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GIAC Security Leadership Certification (GSLC)

Leadership Certification Overview

Prove you can build a security program and lead a team, covering governance, architecture, engineering, and incident response.

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GSLC
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What Is the GSLC Certification?

The GSLC certification confirms that a practitioner can put governance and technical controls to work protecting, detecting, and responding to security issues. Certification holders show working knowledge across data, network, host, application, and user controls, plus the management topics that carry a security program through its full lifecycle.

By the numbers

3 hrs

Exam duration

115

Questions

70%

Min. passing score

What GLSC Covers

The objectives group into five practical domains, matching the course's five sections.

Program Governance

Building a security program on sound risk management, policy, and reporting structure.

Technical Architecture

Understanding networking, system, and cloud controls well enough to direct a technical team.

Security Engineering

Overseeing cryptography, application security, and AI use inside the security program.

Leading Security Initiatives

Running vulnerability management, awareness, vendor, and project work.

Detection and Response

Managing the monitoring, SOC, and incident response functions that catch and contain attacks.

Prepare With This Course

LDR512: Security Leadership Essentials for Managers

Course Details

How LDR512 Prepares You for GSLC

LDR512 is built around the exam objectives that make up the GSLC certification: 

  • Section 1, Building Your Security Program builds skills tested under Risk Management and Security Frameworks, Managing Security Policy, and Managing the Program Structure.
  • Section 2, Technical Security Architecture aligns with Networking Concepts for Managers, Network Security Architecture, Managing System Security, and Managing Cloud Security.
  • Section 3, Security Engineering builds skills tested under Cryptography Concepts for Managers, Managing Encryption and Privacy, Managing Application Security, and Managing Artificial Intelligence.
  • Section 4, Security Management and Leadership aligns with Vulnerability Management, Managing Security Awareness, Managing Negotiations and Vendors, and Managing Projects.
  • Section 5, Detecting and Responding to Attacks builds skills tested under Network Monitoring for Managers, Managing a Security Operations Center, and Incident Response and Business Continuity.

Across all five sections, 25 hands-on Cyber42 simulation labs give you the chance to apply each skill in a live tabletop environment before you sit the exam. 

Read the full GSLC certification overview here.

LDR512 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 It's For

Information Security Managers and Officers

Security Directors and Aspiring CISOs

IT Managers with Security Responsibilities

Security Team Leads and Aspiring Leaders

Frequently Asked Questions

It proves a practitioner can apply governance and technical controls to protect, detect, and respond to security issues, with working knowledge across data, network, host, application, and user controls. 

One proctored exam, 115 questions, 3 hours, with a minimum passing score of 70%. 

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 here. 

Information security managers and officers, security directors, aspiring CISOs, and anyone with team lead or management responsibilities for a security program. 

LDR512: Security Leadership Essentials for Managers, is the SANS course built around the GSLC objectives, delivered in-person, virtual, or self-paced. 

Ready to earn your GSLC certification?

Add the GSLC exam attempt when you register for LDR512.

Register for LDR512

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