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Jason Nickola is a SANS Certified Instructor, CEO and Principal Penetration Tester at Pulsar Security, and a hands-on offensive security practitioner whose work spans penetration testing, red teaming, Python, automation, and applied AI. At SANS, he teaches SEC560: Enterprise Penetration Testing, and SEC598: AI and Security Automation for Red, Blue, and Purple Teams. His work connects practical enterprise attack simulation with the scripting, automation, and repeatable testing methods practitioners need to assess real environments with discipline.
Jason’s path in cybersecurity has moved across consulting, product ownership, presales engineering, workforce development, and executive leadership. At Pulsar Security, he leads the company while remaining closely involved in technical delivery, setting standards for offensive assessments that are crafted rather than commoditized. Previously, he served as a penetration tester and product owner at DTS and as Executive Director of TechRamp, a nonprofit focused on helping people transition into technical careers. Those experiences shape the course labs, where students practice exploitation, reconnaissance, reporting, and attacker decision-making with attention to both technical depth and operational judgment.
Jason holds the GIAC Security Expert (GSE #218) certification, along with GIAC credentials including GXPN and GPEN in penetration testing, GREM in malware analysis, GCFA and GCFE in digital forensics, GCIH and GCIA in incident response and network defense, GAWN in wireless security, GOSI in open-source intelligence, and GPYC in Python development. He also holds the Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE), the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), and more than 30 additional technical certifications. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Western Governors University. Beyond consulting and instruction, Jason has contributed to the cybersecurity community through public speaking, mentoring, and media initiatives, including hosting the “Trust Me, I’m Certified” podcast. He is also recognized for supporting workforce development initiatives, previously as Executive Director of TechRamp in New Hampshire. Nickola is also a faculty member of the SANS Technology Institute, which has been designated an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and is a multi-year winner of the National Cyber League competition.
In the classroom, Jason is known for an energetic and approachable teaching style that encourages curiosity, experimentation, and hands-on learning. Students benefit from his ability to connect offensive tradecraft with automation, tooling, and the communication required after an assessment is complete. By the end of the course, learners are better prepared to conduct assessments, communicate findings effectively, and understand how attackers adapt in real environments. By the end of the course, learners are better prepared to conduct penetration tests, interpret findings, explain risk, and build repeatable workflows that support real security work. Outside of cybersecurity, Jason is a devoted husband and father and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
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