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How to Apply

All seats for the 2026 cohorts have been filled, programming will resume in early 2027.

Follow these steps to secure your spot in CyberLaunch by SANS.

  • Step 1: Check your Career Choice budget and eligibility - Log in to Career Choice on Amazon A to Z and confirm you have sufficient budget for the program. You must also have been employed at Amazon for at least 90 days prior to the first course start date and be a Blue Badge employee. If your Career Choice balance does not cover the full cost, you will be responsible for the difference out of pocket. 
  • Step 2: Complete your application via the SANS application portal by July 26, 2026. The application includes short responses, a CyberTalent aptitude assessment, and an AI-based interview. 
  • Step 3: Receive your admission decision - All applicants will receive an admission email from SANS on July 31, 2026.  
  • Step 4: Navigate to Career Choice in A to Z - Accepted applicants who want to enroll will submit their Career Choice payment request through A to Z. You’ll receive more detailed instructions in your admissions email from SANS. 
  • Step 5: Start learning - You have 14 days after your start date to withdraw penalty-free. Now accepting applications for Cohort 1. 
  • Apply now

How It Works

$0*

Tuition covered by Amazon Career Choice for eligible employees with sufficient budget balance. *If your available budget does not cover the full program cost, you may be responsible for the difference out of pocket. Check your balance on A to Z before applying.

2

Two SANS courses and two industry certifications earned (GFACT + GSEC).

6 Months

Complete two SANS courses and earn two GIAC certifications in 6 months, equipping you with job-ready skills to launch your job search. Upon graduation, you'll gain access to SANS Skills Quest to advance your skills while you search for your next role.

A Structured Path—Foundations to Job-Ready

Foundations

SEC275 builds core computing, technology, and security fundamentals. Completed with the GFACT certification exam via Pearson VUE. Approximately 15 to 20 hours per week.

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Security Essentials

SEC401 covers network security, threat detection, and system defense. Completed with the GSEC certification exam via Pearson VUE. Approximately 15-20 hours per week.

Learn More

Skills Quest

After earning your GSEC, you receive 6 months of SANS Skills Quest access to keep your skills sharp in SOC operations, threat hunting, DFIR, and cloud security while you pursue your first cybersecurity role. 

Learn More

Program Overview

Cohort Dates

All seats for the 2026 cohorts have been filled, programming will resume in early 2027.

Testing Details

Delivered fully online, designed to fit around your full-time work schedule. Exams are administered in person at a Pearson VUE testing facility near you.

Team Working on a Tablet Device

Built For You

Amazon Employees

Warehouse associates, pickers, packers, drivers, fulfillment center staff, and logistics personnel with no prior cybersecurity experience. If you have an Amazon Career Choice Budget you qualify for this program.

Amazon Technical Employees

Employees in roles such as IT helpdesk who are ready to formalize and advance their skills with industry-recognized certifications. You cannot possess prior cybersecurity work experience to qualify.

Full-Time Workers

At 15-20 hours per week across 90-day phases, the program is designed to fit around your existing work schedule.

Career Changers

People ready to transition into a high-demand, higher-earning field with a clear, structured path to get there. 

You Will Not Go Through This Alone

Dedicated Academic Advisor 

Your own advisor provides proactive outreach, progress monitoring, and milestone support throughout the program.

3 Hours of Live Support Weekly 

Technical mentors lead weekly live sessions covering content, study habits, and success strategies. 

Peer Community via Slack 

Connect with fellow learners for peer-to-peer support, resource sharing, and community engagement throughout your journey.

Career Readiness Support 

Resume and interview preparation, employer spotlight sessions, and curated job pipelines to connect you with hiring opportunities after certification. 

We Collaborate With Top Cybersecurity Organizations Dedicated to Hiring Cyber Graduates

Proud Educational Partner of Amazon's Career Choice Program

SANS Institute is the world's most trusted provider of cybersecurity training and certifications. As an educator in the Amazon Career Choice partner network, we deliver on Amazon's commitment to provide employees with best-in-class support on their path to career success at Amazon or elsewhere. Together, we are committed to providing excellent education, job placement resources, and a comprehensive and supportive student experience.

