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SANS Cyber Defense Initiative® 2026

  • Mon, Dec 14 - Sat, Dec 19, 2026
  • 40 Courses
  • 1 NetWars Tournament
  • English
Grand Hyatt Washington & Virtual (ET)
1000 H Street NW, Washington D.C. 20001
Washington, DC, Washington Monument
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Year-End Cybersecurity Training in Washington, D.C.

SANS Cyber Defense Initiative 2026 is a cybersecurity training event running December 14-19 at the Grand Hyatt Washington, in-person and online. Over 40 courses available, from an introduction to cybersecurity through malware reverse engineering, ICS incident response, and AI security. Most pair with a GIAC certification, so you leave with new skills and the validation to prove it. Whatever the skill you need, you'll have an uninterrupted week to learn and practice among peers.​

SANS Live Training: Arrive Curious. Leave Invincible.

Why Attend CDI 2026:

  • Courses are hands-on with lab practice each day, taught by instructors who are frontline experts in the field they teach.​
  • Most courses pair with a GIAC certification, a credential that proves capability.​
  • Classmates matter as much as the curriculum. You'll train alongside industry peers who are working to solve the same problems you are. Plus, evening keynotes and SANS@Night talks keep the conversation going after class ends. ​
  • With four months of OnDemand Extended Access, included with every course purchase, you can revisit modules later once you'reback at work implementing the techniques.
  • The event venue, Grand Hyatt Washington,  sits a few blocks from the National Mall, with a direct Metro Center connection underneath.​

Why Organizations Send Teams

  • December timing. CDI falls in Q1 of the federal fiscal year and at the close of calendar-year training budgets. Whether funds have just opened up or need to be used before the cycle closes, the timing of this training event can cover either. The Grand Hyatt holds rooms at the government per diem rate.
  • Satisfy DoD 8140 and its equivalents. SANS courses and GIAC certifications help organizations satisfy the requirements of many cybersecurity directives and frameworks such as DoD 8140, NIS2, CMMC, DORA, and NICE.
  • Close skill gaps that hiring hasn't solved. If the experience needed to take on your organization's cyber risk remains scarce in the talent market, training your team can fill that gap. CDI courses cover LLM application security, cloud security engineering, and OT visibility and response in the same week.​
  • Gain credentials that hold up in an audit. GIAC is accredited by ANAB under ISO/IEC 17024, which is why auditors, insurers, and contracting officers accept the credential as evidence. ​

Course Highlights:

  • Reverse engineer malware samples in Reverse-Engineering Malware: Malware Analysis Tools and Techniques.
  • Defend industrial control systems in ICS Visibility, Detection, and Response.
  • Build cloud security controls from the ground up in Cloud Security Engineering and Controls.

What the Community Says

  • Slide 1 of 4
    SANS creates a one-of-a-kind learning experience providing world-class training and fascinating opportunities to network and gain new perspectives from your peers!
    Justin E.U.S. Federal Agency
  • Slide 2 of 4
    The instruction at SANS is top-notch. I have been to several SANS training courses and they never disappoint. The instructors bring real life experiences and show the students how the material can be applied.
    Thomas SeckJohns Hopkins APL
  • Slide 3 of 4
    The labs are giving me a chance to see the course content first hand and interact with it. It's doing a good job of letting me play with it and really seeing how the tools and methodologies work.
    Ryan MoellerEureka Strategic Consulting
  • Slide 4 of 4
    SANS training keeps individuals up-to-date with relevant cyber security information. I can now apply the skills learned towards further maturing my program.
    Nicholas MarriottPfizer
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Extra Lab Practice and Certification

A $2,000 package included with any CDI 2026 course. Select any course, register, and pay from September 4 - November 15 to get a complimentary package: - 120 days of OnDemand Extended Access to your course - A GIAC Certification Attempt, including two practice tests No promo code required! This package is automatically included with any in-person or live online course upon checkout if the selected course has an associated certification or is available OnDemand. Voucher payments qualify. OnDemand access unlocks in the SANS portal 7 -10 days after CDI concludes.

Important Dates
Refund Deadline:
Hotel Group Discount Deadline:

Courses

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GIAC Certification Exam Attempt

2 Free practice tests when you add a certification exam attempt to your course. Available for select courses below.

Extra 120 Days of Course Access

Add OnDemand Extended Access for 120 days to help you prepare for your GIAC exam. Available for select courses below.

Netwars Tournaments

Free with purchase of a 4, 5 or 6 day course. Instructions to confirm your spot will be shared on site.

Featured Speakers

Michael Hoffman

Michael Hoffman

Field CTO – Oil and Gas at Dragos, Inc.

Michael Hoffman teaches ICS410 and ICS612 with a plant floor mindset, turning complex ICS/OT concepts into clear, repeatable practices. Students leave with practical skills that enable them to protect essential services without compromising safety or uptime.

Learn more
Mark Bristow

Mark Bristow

Director at MITRE’s Cyber-Physical Systems Division

Mark loves the ever-changing landscape of security and views it as a puzzle that must be solved. He especially loves the challenges in ICS security, where the cyber meets the physical. There is no greater success than a safe and effective process.

Learn more
Ahmed Abugharbia

Ahmed AbuGharbia

Solutions Specialist Engineer at Fortinet

Ahmed AbuGharbia, SANS Instructor and SEC545 author, helps practitioners secure generative AI systems by identifying risks, understanding model behavior, and applying practical security controls.

