SEC587: Advanced Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Gathering and Analysis

Important! Bring your own system configured according to these instructions.

A properly configured system is required to fully participate in this course. If you do not carefully read and follow these instructions, you will not be able to fully participate in hands-on exercises in your course. Therefore, please arrive with a system meeting all of the specified requirements.

Back up your system before class. Better yet, use a system without any sensitive/critical data. SANS is not responsible for your system or data.

Mandatory System Hardware Requirements

• CPU: 64-bit Intel i5/i7 (8th generation or newer), or AMD equivalent. A x64 bit, 2.0+ GHz or newer processor is mandatory for this class.
• CRITICAL: Apple systems using the M1/M2 processor line cannot perform the necessary virtualization functionality and therefore cannot in any way be used for this course.
• BIOS settings must be set to enable virtualization technology, such as "Intel-VTx" or "AMD-V" extensions. Be absolutely certain you can access your BIOS if it is password protected, in case changes are necessary.
• 16GB of RAM or more is required.
• 50GB of free storage space or more is required.
• At least one available USB 3.0 Type-A port. A Type-C to Type-A adapter may be necessary for newer laptops. Some endpoint protection software prevents the use of USB devices, so test your system with a USB drive before class.
• Wireless networking (802.11 standard) is required. There is no wired Internet access in the classroom.

Mandatory Host Configuration And Software Requirements

• Your host operating system must be the latest version of Windows 10, Windows 11, or macOS 10.15.x or newer.
• Fully update your host operating system prior to the class to ensure you have the right drivers and patches installed.
• Linux hosts are not supported in the classroom due to their numerous variations. If you choose to use Linux as your host, you are solely responsible for configuring it to work with the course materials and/or VMs.
• Local Administrator Access is required. (Yes, this is absolutely required. Don't let your IT team tell you otherwise.) If your company will not permit this access for the duration of the course, then you should make arrangements to bring a different laptop.
• You should ensure that antivirus or endpoint protection software is disabled, fully removed, or that you have the administrative privileges to do so. Many of our courses require full administrative access to the operating system and these products can prevent you from accomplishing the labs.
• Any filtering of egress traffic may prevent accomplishing the labs in your course. Firewalls should be disabled or you must have the administrative privileges to disable it.
• Download and install VMware Workstation Pro 16.2.X+ or VMware Player 16.2.X+ (for Windows 10 hosts), VMware Workstation Pro 17.0.0+ or VMware Player 17.0.0+ (for Windows 11 hosts), or VMWare Fusion Pro 12.2+ or VMware Fusion Player 11.5+ (for macOS hosts) prior to class beginning. If you do not own a licensed copy of VMware Workstation Pro or VMware Fusion Pro, you can download a free 30-day trial copy from VMware. VMware will send you a time-limited serial number if you register for the trial at their website. Also note that VMware Workstation Player offers fewer features than VMware Workstation Pro. For those with Windows host systems, Workstation Pro is recommended for a more seamless student experience.
• On Windows hosts, VMware products might not coexist with the Hyper-V hypervisor. For the best experience, ensure VMware can boot a virtual machine. This may require disabling Hyper-V. Instructions for disabling Hyper-V, Device Guard, and Credential Guard are contained in the setup documentation that accompanies your course materials.
• Download and install 7-Zip (for Windows Hosts) or Keka (for macOS hosts). These tools are also included in your downloaded course materials.

Your course media is delivered via download. The media files for class can be large. Many are in the 40-50GB range, with some over 100GB. You need to allow plenty of time for the download to complete. Internet connections and speed vary greatly and are dependent on many different factors. Therefore, it is not possible to give an estimate of the length of time it will take to download your materials. Please start your course media downloads as soon as you get the link. You will need your course media immediately on the first day of class. Do not wait until the night before class to start downloading these files.

Your course materials include a "Setup Instructions" document that details important steps you must take before you travel to a live class event or start an online class. It may take 30 minutes or more to complete these instructions.

Your class uses an electronic workbook for its lab instructions. In this new environment, a second monitor and/or a tablet device can be useful for keeping class materials visible while you are working on your course's labs.

If you have additional questions about the laptop specifications, please contact customer service.

SEC587 training is recommended for a diverse range of individuals, including:

• Open-Source Intelligence and All-Source Analysts
• Law Enforcement Investigators
• Military Investigators
• Private Investigators
• Insurance Claims Investigators
• Intelligence Analysts
• Geopolitical Analysts
• Journalists
• Researchers
• Social Engineers
• Political and Information Campaign Researchers
• Incident Responders
• Digital Forensics (DFIR) Analysts
• Cyber Threat Intelligence Specialists

The GSOA certification validates a practitioner’s ability to master advanced OSINT skills—automating investigations with Python, analyzing data at scale, and uncovering threats across social platforms, darknet forums, blockchain activity, and disinformation networks. Real-world scenarios prepare professionals to identify and efficiently track adversarial activity while safely managing personas and maintaining operational security.

• Automating data collection with Python scripting
• Conducting Dark Web investigations
• Tracking public cryptocurrency transactions
• Identifying and tracking disinformation
• International and sector specific OSINT
• Image, video and audio forensics

• Physical and digital workbooks
• A course-specific Virtual Machine (VM) tailored for SEC587

SEC587 is a fast-paced, advanced course that is meant to build upon previous knowledge and experience in OSINT. The SANS SEC497: Practical Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) course is recommended, but not required prior to taking this course.

• Basic knowledge and experience with open-source intelligence collection.
• Rudimentary understanding of intelligence analysis
• Knowledge of how to use a Virtual Machine (VM)

The SEC587 course is a part of the “Advanced Cyber Defense” Learning Path, which aims to equip security professionals to harden specific defenses, including OSINT, PowerShell, and traffic analysis.

Depending on your current or desired future role, one of these courses is a great next step in your cybersecurity journey:

• SEC503 Network Monitoring and Threat Detection In-Depth
• SEC555 SIEM with Tactical Analytics
• SEC573 Automating Information Security with Python
• SEC673 Advanced Information Security Automation with Python
• SEC595 Applied Data Science and Machine Learning for Cybersecurity Professionals

Open-source intelligence automation leverages advanced software tools and algorithms to expedite the collection, analysis, and interpretation of publicly accessible data. By automating the processing of vast amounts of information from sources like social media, news outlets, and databases, it enhances the speed, accuracy, and scalability of intelligence gathering. This technology is crucial for real-time decision-making in fields such as cybersecurity, market analysis, and national security.

SANS SEC587 offers valuable skills and knowledge for advancing your cybersecurity career. When you master advanced Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques, you will be able to gather and analyze intelligence, detect threats, and enhance security operations. This course empowers professionals to apply OSINT in practical, real-world scenarios, making it an essential asset for those in cybersecurity.

In this advanced OSINT gathering analysis course, you will:

• Learn to gather actionable intelligence from open sources, including the dark web, to identify and assess security risks.
• Apply Python and automation to streamline data collection, analysis, and monitoring for improved efficiency.
• Gain skills in investigating dark web activity and tracking cryptocurrency transactions related to cybercrime.
• Participate in labs and a capstone project to reinforce learning and apply techniques under time pressure in real-world environments.
• Expand your cybersecurity toolkit, making you a valuable asset in roles such as threat intelligence analyst, digital forensics, and penetration testing.

By completing SEC587, you'll be prepared to tackle complex security challenges and enhance your role within the cybersecurity field.