Amazon Career Choice

Two Globally Recognized, Employer Valued Certifications

GFACT (GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies) validates your foundational knowledge after SEC275. GSEC (GIAC Security Essentials Certification) is one of the most widely recognized cybersecurity credentials in the industry and validates your readiness for a professional cybersecurity role after SEC401. Both exams are administered in person at a Pearson VUE testing center. One free retake is available if you score within 10% of passing and complete a structured study plan. 

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Hear from SANS Graduates

Understanding your Career Choice Budget

The CyberLaunch by SANS program is covered by Amazon Career Choice for eligible employees. Before applying, we strongly recommend logging in to Career Choice on Amazon A to Z to confirm your remaining annual budget. If your available balance does not cover the full program cost, the difference will be your responsibility to pay out of pocket. For questions about your Career Choice balance or eligibility, contact My HR Live Support directly through A to Z. SANS cannot advise on individual Career Choice account balances or eligibility.

Check Budget on A to Z

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The program is specifically designed for people with no prior cybersecurity experience. SEC275 starts at the very beginning, covering core computing, technology, and security fundamentals.

Computer Requirements

  • CPU: 64-bit Intel i5/i7 (4th generation+) - x64 bit 2.0+ GHz processor or more recent processor is mandatory for this class (Important - Please Read: a 64-bit system processor is mandatory)
  • CRITICAL NOTE: Apple systems using the Apple M Series ARM architecture CPU cannot perform the necessary virtualization functionality and therefore cannot be used for many courses.
  • It is critical that your CPU and operating system support 64-bit so that our 64-bit guest virtual machine will run on your computer. VMware provides a free tool for Windows that will detect whether or not your host supports 64-bit guest virtual machines. For further troubleshooting, this article also provides good instructions for Windows users to determine more about the CPU and OS capabilities. For Macs, please use this support page from Apple to determine 64-bit capability.
  • BIOS settings must be set to enable virtualization technology, such as "Intel-VT".
    • Be certain you can access your BIOS if it is password protected, in case changes are necessary.
  • 16 GB (Gigabytes) of RAM or higher is mandatory for many classes
  • 350 Gigabytes of Free Space - Note that about 150 GB is required for downloaded lab files. This data can be stored on an external drive.
  • Local Administrator Access is required. 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 use a different computer. You need to be able to disable VPN or other network restrictions to be able to download additional software and install it.

Wireless 802.11 Capability

Operating System Requirements

  • Latest version of Windows 10 or macOS 10.15.x.
  • It is necessary to fully update your host operating system prior to classes to ensure you have the right drivers and patches installed.

Approximately 5 to 6 hours per week during Phase 1 (SEC275) and 6 to 7 hours per week during Phase 2 (SEC401). The program is designed to be completed alongside full-time work.

Yes. Both the GFACT and GSEC certification exams are administered in person at a Pearson VUE testing facility. You will need to locate and register at a testing center near you.

You are eligible for one free retake if you score within 10% of the passing score and complete a structured study plan provided by your academic advisor.

You will be responsible for any difference between your available Career Choice balance and the total program cost. We recommend checking your balance on Amazon A to Z before applying.

Yes. You can withdraw penalty-free within 14 days of your cohort start date. After the 14-day window closes, full tuition will be charged.

Amazon employees in the US who are Career Choice-eligible, have no prior cybersecurity work experience, and have been employed at Amazon for at least 90 days prior to the first course start date and are Blue Badge employees. Eligibility is determined by Amazon. Please refer to Career Choice on A to Z for full eligibility details.

Questions About Career Choice?

For questions about your Amazon Career Choice balance or eligibility, contact My HR Live Support directly through Amazon A to Z.

Amazon Career Choice and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
CyberLaunch by SANS an Amazon Career Choice Partner | SANS Institute