAP benefits your employer

By acquiring the SSAP, you gain valuable skills that help you grow your career. But what are the benefits to your employer?

This credential will demonstrate to your organization:

  1. You possess all the necessary knowledge and skill to build any size security awareness program — from new or compliance-based programs to advanced, mature awareness programs covering all relevant threats and risks.
  2. You have a baseline of “awareness program excellence.” SANS courseware and certifications are considered as the most-trusted and leading source of security training throughout the cybersecurity industry. It’s constantly updated, covers practical, useful information that can be implemented immediately and ensuresorganizations can rely on the training employees receive.
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Why SANS Security Awareness

Drawing on over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity strategy and training, we leverage our fleet of the world’s best cyberthreat experts and learning behavior professionals, making SANS Security Awareness the best choice for security training. We'll help you create a best-in-class cyber-security awareness training program, gain leadership support for your program, connect with the community and, most importantly, change human behavior.

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