Learn more
Seth Misenar

Seth Misenar

Founder at Context Security Consulting

Seth, SANS Faculty Fellow and author of SEC411, LDR414, and SEC511, combines cutting-edge consulting and education to equip defenders worldwide. Founder of Context Security and GSE #28, he brings clarity, humor, and purpose to cybersecurity training.

Learn more
Ismael Valenzuela

Ismael Valenzuela

Vice President Threat Research & Intelligence at Arctic Wolf

Ismael is a Senior SANS Instructor and Arctic Wolf VP. Author of SEC530 and a prestigious GSE-certified expert, he blends decades of SOC, threat research, and community contributions to equip defenders with resilient, adversary-aware strategies.

Learn more
My-Ngoc Nguyen

My-Ngoc Nguyen

CEO at Secured IT Solutions

My-Ngoc Nguyen brings 25 years of IT and cybersecurity experience to SANS leadership training, helping students connect risk, compliance, governance, people, process, and technology to the security decisions they face at work.

Learn more

Schedule

Keynotes & Talks

Learn from industry leaders sharing key security insights.

Workshops

Join hands-on sessions solving real-world security issues.

NetWars Tournaments

Hands-on competitions to test and sharpen your cybersecurity skills.

Not attending a course? Standalone registration is also available. See the Schedule section below for details.

Grand Hyatt Washington

Hotel Special Rates and Reservations

A special discounted rate of $242.00 S/D plus applicable taxes will be honored based on space availability. A limited number of Government Per Diem rooms at the prevailing rate are available with proper ID.

There is a daily discounted destination fee of $10 per room, per day, plus applicable taxes. Destination fee includes high-speed wireless internet in guest rooms, access to 24hr fitness center, bottled water, and daily newspapers. Destination fee is waived for any Government per diem rooms.

These rates are only available through Monday, November 23, 2026.

Book a Regular ReservationBook a Government Per Diem Reservation
Washington DC, Grand Hyatt Washington

3 Reasons To Stay At The Event Venue

  • Ultimate Convenience

    Eliminate the hassle of daily commutes and wasted travel time. You’ll have everything you need—from your training to dining and amenities - all in one centralized, convenient location.

  • Seamless Networking Opportunities

    Stay where the action is! Maximize your chances to connect with fellow cybersecurity professionals and industry leaders - from impromptu conversations in the lobby to exclusive after-hours events.

  • All Day, All Event Access

    SANS live training events include bonus sessions exclusively at the venue. Staying on-site ensures you won’t miss these opportunities to grow your network and engage with peers beyond the conference agenda.

Two People Looking at a Laptop

Travel Information

Grand Hyatt Washington

Stay in the center of downtown Washington, D.C., at this luxury hotel a few blocks from the Capital One Arena, National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, White House and Washington Monument. You'll enjoy newly renovated rooms and suites, exceptional service, and a direct connection to the city via the Metro Center station. Distances from Nearby Airports - Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): Approximately 3.6 miles - Dulles International Airport (IAD): Approximately 25.4 miles

Hotel Key Card
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Venue Parking Details

On-Site Valet Parking (tax/fees included): - 1000 H St. NW, Washington, DC - 0–2 hours: $34 | 2–8 hours: $44 | 8–24 hours: $63 * Includes In/Out Privileges | Payable to attendant or billable to your guest room. - Vehicle Height Limit: 6’ 6” (oversized vehicles may incur additional charges) Self-Parking (10th Street Garage — attached to hotel): - 715 10th St. NW, Washington, DC - 0–1 hour: $12 | 2–4 hours: $19 | 4–10 hours: $24 | 10–24 hours: $48 * No in-and-out privileges; cannot be charged to your guest room. - Vehicle Height Limit: 6’ 6” All prices listed above are subject to change. For the most up-to-date parking information, visit the hotel’s Parking and Transportation page and/or the City Center Visit page.

Travel Arrangements and Parking
Venue Parking & Transportation Details

Alternative Parking Details

Alternative Self-Parking (11th Street City Center Garage): - 835 11th St. NW, Washington, DC - 0–1 hour: $12 | 1-2 hours: $16 | All Day: $22 | Overnight: $30 - Early Bird Rate: $15.00 (Flat Rate – M-F in between 5am-9am & exit before 6pm) * No in-and-out privileges; cannot be charged to your guest room. - Vehicle Height Limit: 7’ SANS recommends researching nearby parking facilities for more affordable options. Some popular parking apps that can help you locate and reserve space during your training are SpotHero, ParkMobile, and ParkWhiz. All prices listed above are subject to change. For the most up-to-date parking information, visit the hotel’s Parking and Transportation page and/or the City Center Visit page.

Travel Arrangements and Parking
City Center Visit Page

Save on United Flights To Live Events

The discount ranges from 1% - 10% depending on the origin airport. When making the flight reservation, use the code - 'ZQ33173387'. Please Note: This discount applies to flights with United Airlines and other codeshare airlines and does not apply to basic economy fares. Call the United Meetings Reservation Desk at (800) 426-1122 for booking assistance.

United
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Save on Delta Flights To Live Events

Delta Air Lines is pleased to offer special flight discounts for SANS Institute customers!  Depending on fare type, domestic discounts range from 2- 10%. Use Meeting Event Code 'NM47F' during booking.  You may also call Delta Meeting Network® at 1.800.328.1111* Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. (EST)  *Please note there is not a service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via the reservation 800 number. Discounts valid on Delta and applicable Codeshare flights.

Delta
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