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Ahmed AbuGharbia

Certified InstructorSolutions Specialist Engineer at Fortinet

Specialities

Cloud Security

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Ahmed Abugharbia

About Ahmed AbuGharbia

Ahmed AbuGharbia is a Certified Instructor at the SANS Institute and currently serves as a Solutions Specialist Engineer at Fortinet. He is the author and instructor of SEC545: GenAI and LLM Application Security, one of the first generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) courses SANS launched in 2025 focused on securing GenAI systems in cloud environments, helping practitioners understand and address risks in modern AI-driven applications.

Ahmed brings over 19 years of experience across cloud security, network and application security, and incident response. He began his career in infrastructure and UNIX administration before moving into security engineering and consulting roles. Along the way, he co-founded Cystack, a cybersecurity firm, he later held leadership positions, including Director of Managed Security Services at CDW, where he led large-scale security operations programs, and Customer Success Architect at Lacework, focusing on cloud detection and response. He recently co-founded CloudAgent, where he developed AI-based Cloud Security tools and worked on cloud and AI security services. These experiences are reflected in the course, where students work through real-world scenarios involving generative AI systems, focusing on identifying risks, understanding model behavior, and applying effective security controls.

Ahmed holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and multiple industry certifications, including AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional and AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate and 4 GIAC certifications. His background also includes Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate - Intrusion Detection and Prevention (JNCIA-IDP), Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist - Firewall/VPN (JNCIS-FWV), and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). Ahmed AbuGharbia is also a faculty member of the SANS Technology Institute (SANS.edu). SANS.edu is designated as an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and is a multi-year winner of the National Cyber League competition.

Ahmed’s teaching focuses on helping students make sense of rapidly evolving technologies. He emphasizes understanding core principles and applying them through hands-on labs that reflect real-world scenarios. He encourages continued learning and peer collaboration beyond the classroom, ensuring students leave with practical skills they can apply immediately. Outside of cybersecurity, Ahmed practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, where he values solving technical problems under pressure.

Qualifications Summary
  • Roles and Affiliations: Solutions Specialist Engineer, Fortinet; former Director, Managed Security Services (CDW); former Customer Success Architect (Lacework); co-founder of Cystack; co-founder of CloudAgent
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Princess Sumaya University for Technology
  • Professional Credentials:
    • AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
    • AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
    • Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
    • Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate - IDP (JNCIA-IDP)
    • Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist - Firewall/VPN (JNCIS-FWV)
    • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
  • GIAC Certifications:
    • GIAC Cloud Security Automation (GCSA)
    • GIAC Cloud Penetration Tester (GCPN)
    • GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)
    • GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)
  • Key Achievements: Built and led managed security and cloud security programs; developed AI-based threat hunting capabilities; supported enterprise detection and response initiatives
  • Publications and Tools: Developer of AI-based Cloud security tools through CloudAgent
  • Courses: Author and instructor for SEC545: GenAI and LLM Application Security
  • Community Contributions: Mentor in cloud and AI security