SEC595: Applied Data Science and AI/Machine Learning for Cybersecurity Professionals

Kick off your SANS 2026 experience in style at the Welcome Reception!
This high-energy, can’t-miss event is your first opportunity to connect with fellow cybersecurity professionals, renowned SANS faculty, and industry peers from around the globe. Spark meaningful conversations about today’s most pressing cybersecurity trends, expand your professional network, and start shaping your training goals for the week ahead—or simply unwind and enjoy the moment.
Whether you’re here to collaborate, explore, or recharge, this reception sets the stage for a week of deep, immersive learning. Refreshing beverages (adult and otherwise) and delicious bites will be served.
There is an old American legend about a larger-than-life lumberjack, Paul Bunyan, whose mighty axe carved forests and shaped the frontier. As the story goes, Paul faced off against a steam-powered saw that threatened to outpace his manual brute force effort. With his trusty ox, Babe, by his side, he tackled the challenge head-on. He challenged the innovators to a contest, swinging his axe with all his might. Despite his heroic effort, the machine edged him out by a quarter-inch, and Paul walked away, humbled but not broken.
Get ready for the most anticipated event of the year—SANS 2026 in sunny Orlando, Florida! Set on an iconic Orlando property, this is where cyber dreams meet real-world innovation.
The Solutions Expo + Curriculum Fair invites you to explore the future of cybersecurity in an unforgettable, one-day experience packed with energy, insights, and hands-on discovery. Immerse yourself in live demos, new course previews, faculty spotlights, and interactive sessions designed to spark inspiration and elevate your cyber journey.
Wrap up your day with a celebration of connection and community! Join your peers and instructors for an evening reception that captures the spirit of SANS—collaboration, curiosity, and a little bit of Orlando magic! Whether you are a new student, a longtime alum, or a cybersecurity professional passionate about the latest advancements, this evening offers an exceptional opportunity to network, share insights, and discuss the evolving challenges and solutions in cybersecurity. Join SANS staff, faculty, and peers in the field for an inspiring night filled with bites, beverages, giveaways, and connections.
In this presentation: Jean-Francois Maes will take you on a journey of how LLMs work, why you are likely using it wrong if you're using it like Google search and how to implement patterns to get better results both in daily conversation as well as vibe coding.
The 2026 Cybersecurity Toolkit Refresh brings a major set of free, practical updates to two widely adopted resources in the community: the SANS Policy Templates and the Cybersecurity Risk Foundation (CRF) frameworks.
This session focuses on what’s new in the spring 2026 releases—updated SANS policies, refreshed CRF safeguards, expanded threat and governance models, and new supporting tools designed to help teams mature faster without adding complexity. Whether you're already using these resources or discovering them for the first time, the emphasis is simple: everything discussed in this talk is freely available, ready to download, and put into practice as soon as you get home from this event.
Registration: All students who register for a 4–6 day course will be eligible to play NetWars for free. Registration for this event will be through your SANS Account Dashboard the week of the event.
About Core NetWars: The most comprehensive of the NetWars ranges, this ultimate multi-disciplinary cyber range powers up the most diverse cyber skills. This range is ideal for advancing your cybersecurity prowess in today's dynamic threat landscape. The winning team and the top five solo players from every Core NetWars tournament throughout the year are offered a chance to compete in the annual SANS Core NetWars Tournament of Champions.
Registration: All students who register for a 4–6 day course will be eligible to play NetWars for free. Registration for this event will be through your SANS Account Dashboard the week of the event.
About ICS NetWars: Focused on factory machinery operations, this experience brings players onto the factory floor, exposing them to the challenges of detecting and defending physical equipment and manufacturing components from cyberattacks.
Registration: All students who register for a 4–6 day course will be eligible to play NetWars for free. Registration for this event will be through your SANS Account Dashboard the week of the event.
About Core NetWars: The most comprehensive of the NetWars ranges, this ultimate multi-disciplinary cyber range powers up the most diverse cyber skills. This range is ideal for advancing your cybersecurity prowess in today's dynamic threat landscape. The winning team and the top five solo players from every Core NetWars tournament throughout the year are offered a chance to compete in the annual SANS Core NetWars Tournament of Champions.
Registration: All students who register for a 4–6 day course will be eligible to play NetWars for free. Registration for this event will be through your SANS Account Dashboard the week of the event.
About ICS NetWars: Focused on factory machinery operations, this experience brings players onto the factory floor, exposing them to the challenges of detecting and defending physical equipment and manufacturing components from cyberattacks.