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LDR514: Security Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership

LDR514Cybersecurity Leadership
  • 5 Days (Instructor-Led)
  • 30 Hours (Self-Paced)
Course created by:
Frank Kim
Frank Kim
LDR514: Security Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership
Course created by:
Frank Kim
Frank Kim
  • GIAC Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership (GSTRT)
  • 30 CPEs

    Apply your credits to renew your certifications

  • In-Person, Virtual or Self-Paced

    Attend a live, instructor-led class at a location near you or remotely, or train on your time over 4 months

  • 32 Hands-On Lab(s)

    Apply what you learn with hands-on exercises and labs

This course offers an MBA-level approach, preparing cybersecurity leaders to build strategic plans, craft effective policies, and lead across technical and business teams.

Course Overview

Forge the crucial bridge between technical security teams and executive management through strategic planning and program development. This course equips security professionals with essential tools to create comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, develop sound security policies, and lead implementation teams effectively. Whether you’re seeking to elevate your leadership impact or prepare for the GSTRT certification (GIAC Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership), LDR514 delivers practical skills and executive-level insight.

Through this immersive experience, participants prepare executive presentations, analyze business case studies, address challenges faced by fictional organizations, and engage with 20 Cyber42 leadership simulation challenges. The course also utilizes 9 real-world scenarios and 3 in-depth business case studies to cultivate critical thinking and practical application.

Security leaders will develop the ability to implement strategic approaches aligned with organizational objectives and communicate security imperatives persuasively to business executives— skills that are essential for anyone pursuing a mature cyber security strategy or preparing for the GSTRT certification.

What You'll Learn

  • Create security strategic plans aligned with business goals
  • Develop and implement effective information security policies
  • Build and lead high-performing cybersecurity teams
  • Communicate security priorities to executives effectively
  • Apply business analysis techniques to security initiatives

Business Takeaways

  • Elevated security strategy aligned with business objectives
  • Improved risk management through effective policy creation
  • Enhanced team performance through leadership techniques
  • Stronger executive support for security initiatives
  • More effective resource allocation for security programs
  • Measurable security metrics tied to business outcomes
  • Practical roadmap for security program implementation

Course Syllabus

Explore the course syllabus below to view the full range of topics covered in LDR514: Security Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership.

Section 1Strategic Planning Foundations

Students learn frameworks for developing strategic plans that connect security to business and organizational drivers. This section examines stakeholder identification and ways to gain executive support. Through exercises including capability assessments, roadmap development, and strategy maps, students practice creating plans that gain executive approval.

Topics covered

  • Business context analysis for security
  • Stakeholder identification and engagement
  • Strategic security planning frameworks
  • Capability assessment methodologies
  • Security roadmap development

Labs

  • CISO First Impression exercise
  • Strategic capability assessment
  • Business alignment mapping
  • Stakeholder communication planning
  • Security roadmap development

Section 2Strategic Roadmap Development

Section two establishes methodologies for analyzing security posture, identifying target states, and developing prioritized roadmaps. Students learn to assess organizational vision, conduct SWOT analysis, and apply security frameworks. The section covers business case creation and metrics for effectively marketing security initiatives.

Topics covered

  • Security vision and mission alignment
  • SWOT analysis methodology
  • Security framework implementation
  • Roadmap and gap analysis processes
  • Business case development techniques

Labs

  • Mission statement development
  • Security roadmap creation
  • Stakeholder engagement simulation
  • Business case preparation
  • Security metrics development

Section 3Security Policy Development and Assessment

Section three explores policy as a security leadership tool for guiding organizational behavior. Participants learn methods for developing policies aligned with corporate culture. The section covers policy lifecycle from creation to measurement, with a focus on governance and emerging technology considerations.

