SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, and Incident Handling
SEC504Offensive Operations
SANS Community Benefits
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Cyber42 Leadership Simulation Game
An interactive experience at the core of SANS Leadership training, designed to strengthen strategic decision-making skills and prepare you for real-world challenges through uniquely crafted, hands-on business scenarios.
Inside Cyber42 with SANS Fellow Frank Kim
Discover how this innovative simulation game elevates cybersecurity leadership training and prepares you for real-world decision-making.
What is Cyber42
Cyber42 is an immersive leadership simulation designed to develop the strategic and operational capabilities of cybersecurity managers, executives, and aspiring leaders. It places participants in realistic, high-pressure scenarios that mirror the challenges security leaders face daily, requiring them to allocate time, budget, and personnel effectively while balancing shifting business, technology, and security priorities.
The simulation fosters cross-functional collaboration and consensus-building, helping participants strengthen critical competencies such as strategic planning, risk-based decision-making, and organizational leadership.
What differentiates Cyber42 is its ability to drive measurable outcomes. A built-in scoring system evaluates performance across key leadership domains aligned with training objectives, providing organizations with actionable insights into participant growth and leadership readiness.
Integrating Cyber42 into your leadership development programs can accelerate executive readiness, enhance team collaboration, and equip your security leaders to make smarter, faster decisions in today’s complex threat environment.
Cyber42 in Action
Explore SANS courses that integrate the Cyber42 simulation into hands-on labs
Cyber42 Leadership Simulation Game
LDR419: Performing A Cybersecurity Risk Assessment
Explore industry-leading strategies for conducting cybersecurity risk assessments that deliver actionable insights to protect your organization's critical assets and meet regulatory requirements.
LDR512: Security Leadership Essentials for Managers
Gain essential technical and leadership skills to effectively manage security programs, covering key topics like security architecture, vulnerability management, cloud security, and GenAI security.
LDR514: Security Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership
This course offers an MBA-level approach, preparing cybersecurity leaders to build strategic plans, craft effective policies, and lead across technical and business teams.
LDR516: Building and Leading Vulnerability Management Programs
Learn to implement the most effective ways to mature your vulnerability management program and move from identifying vulnerabilities to successfully treating them.
LDR519: Cybersecurity Risk Management and Compliance
Master strategic cybersecurity risk management through practical frameworks, comprehensive threat modeling, and regulatory compliance implementation for enterprise-wide security posture enhancement.
LDR520: Cloud Security for Leaders
Develop a cloud security roadmap and effectively implement cloud security capabilities to safeguard the organization’s cloud environments and investments.
LDR521: Security Culture for Leaders
Learn to leverage the principles of organizational change to develop, maintain, and measure a strong security culture.
LDR551: Building and Leading Security Operations Centers
Unlock the power of proactive, intelligence-informed cyber defense to build and lead a strong security operations center that aligns with organizational goals.
ICS418: ICS Security Essentials for Leaders
Implement ICS/OT specific strategies and tools necessary to defend critical infrastructure against emerging threats.
SEC566: Implementing and Auditing CIS Controls
Learn to establish critical security controls from the CIS Critical Security Controls framework to effectively defend against cyberattacks and create a secure, compliant environment.
Experience Cyber42 — Free!
Join an upcoming Game Day and Put Your Leadership Skills to the Test.
Cyber42 Game Versions
SANS hosts free Cyber42 "Game Day" events throughout the year—interactive, peer-driven sessions designed for learning and fun. Each event features a unique version of the game. Registration is required.
Transformational
Strengthen your leadership skills through scenarios built around the Transformational Cybersecurity Leader triad: Technology, Strategy, and Culture. Collaborate with peers, tackle complex decisions, and engage in strategic discussions supporting core concepts from: - LDR512: Security Leadership Essentials - LDR514: Strategic Planning & Policy - LDR521: Security Culture for Leaders
Operational
Advance your operational leadership skills through scenarios built around the Operational Cybersecurity Executive triad: Vulnerability Management, Security Operations, and Defensive Controls. Collaborate with peers, tackle real-world challenges, and engage in strategic discussions supporting core concepts from: - LDR516: Building and Leading Vulnerability Management Programs - LDR551: Building and Leading Security Operations Centers - SEC566: Implementing and Auditing CIS Controls