Topics covered

  • Policy purpose and governance frameworks
  • Policy language and structure design
  • Requirements definition methodologies
  • Emerging technology considerations
  • Policy assessment techniques

Labs

  • Vulnerability management policy creation
  • Cloud computing policy development
  • AI security policy implementation
  • Policy evaluation exercise
  • Stakeholder engagement simulation

Section 4Leadership and Management Competencies

Section four addresses critical skills for leading, motivating, and inspiring security teams. Participants develop knowledge and abilities essential for transitioning from management to leadership. The section establishes standards for effective leadership and explores methods for employee motivation aligned with organizational goals.

Topics covered

  • Leadership foundations and principles
  • Situational leadership approaches
  • Effective communication techniques
  • Team building methodologies
  • Change management strategies

Labs

  • Management and leadership comparison
  • Performance review exercises
  • Delegation practice
  • Team communication simulation
  • Change management implementation

Section 5Strategic Planning Workshop

Section five applies course concepts through Harvard Business School case studies focused on information security leadership. Participants analyze real-world scenarios that reinforce management competencies. The Strategic Planning Workshop serves as a capstone exercise where students synthesize methodologies and tools from previous sections.

Topics covered

  • Executive presentation techniques
  • Board communication strategies
  • Strategic planning methodologies
  • Business priority alignment
  • Stakeholder management approaches

Labs

  • Harvard case study analysis
  • Incident response simulation
  • Metrics and maturity assessment
  • Merger due diligence exercise
  • Executive presentation development

Things You Need To Know

Relevant Job Roles

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Information Systems Security Developer (DCWF 631)

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Information Systems Security Manager (DCWF 722)

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Oversees program, system, or enclave cybersecurity, ensuring protection from cyber threats and compliance with organizational standards.

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Cyber Policy and Strategy Planner (DCWF 752)

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Creates cyberspace strategies and policies that align with mission objectives and support organizational readiness and future initiatives.

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Transformational Leader

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Executive Cyber Leader (DCWF 901)

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Sets direction and policies for cyber operations, assumes risk decisions, and aligns mission objectives with available cyber resources.

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Course Schedule & Pricing

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  • Location & instructor

    Virtual (OnDemand)

    Instructed by Frank Kim
    Date & Time
    OnDemand (Anytime)Self-Paced, 4 months access
    Course price
    $8,260 USD*Prices exclude applicable local taxes
    Registration Options
  • Location & instructor

    Amsterdam, NL & Virtual (live)

    Instructed by Kim Jones
    Date & Time
    Fetching schedule..View event details
    Course price
    €7,715 EUR*Prices exclude applicable local taxes
    Registration Options
  • Location & instructor

    London, GB & Virtual (live)

    Instructed by Mark Williams
    Date & Time
    Fetching schedule..View event details
    Course price
    £6,715 GBP*Prices exclude applicable taxes | EUR price available during checkout
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  • Location & instructor

    Boston, MA, US & Virtual (live)

    Instructed by Kim Jones
    Date & Time
    Fetching schedule..View event details
    Course price
    $8,260 USD*Prices exclude applicable local taxes
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  • Location & instructor

    Virginia Beach, VA, US & Virtual (live)

    Instructed by Kim Jones
    Date & Time
    Fetching schedule..View event details
    Course price
    $8,260 USD*Prices exclude applicable local taxes
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  • Location & instructor

    Riyadh, SA & Virtual (live)

    Instructed by Mark Williams
    Date & Time
    Fetching schedule..View event details
    Course price
    $8,375 USD*Prices exclude applicable local taxes
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  • Location & instructor

    Amsterdam, NL & Virtual (live)

    Instructed by Kim Jones
    Date & Time
    Fetching schedule..View event details
    Course price
    €7,715 EUR*Prices exclude applicable local taxes
    Registration Options
  • Location & instructor

    Raleigh, NC, US & Virtual (live)

    Instructed by Mark Williams
    Date & Time
    Fetching schedule..View event details
    Course price
    $8,260 USD*Prices exclude applicable local taxes
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